Nathan MacKinnon Is Out at Least a Month and Cale Makar About Two Weeks: The Avalanche's New Lines and the Fantasy Pickups That Follow

The Colorado Avalanche finally put timelines on their two superstars on Saturday: head coach Jared Bednar said Nathan MacKinnon will miss at least a month and Cale Makar is expected to miss about two weeks, both with lower-body injuries suffered in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa. Hours later, Colorado went into Montreal and beat the Canadiens 4-1 without either of them. For fantasy managers, the timelines turn a day-to-day scare into a real roster decision, and Saturday's game offered a clear first look at who absorbs the minutes.

The timelines and what they cost

The losses are enormous. MacKinnon had 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 20 games, which led Colorado and was tied for fifth in the NHL entering the weekend. Makar had 23 points in 19 games from the blue line. Bednar described Makar's injury as soft-tissue related.

A month for MacKinnon likely means he misses a dozen or more games, depending on how the schedule falls, and could return around mid-December if the estimate holds. Makar's two-week window puts his return near the start of December. Both timelines are estimates, and lower-body injuries can linger, so plan for the longer end.

How Colorado lined up in Montreal

Brock Nelson moved up to center the top line with Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas, according to Colorado Hockey Now's pregame line projections. Nic Roy took over a line with Gabriel Landeskog, and Nazem Kadri anchored a second line. Gavin Brindley, recalled earlier in the week, entered the lineup in MacKinnon's place, and defenseman Alex Gagne made his NHL debut in Makar's spot.

On the back end, Devon Toews was projected to move up to the top pair with Sam Malinski and take over the point on the first power-play unit, the most valuable role Makar leaves behind.

The result was encouraging. Lehkonen had a goal and an assist, Nelson, Roy and Fedor Svechkov also scored, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 25 shots. Colorado went 1-for-4 on the power play, with Lehkonen's third-period goal coming with the man advantage and Kadri picking up the primary assist. The Avalanche improved to 12-6-3.

Fantasy fallout: who to add and who to upgrade

Devon Toews is the top pickup if he is available. Running the first power-play unit on a team with Colorado's talent is a significant upgrade, and he should log heavy minutes for the next two weeks. Add him in all formats where he is on waivers.

Brock Nelson moves from a secondary scoring role to the first-line center with top power-play time. His point production should rise, and he is a strong start for the next month.

Artturi Lehkonen looked the part on Saturday, and top-line minutes with Nelson and Necas give him real value. Add him in leagues where he is available.

Martin Necas becomes Colorado's primary offensive creator with MacKinnon out. His shot volume and power-play role should keep him a must-start, though his assist totals may dip without MacKinnon as a linemate.

Nazem Kadri is a useful depth add in deeper leagues, especially with his power-play role.

Mackenzie Blackwood remains a solid goalie start. Colorado's defensive structure held up in Montreal, though losing a defenseman of Makar's caliber could mean more shots against over the next two weeks.

Montreal's side of the ledger

The Canadiens' lone goal came from Nick Suzuki, assisted by Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield, which keeps Montreal's top line producing even in a loss. That trio remains the only Canadiens group worth starting in standard leagues. For bettors, Colorado's win as a short-handed road team is a reminder that markets can overreact to star absences in the first game, before the depth chart has been tested.

What to do with MacKinnon and Makar

Move both to your IR slots if your league has them. Neither should be dropped under any circumstances: MacKinnon is an elite fantasy center who will return for the second half of the season, and Makar is among the most valuable fantasy defensemen in the sport when healthy.

If you lack IR slots, Makar is easier to hold given the shorter timeline. MacKinnon is a tougher call in leagues with shallow benches, but his value when he returns justifies the roster spot. If a contending manager panics, consider a buy-low trade for MacKinnon: you will not pay full price for a player out a month, and his production in the second half could swing a title.

The Verdexed angle

Colorado's win in Montreal suggests the team can stay competitive without its two stars, but sustaining that over a month is another matter. Markets will adjust Colorado's lines over the coming weeks, and the model's view of each game is on the NHL predictions page, with daily picks at NHL picks for November 15.

For DFS, Colorado's top line is cheaper than usual while MacKinnon is out, which makes the Nelson-Lehkonen-Necas trio an interesting stack in favorable matchups. Toews is a value defenseman with power-play upside.

What's next

Watch Colorado's next few games for whether Bednar keeps Nelson on the top line or shuffles to find chemistry. Makar's return in roughly two weeks will reshape the power play again, so Toews' value has a shelf life. Nelson and Lehkonen should hold their upgraded roles until MacKinnon is back, which makes them the more durable pickups.