Colorado Avalanche's Kyle Cumiskey Out With Concussion

An already depleted blue line will get worse with the Colorado Avalanche's loss of defenseman Kyle Cumiskey to a concussion.

Cumiskey is the third Avalanche player to be sidelined with a concussion this season, along with forward Peter Mueller and captain Adam Foote.

The concussion is the second in two seasons for Cumiskey, who sustained one in a game last February. Though he'd only miss five games, the brief absence from the line-up was due to the 2010 Winter Olympic games stopping NHL play for a period of two weeks.

Though he's been a little inconsistent at times this year, Cumiskey has still been a big part of the Avalanche's defense, averaging over 20 minutes per contest.

Replacing him won't be easy.

The Avalanche currently have six healthy defensemen on their roster, but it remains to be seen how much of a role coach Joe Sacco is willing to give AHL journeyman David Liffton, who's averaged only 6:14 in ice time during the two games when he was dressed as the Avalanche's seventh defenseman.

In the AHL, Colorado could turn to top prospects Colby Cohen and Kevin Shattenkirk. However, both have struggled to adjust to the pros, as the offensive-minded defensemen have combined for only a single point through the Lake Erie Monsters first 11 games.