The Avalanche announced overnight that they’ve reassigned defenseman Jack Ahcan to AHL Colorado. With Colorado back in action tomorrow against the Sabres and the Eagles not in action until Friday, the demotion is a sign that Samuel Girard could be ready to come off injured reserve to give Colorado seven healthy defensemen on the active roster.
Ahcan has been ferried between leagues a few times this year after clearing waivers at the end of the preseason. He was last recalled on Nov. 3 and has played in four straight games for the Avs since. His role has been limited to six total appearances this season, averaging 11:21 of ice time per game, but he has given them good results in sheltered deployment. The 28-year-old lefty has an assist, his first NHL point since March 2022, and has a +4 rating stemming from his performance in the Avs’ 9-1 drubbing of the Oilers last weekend.
In fact, Ahcan’s possession impacts in bottom-pairing duties with Sam Malinski have been pristine. The duo is crushing their minutes against easier competition, controlling 64.5% of shot attempts and 69.2% of expected goals at 5-on-5. That’s presumably why Ahcan has found his way into the lineup with increasing frequency as he jockeys for position on the depth chart with October waiver claim Ilya Solovyov, who’s now been scratched in four straight and will continue to find himself out of the lineup tomorrow if Girard is indeed cleared to play.
Solovyov would require waivers if the Avs were to send him down as the odd man out, though. Since Ahcan has played less than 10 games and has been rostered for fewer than 30 days, he doesn’t need them to return to the AHL today. The 5’8″ rearguard has also been a driving force in the minors, scoring a goal and six assists for a point per game through seven appearances with a +6 rating.
Girard hasn’t played since the second game of the season, so Ahcan and Solovyov have had extended opportunities to get a legitimate taste of NHL minutes. The upper-body injury he sustained that had him out week-to-week ended up costing him 15 games. Veteran Brent Burns has stepped into a top-four role alongside Josh Manson in Girard’s absence, holding the fort with eight points and a +3 rating while averaging north of 20 minutes per game for the 12th straight year.