Jared Bednar understands that if there’s a most convenient — or rather, least inconvenient — time for injuries, it’s early in the season. He also realizes one of the worst possible times is all at once.
Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin will undergo ankle surgery and is expected to miss “approximately” a month, Bednar said Tuesday. Defensemen Bowen Byram and Sam Girard are also out as the Avs (6-4-1) return home from Finland, with the coach describing Byram’s timeline as week-to-week.
“Injuries are going to come at certain times,” Bednar said. “You’re hoping they don’t pile up all at the same time like they kind of are for us right now.