Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar Both Leave With Lower-Body Injuries in Ottawa: The Avalanche's Fantasy Plan Without Their Two Stars

The Colorado Avalanche lost far more than a game on Thursday night. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar both left a 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators with lower-body injuries in the second period and did not return, and head coach Jared Bednar had no update afterward on either player. He said he is not sure whether either will be available Saturday night in Montreal. For fantasy managers, these are two of the most valuable players in the sport, and the uncertainty reaches every corner of Colorado's lineup.

What happened

MacKinnon was hurt after attempting a reverse hit on Senators defenseman Artem Zub. He grabbed at his right side, and reports from the game indicate the contact came in the hip area. Makar's exit came without obvious contact; he appeared to tweak something during a play in the offensive zone. Notably, Makar had already left practice early on Sunday for what the team called precautionary reasons, which makes Thursday's exit more concerning.

Shane Pinto scored the overtime winner for Ottawa. The Avalanche are on a road trip that continues Saturday against the Canadiens.

What Colorado loses

Both players were producing at elite levels before Thursday.

MacKinnon leads the Avalanche and ranks fifth in the NHL in scoring. Makar is third on the team and third among all NHL defensemen in points. Together, they drive Colorado's five-on-five play and run the top power-play unit.

Fantasy fallout: forwards

If MacKinnon misses time, the center depth chart shuffles. Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri are the most likely options to absorb top-line minutes, and after MacKinnon left on Thursday, Colorado used Kadri or Nicolas Roy in his spot. Expect Nelson and Kadri to split the heavy minutes, with each seeing a boost in power-play time.

Martin Necas and Artturi Lehkonen had been MacKinnon's wingers. Both will lose some efficiency without him, but Necas in particular is talented enough to drive his own line and should remain in lineups. His shot volume may even rise if he becomes the primary option on the top unit.

Brock Nelson is the most direct beneficiary. A move to the top line and first power-play unit would raise his floor significantly. Nazem Kadri is a strong pickup in leagues where he is available, because he brings power-play experience and has played top-six minutes in Colorado before.

Fantasy fallout: defense

Makar's absence opens the top power-play quarterback role, and Devon Toews is the most likely candidate to take it. Toews has been an effective, steady partner for Makar for years; with the top unit running through him, his point production would climb noticeably. He is the top defensive add if Makar is out for more than a game or two.

Further down, Colorado's second and third pairs will play more minutes, but none of those defensemen offer the offensive upside to matter in standard leagues.

Reading the timeline signals

Lower-body is a broad designation, and the NHL's reporting conventions mean the team may not offer more detail even once it knows the severity. There are a few signals fantasy managers can watch for. If the Avalanche recall a forward and a defenseman from the AHL before Saturday, that suggests at least one of the two will miss the Montreal game. If either player is placed on injured reserve, it means a minimum of seven days out. And if both skate at Saturday's morning skate, the scare may be short-lived.

Makar's early exit from practice on Sunday is the detail that makes his situation harder to read. Non-contact injuries that recur within days tend to carry more risk than contact injuries, so managers should plan for him to miss at least Saturday.

Goalies and betting angle

Colorado's goaltending will face more shots without the Avalanche's best possession players. That trims the save-percentage and goals-against outlook for whoever starts in Montreal and beyond, and makes Avalanche goalies riskier fantasy starts until MacKinnon and Makar return.

For bettors, the market will adjust Colorado's lines sharply if either star is ruled out. MacKinnon and Makar are two of the most valuable skaters in the league, so a big shift is appropriate; the question is whether it overcorrects. Colorado has enough depth (Necas, Nelson, Kadri, Toews, Lehkonen) to stay competitive, and road games against mid-tier opponents may become live underdog spots. Unders on Colorado's team totals also look reasonable while the top power play is reshuffled.

For Verdexed's model view on Avalanche games, see the daily NHL picks page and /nhl/predictions.

What to do in your league

MacKinnon and Makar managers: Do not drop either player, even for a multi-week injury. If your league has an injured reserve slot, use it once the team places them on IR.

Pickups: Devon Toews, Nazem Kadri and, in deeper leagues, Brock Nelson if available.

Hold and start: Martin Necas. He stays a strong play even without his center.

Wait for news: Bednar had no update Thursday. Look for the team's injury report and the morning skate notes before Saturday's game in Montreal.

What's next

The severity of each injury will determine everything. A short absence, a game or two, is a minor blip. A longer one forces the fantasy reshuffle above and could reshape the top of the Central Division. Watch for an official update before Saturday, and plan your lineups with Toews and Nelson as the key beneficiaries in the meantime.