A day after concluding the preseason with a 6-5 victory at Dallas on Sunday, the Avalanche had Monday off, leaving any players on the bubble of making the team in limbo. The final roster won’t be announced until Tuesday.
Colorado opens the season Thursday against the at the .
The Avs on Sunday played without three key players — centers and and defenseman — for precautionary reasons. The trio didn’t practice Saturday at the Pepsi Center or make the trip to Dallas, but a team spokesman said Monday all three are expected to practice Tuesday.
The Avs, who finished 3-3 in the preseason, are carrying 29 players (16 forwards, 11 defensemen, two goalies) and must get down to 23 by opening night. They placed defensemen and on waivers Monday, and if those players aren’t claimed they likely will be reassigned to the club’s new American Hockey League, the Colorado Eagles in Loveland.
Forward Sven Andrighetto (lower-body) and defenseman Conor Timmins (head) are expected to begin the season on injured reserve. To that end, opening-night roster spots will be decided between rookie forwards Logan O’Connor, Sheldon Dries and and second-year player . Kamenev, however, didn’t play Sunday because of a leg injury and could be headed for IR.
On defense, it appears will either be the Avs’ eighth defenseman or report to the Eagles if the club chooses to only carry seven.
In a related move, forward Cody Bass — who was released from his professional tryout contract Friday — signed a free-agent deal with the Eagles.
