The Colorado Avalanche, still not comfortable with their NHL depth, have recalled 2021 first-round pick Oskar Olausson from the minor leagues. Jayson Megna is coming back up as well after he, Anton Blidh, and Andreas Englund were assigned yesterday.
Olausson, 20, comes up following a win by the Avalanche on Monday that saw them ice their fourth line for just a handful of shifts. Megna played 5:25, Dryden Hunt 5:41, and Blidh saw the ice for just 4:16. Even Martin Kaut was under ten minutes in the match despite it going to a shootout, putting huge pressure on the top players. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen played nearly 30 minutes, while even Evan Rodrigues broke the 24-minute mark thanks to huge powerplay time.
With Englund staying down, it likely means that Samuel Girard will return to the lineup tonight, giving the team another defenseman to rely on. Cale Makar played more than 32 minutes on Monday, while Englund saw just 11.
While they are winning, and now sit second in the Central, this isn’t how the Avalanche likely want to operate for long. They need to be able to find a mix of players that can take some heat off the top names, or risk burning them out in the early part of the year. Olausson, who has barely any professional experience under his belt, will get the next chance to show what he can do.
In 16 games with the Colorado Eagles, the young forward has eight points.
Those stats are with the eagles, aren’t they? This will be his first action with the avalanche.
Yes, meant to say Eagles. It’s fixed.
@Gavin – Before I lose track of time today, I’d like to wish you and the crew a Happy Thanksgiving, and delete the rest of the sentence upon seeing the “Load 1 comment” at the bottom. :) Also adding the same for @M34, until we get barraged with comments today.
Happy Thanksgiving Day @Gavin and @MacJablonski and staff and all PHR fans out there
@G – See, I did lose track of time again! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving Day, too!
Huh. If they’re having to ice Makar 32+ minutes, maybe they should give those fourth liners a shift or two on defense.