September 17th 2024.
The Colorado Avalanche's Logan O'Connor was having a stellar season, but unfortunately, a long-standing issue finally caught up with him and put a roadblock in his way. Despite setting a career-high in goals last season with 13, O'Connor's campaign was cut short in early March due to a torn labrum in his hip.
Reflecting on his injury, O'Connor shared, "That was frustrating. I felt like everything was finally clicking for me last year. But I can take the positives and be proud of the season I had. It's not like I was struggling before getting injured, so I don't have to question my abilities."
At 28 years old, O'Connor has been a success story for the Avalanche after playing for the University of Denver. He was a valuable part of the team's bottom-six forward group, and his offensive numbers were on the rise despite only playing in 57 games last season.
Unfortunately, the hip injury he sustained is a common one in hockey due to the strain it puts on the body during skating. O'Connor underwent surgery with the same doctor who treated Valeri Nichushkin and Miles Wood in previous seasons, and his recovery process went smoothly.
"I've actually had the torn labrum for six years," shared O'Connor. "But for some reason, it became symptomatic in November. It started as just managing the pain, but as the season went on, I started to feel weaker and it affected my skating abilities."
Knowing he would need surgery and miss the rest of the season, the Avalanche added Brandon Duhaime and Yakov Trenin to their roster just before the trade deadline to help cover for O'Connor's absence and strengthen their bottom-six.
Wood spoke highly of O'Connor, saying, "He was a huge part of our team. His presence in the locker room was invaluable, and we definitely missed him during the playoffs. He brings speed, strength, and playmaking abilities to our line. Both Ross and I are excited to have him back."
After a slow start to his rehab, O'Connor was back on the ice by mid-June and has been skating normally for about a month to prepare for the upcoming season. He expects to be fully recovered when training camp opens on Thursday, but unfortunately, the Avalanche will be missing some key players.
According to a team spokesman, Artturi Lehkonen will not be ready to play after undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason. And there is no timeline for captain Gabe Landeskog, who is still recovering from knee cartilage replacement surgery he underwent 17 months ago.
In addition to these injuries, Nichushkin is also suspended until at least mid-November while in Stage 3 of the NHL-NHLPA Player Assistance Program. If everyone was healthy and available, the Avs could look to rekindle the chemistry that Colton, O'Connor, and Wood had last year. But it's more likely that one or two of them will be promoted to fill in for the missing players.
O'Connor emphasized the importance of focusing on details, structure, and defense in light of the missing firepower on the team. He shared, "Losing some key players creates opportunities for others to step up and fill those gaps. It'll have to be a team effort rather than relying on one player. We may have to adjust our playing style, but in the long run, it'll help us develop good habits and focus on the fundamentals."
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