Cale Makar is out of concussion protocol.
The Avalanche defenseman has missed games for the second time this season due to a head injury. He previously was absent from four games in February, attempted to return on Feb. 18, but had concussion-like symptoms show up again.
As a team, Colorado is finally starting to get fully healthy, and as a result, have climbed up the standings. The Avalanche are third in the Central Division, however are just six points away from the first-place Stars.
The 24-year-old won the Norris Trophy last season as the league's best defenseman and earned the 2023 Conn Smythe as playoff MVP after the Avs won the Stanley Cup.
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The Sporting News has all the injury updates on Makar and when he could potentially return.
What is Cale Makar's injury?
Makar was back in concussion protocol. It is the second time this season that he was dealing with a head injury.
Previously, Makar was injured during the Avalanche's contest against the Penguins on Feb. 7. Jeff Carter delivered a high, blindside hit to Makar that forced the Avs defenseman out of the game.
Cale Makar to the locker room after this hit from Jeff Carter pic.twitter.com/ed0Yj53GZb
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) February 8, 2023
Carter was not penalized nor did he face any discipline for the hit to the head. Makar missed the next four games.
Makar returned for the matchup against the Blues on Feb. 18, but left the game briefly after a collision with Alexei Toropchenko.
In his first game back after suffering a concussion earlier this month, Cale Makar was forced off the ice following a collision with Alexei Toropchenko. pic.twitter.com/OBtXKBrfi3
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 18, 2023
The defenseman returned and played the rest of the game. Afterward, he told the Denver Gazette's Kyle Fredrickson that he went down to the tunnel because he thought his visor had hit his nose.
Spoke with #Avs Cale Makar in the postgame locker room. He expects to play tomorrow versus Edmonton after another blow to the head.
— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) February 18, 2023
“Yeah, I hope so. Unless anything turns. Just a tough one. I got kind of bruised on the nose just because I think my visor hit it. But we’ll see.”
While both Makar and Avs coach Jared Bednar believed that Makar would play against the Oilers on Feb. 19, he was reported out early in the afternoon with an upper-body injury.
Two days later, the news came out that he was feeling a delayed response from the incident against the Blues.
Coach says a delayed response to hit in St Louis has Cale Makar back in protocol and will not play this upcoming weekend. https://t.co/YZzdwninxQ
— Marc Moser TV (@RadioMoser) February 21, 2023
He has not played since the game against the Blues.
When will Cale Makar return?
Makar is set to return to the Avalanche lineup for Saturday, March 4.
The Norris Trophy winner missed five straight games and nine of the last 10 due his head injury.
While Makar was in a normal full contact jersey for the Avs' practice on Wednesday, he did not play in the March 1 game against the Devils.
After another full practice on Friday, where Makar was seen running the power play, the defenseman is set to return for the Avalanche's Saturday afternoon game against the Stars.
"Ready to go," Makar said on Friday about his status .
"I can't put myself in positions to take those kind of hits," Makar said Friday after practice. "But at the same time stuff happens. Couple of unlucky bounces."
Cale Makar stats 2022-23
While Makar hasn't been putting up the dominant numbers he had last year, he has still been right around a point-per-game player for the Avalanche in 2022-23.
He is third on the team in points, trailing only Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon. Only Rantanen has more assists than Makar. Makar also leads the NHL in time on ice, averaging 26:56 minutes a game.
| Games | Goals | Assists | Points | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 13 | 32 | 45 | 6 |
