Avalanche of Injuries: Colorado Goes Short-Handed

If injuries were a disease, you'd want to stay away from Colorado's locker room.

In just a few short weeks, the Avalanche have lost four players to injury, and not just your typical players, either—vital components to the success of the franchise have gone to the DL.

The biggest blow for the Avs? A career-threatening injury to Colorado's star player, the face of their franchise since the Quebec Nordique days: captain Joe Sakic.

Sakic was on pace for a solid year, contributing 22 points in 24 games, with half of those points coming on the Avs' struggling power play. Sakic was diagnosed with a groin injury, and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks.

It's easy to believe that with old age setting in, and the notorious nature of recurrence that comes with this injury, that Sakic might be on his way out the door.

The most recent woe comes in the form of Colorado's summer blockbuster, Ryan Smyth. Smyth had just began to find his groove on the Stastny line—contributing 28 points in 36 games—when he suffered a fractured ankle in Colorado's 4-3 overtime loss to Phoenix last Monday.

Smyth provides an offensive punch that Colorado can't afford to lose with Sakic out. The Avalanche will have to go without Smyth's services for a staggering 12 weeks.

On December 16th, Tyler Arnason, a uniquely energetic player with potential to score, was placed on the IR with a wrist injury. He initially was thought to be out until mid-January, but recent developments support an earlier return.

This prognosis bodes extremely well for the Avs, as it's expected the center will get increased ice time and a larger role in the offense with the injuries to Smyth and Sakic.

Of course, Jordan Leopold, Colorado's recently-acquired, chronically-injured defensemen was not to be outdone. Leopold, thought to be a No. 2 defenseman to skate with Liles when he was first obtained, has played in only 13 of Colorado's 36 games so far.

Leopold has posted three points in those contests, and is just now coming back from a thigh laceration suffered in practice.

Colorado, however, is very far from being starved for scoring talent. T.J. Hensick can expect to see a lot more ice time, and Jaroslav Hlinka will need to step up the scoring everyone expected to see after an amazing preseason.

Paul Stastny will need to find a cure for his streaky play, and develop strong consistancy, while Brunette can look forward to a first line role.

It's extremely possible with these promotions Colorado could maintain playoff position, and I wouldn't even rule out a Northwest title.