Logan O’Connor has not yet played a game this season.
Joel Kiviranta, who has already been injured once, left Thursday’s game early and did not return.
Ilya Solovyov, the Avalanche’s No. 7 defenseman, has not dressed in a game sine Nov. 1.
Colorado provided an update on all three of them on Friday.
The Avs received good news on the status of Kiviranta. The 30-year-old depth forward played just 3:58 before the team was forced to play with a shortened bench. Head coach Jared Bednar said he was dealing with an eye issue.
“He’s a possibility for tomorrow, we think,” Bednar told reporters after Friday’s optional practice. “We got good news.”
O’Connor’s situation is getting a little bit more complicated. He had offseason hip surgery and was close to making a return in November before something else came up.
“He’s going through something that they’re diagnosing and trying to figure out what the right course of action is to get him back to return to play,” Bednar said. “It’s kind of a moving target at this point, just waiting to see how some things respond. And there are some other options to try and get him fixed up and ready to go.”
Is it related to his hips?
“His hips are good. It’s just something that came up when he was getting back on the ice and something he’s been dealing with and he wants to get it fixed and feel right before he gets back, understandable,” Bednar said. “Just trying to pinpoint the right rehab process for the issue he’s dealing with is probably the best way to put it. Trying to solve the problem.
“We’ll just see how the next week or two develops. I know that’s vague, but it’s all I can give you. It’s all I know.”
Meanwhile, Solovyov was assigned to the AHL on a conditioning assignment. Given that it’s been six weeks since he’s suited up, it’s smart to get him back into game action in case he becomes a necessity for the team in the coming weeks.
Solovyov has only played nine games so far since being claimed off waivers. Even before the top six defensemen were all healthy, Bednar often called up and used Jack Ahcan ahead of Solovyov.
