Logan O'Connor returns Tuesday as Avalanche add crucial playoff reinforcements
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Cimon Asselin
Mar 24, 2026 (5:30 PM)
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Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Logan O'Connor returns to the Colorado Avalanche lineup Tuesday, nearly 10 months after injury, giving the club a jolt deep in the roster.
This isn't just another body coming back. It's a tone-setter for a team already sitting at 102 points through 69 games.
O'Connor steps in after a long recovery filled with setbacks, finally clearing the last hurdle at practice. The timing matters with the playoffs right around the corner.
Colorado didn't ease into this either. They're dropping him straight into game action against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
And he won't be alone. Ross Colton is also set to return after missing six games, stacking reinforcements in the bottom six.
That changes the look of this lineup immediately. It gets faster, heavier, and tougher to play against on the forecheck.
Colorado suddenly has options again
O'Connor brings pressure every shift. He hunts pucks, finishes checks, and forces turnovers that tilt the ice.
That element has been missing at times, even with Colorado owning a +82 goal differential.
His impact shows up on special teams too. He already has 6 career shorthanded goals, the most among active Avalanche skaters.
The penalty kill has allowed 12 goals this season. O'Connor gives them a threat going the other way.
Colton adds another layer. He has 137 hits despite missing time, sitting third on the team in that category.
That physical edge matters in tight games. Colorado went 4-4-1 without him before his return.
Putting O'Connor and Colton together isn't random. There's familiarity there, and it gives the coaching staff a ready-made energy line.
Now add Gabriel Landeskog back into the mix, and suddenly the Avalanche can roll lines with purpose.
They can go heavy. They can go fast. They can match up depending on the opponent.
That flexibility is what separates good teams from dangerous ones in April.
O'Connor might need a few shifts to find his pace. But his identity doesn't change.
He pressures. He disrupts. And he makes life uncomfortable.
For a team already near the top of the Western Conference, that's a problem for everyone else.
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