Valeri Nichushkin underwent ankle surgery and will miss a month, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Tuesday. Defenseman Bowen Byram is also week to week with a lower-body injury, and Samuel Girard is day to day with a lower-body injury. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Nichushkin was off to an excellent start for the Avalanche, scoring seven total goals in the seven games he’s played this season and also adding five assists.
  • The winger is one of the team’s most defensively responsible players and also a capable contributor on the power play.
  • Colorado will make roster moves ahead of Thursday’s game against Nashville.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Backstory

Byram sustained his injury during the New York swing of the previous road trip. He played Friday in Finland against the Blue Jackets but wasn’t able to go Saturday after skating in warmup.

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Byram has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time through 10 games, playing on both the power play and penalty kill, and he has logged five points. Girard has played more than 19 minutes a game, so the absence of him and Byram will cost Colorado two minute-eating defensemen.

How will the Avalanche adjust?

Bednar said the team will make roster moves ahead of Thursday’s game against Nashville because of the injuries. Martin Kaut and Mikhail Maltsev were sent down to the AHL after the Finland trip, but Bednar acknowledged that was a salary cap-related move. One or both could be back before the Predators contest. Jacob MacDonald, who had been playing forward, will move back to defense, and Kurtis MacDermid could be an option at forward or defense, too.

Defenseman Brad Hunt feels like a potential call-up. Anton Blidh and Jayson Megna have already played NHL games at forward this year, and prospects Jean-Luc Foudy and Shane Bowers could also be options. There’s also Charles Hudon, who leads the AHL team with nine points in eight games. Ben Meyers would also make sense, but he’s dealing with an injury.

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(Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today)

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