The Colorado Avalanche are gearing up for their first Stanley Cup Final since 2001, where they will look to dethrone the reigning back-to-back champs in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Some key Avalanche players are nursing injuries, but they've had more than a week to rest up and recover since sweeping the Oilers in the Western Conference Finals. According to head coach Jared Bednar, via Peter Baugh, Nazem Kadri and Andrew Cogliano are both considered day-to-day, a major step in the right direction for the attacking duo.
Jared Bednar describes Nazem Kadri and Andrew Cogliano as day-to-day. He did not give any updates on who will start in net. Burakovsky is fine despite leaving skate early.
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) June 15, 2022
Kadri has been sidelined since Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. Oilers forward Evander Kane boarded him during his first shift on the ice, knocking him out of the game. Kane was suspended for his dirty hit, while Kadri was forced to undergo surgery on his thumb, missing the remainder of the Avalanche-Oilers series.
The Avalanche's star forward wasn't expected to be available for the Stanley Cup Final, considering how recently he had surgery on his thumb, but the latest updates on the veteran forward could not be more positive. While Bednar didn't go as far as to say Kadri would be available for the Avalanche in Game 1, the likelihood of the 31-year-old being available at some point in the series certainly seems to have increased, and by a substantial amount.
As for Cogliano, the Avalanche's forward also underwent surgery to repair a finger injury. He just had his procedure on June 9, but it seems Cogliano is making a rather swift turnaround and could be back at some point in the series, though he was also slapped with the day-to-day tag.
The exact plan for Kadri and Cogliano remains to be seen, but these latest updates bode well for a pair of players who not long ago seemed likely to miss the entire Stanley Cup Final.
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