The Avalanche have options if star defenseman Cale Makar isn’t available for their opening round-robin game, Aug. 2 against St. Louis, or even more games.

Of course, none of them would make up for his absence, but that's still a couple of weeks away.

Makar, a finalist for the Calder Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL Rookie of the Year, didn’t practice for the second day in a row Monday. He didn’t return Saturday for a second session after taking part in the first.

Teams aren’t permitted to disclose player injuries or illnesses as part of the NHL’s Return to Play Plan.

Coach Jared Bednar said Saturday that Makar was “unfit” to practice, which has become the standard response throughout the league. He was asked Monday if he is concerned about not having him in the lineup at the start.

“I can't really comment on it, so I can't say if I'm concerned about it or not," he said.

The Avalanche are off Tuesday.

Veterans Mark Barberio and Kevin Connauton are among the extra defensemen taking part in training camp, along with prospects Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins.

“We're still evaluating,” Bednar said.

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Seems like eons ago, but the New York Rangers’ Brendan Lemieux has been suspended for the first two games of the playoffs for his hit against the Avalanche’s Joonas Donskoi on March 11, which proved to be the final regular-season game

Here’s video and explanation from the NHL Department of Player Safety:

NY Rangers’ Brendan Lemieux has been suspended for two Stanley Cup Qualifying games for interference on Colorado’s Joonas Donskoi. https://t.co/H3C0ZFD4f1

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) July 20, 2020

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Samuel Girard has moved up to the No. 1 power-play unit in Makar's absence and Erik Johnson is now on the second unit.

“They're getting some reps in practice and we're (also) keeping an eye on all of the other guys that are here,” Bednar said. “It starts with Connauton, probably, with his experience, (and) we know what Barberio has done for us over the last few years. We're looking at guys like Timmins and Byram real closely because we don't get to see them as often as those other guys."

Timmins, 21, was the Avalanche’s second-round pick (No. 32) in the 2017 NHL draft. He had 27 points (three goals, 24 assists) in 40 games this season with the AHL Colorado Eagles after missing the entire 2018-19 season to recover from post-concussion symptoms. He sustained a head injury in a May 2018 postseason game while playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.

"He’s definitely a guy we’re considering bringing (into) the bubble (in Edmonton),” Bednar said. “I think he's been really good. Noticeable skills. I like his puck-moving ability. I think he's a real good passer, a real heads-up player, finds a way to move the puck in and out of the zone. I think the things that we look at generally, as far as that puck play and intelligence and being able to read plays on the offensive side of things, are really good.

“The physicality and competitiveness in practice is starting to pick up in these scrimmages, so we're trying to keep an eye on these guys and watch how they're defending in the hard areas: in the corners, net front. I know we're practicing against our own team, but just seeing how he handles the size and strength and speed of the game on the defensive side of things, it's been pretty good.”

Timmins played in two Avalanche games before heading to the Eagles. He credited coach Greg Cronin for helping him there with extra work.

"I think overall it was a good year for me," he said. "It was definitely a learning experience. I think I really developed defensively. Greg Cronin put in a lot of work with me: my one-on-one battles, my gap control, my defensive zone work. Obviously, up here in the NHL everyone can score and you have to play defense against everyone. For me to put in that work was definitely big for my game."

Byram, 19, is probably a longshot to be on the roster because he is so inexperienced despite putting up huge numbers in junior hockey. The Avalanche’s first-round pick (No. 4) in 2019, he combined for 123 points (40 goals, 83 assists) in 117 games the past two seasons with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League.

Connauton, 30, has played 314 regular-season games over parts of seven NHL seasons. His only playoff experience: four games for the Dallas Stars in 2014. Acquired from the Arizona Coyotes last summer in the Carl Soderberg trade, Connauton had no points in four games with the Avalanche and 27 points (five goals, 22 assists) in 38 games for the Eagles.

Barberio, 30, is a five-year NHL veteran. He had two assists in 21 games this season. His best season was 2017-18 when he had 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 46 games. He has one assist in nine career playoff games.



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