Zachary L'Heureux faces LTIR as Avalanche eye call-up

The cap math started early Thursday, when the Avs moved Brindley out to clear space for O'Connor's return.

Corey Masisak

@cmasisak22

Avs passing Gavin Brindley to the AHL. Logan O’Connor will be back tomorrow, so he’ll come off LTIR and there’s no room until the cap ceiling for Brindley. Might mean that Zachary L’Heureux isn’t expected to miss the next five games.

Here's the background. O'Connor went on long-term injured reserve on September 28 with a lower-body injury, which meant he had to sit at least 10 games. That LTIR space is what let Colorado bring Brindley up while the forward group got hit with injuries. Now O'Connor has served his time and comes off LTIR, the relief goes with him, and Brindley is the one who loses his spot. That's how the cap works when you're running this close to the ceiling.

O'Connor is healthy, too. He's a full go at practice, and the NHL lists him to make his season debut Friday night vs. Tampa Bay. For a guy who missed the first 69 games of last season after hip surgery, getting back after 10 is a win.

Evan Rawal

@evanrawal

Nic Roy skated before practice in a non-contact jersey but is not sticking around for practice. Logan O’Connor is a full go and should return tomorrow with the Brindley move.

The trouble is Nic Roy. He skated early in a no-contact jersey and left before practice started. Bednar has listed both Roy and L'Heureux as week to week, and Roy was supposed to be the one closer to coming back. If Roy can't go Friday, Colorado is stuck with 11 forwards again. And Bednar doesn't sound like he wants to keep doing that.

Corey Masisak

@cmasisak22

Avs coach Jared Bednar said they may call up a forward tomorrow and go back to 12-6. If they do that, Zachary L’Heureux would have to go on retroactive LTIR … and miss at least the next five games. He’s missed five straight so far.

Corey Masisak

@cmasisak22

Nic Roy was on the ice early in a red no-contact jersey but does not appear to be sticking around for practice. Logan O’Connor is practicing. Looks like he will join Parker Kelly on the fourth “line” because they’ll still play with 11 forwards tomorrow night.

That's the catch. Calling up a forward to get back to 12 forwards and 6 defensemen costs cap space the Avs don't have. The fix is putting L'Heureux on retroactive LTIR. Since he has already missed 5 straight, being backdated means he would be out for at least 5 more. L'Heureux came over from Nashville in June along with Fedor Svechkov in the trade that sent Jack Drury to the Predators. He hasn't skated, so the paperwork may only make official what his body is already telling the team.

Brindley's move earlier in the day pointed the other way. Masisak noted it might mean L'Heureux wasn't expected to miss 5 more games. Roy's setback undid that within a couple of hours. Watch the transactions before puck drop Friday. If a forward comes up from the AHL, L'Heureux goes on LTIR and the Avs get their 12 forwards back. If not, it's another night with 11, and that would make it pretty clear how much Bednar trusts the bottom of his lineup.