Rookie defenseman Bowen Byram, who hasn't played since March 25 because of an upper-body injury (probable concussion) on Wednesday pronounced himself fit to play whenever Avalanche coach Jared Bednar wants to put him in the lineup.
Byram practiced while paired with Jacob MacDonald.
“It’s definitely been a windy road to where I am now,… he said. “I’m just happy to be feeling a hundred percent again. I mean, it’s definitely a tough thing to go through and it was frustrating being out for so long, but now just being back, being around the guys, being on the ice with them again, you just really appreciate that. Definitely thankful for feeling good again.…
Byram last played against the Vegas Golden Knights, who will face the Avalanche in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs if they defeat the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night. They have a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series.
“It's been tough, like I said,… said Byram, who had two assists in 19 regular-season games. “It’s been a long time away from the game, something I’ve been around my whole life. I’ve never really had an injury that’s kept me out for that long before, so it’s definitely something new for me. I’m really happy with where I’m at now.…
Another rookie, forward Alex Newhook, took a maintenance day. He practiced Tuesday after hurting his back Sunday against the St. Louis Blues when he slid hard into the boards.
“I'm feeling better every day, just a maintenance day… he said. “We have some time off, we're lucky in that aspect. Trying to use the time to our advantage and clear everything up.…
Bednar didn’t address the media Wednesday. He said Tuesday that he expected Newhook and center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who took a shot on his leg Sunday, to be available when the second round begins. He skated with rookie Sampo Ranta and Carl Soderberg on Wednesday.
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Forward Jayson Megna has been added to the NHL COVID-19 protocol list, which doesn’t mean he tested positive but obviously could be problematic. The Avalanche can’t afford to lose any regulars to the list. Megna had two assists in seven Avalanche games this season.
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Kroenke Sports & Entertainment announced that Ball Arena has received approval from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment to increase capacity for Avalanche and Denver Nuggets games to 10,500, which is 57.3 percent of full capacity, effective with their next games.
The previously approved capacity was 7,750, which is 42.3 percent of the full capacity.
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Forward Nazem Kadri will have a Zoom hearing with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Thursday to appeal the eight-game suspension he was given by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Friday.
Kadri was suspended for an illegal check to the head of Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in Game 2 of the first round. He served the first two games in Games 3 and Game 4.
If Kadri doesn’t complete the suspension during the playoffs, he will finish it at the start of the 2021-22 regular season.
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The Avalanche signed forward Alex Beaucage to a three-year, entry-level contract. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Beaucage, 19, was a third-round pick (No. 78) in the 2019 NHL draft.
Beaucage, who is from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, had 20 points (14 goals, six assists) in 14 games with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and eight points (three goals, five assists) in eight games with the Victoriaville Tigres after being traded Jan. 25.
He has 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 10 postseason games so far.