Avalanche dealt crushing blow as key defenseman sidelined after surgery
Photo credit: Michael Martin / NHLI
The Colorado Avalanche were hit with a significant setback as defenseman Jacob MacDonald underwent hip surgery that will keep him sidelined for an extended period.
The loss of the veteran blueliner is a major blow to Colorado's depth on the back end, leaving the team to adjust its defensive rotation as thet prepare for the upcoming stretch of the season.
Jacob MacDonald expected to miss significant time after undergoing surgery.
Tyler Kuehl from Daily Faceoff writes the Avalanche will be without a veteran presence on the blue line for an extended stretch. The team announced Tuesday that defenseman Jacob MacDonald underwent succesful hip surgery and is expected to be sidelined for the next 5-6 months while he recovers.
"According to the team, the procedure was performed at the UC Health Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Denver by Dr. Stephanie Mayer." -Kuehl
MacDonald, 32, is coming off his best season with the Colorado Eagles, posting career highs of 31 goals, 55 points, and a +24 rating. He led all AHL defenseman in scoring, earned the Eddie Shore Award as the league's top blueliner, and was named to the AHL First All-Star for the second time.
"The Portland, Ore. native is in his second stint with the Avs organization. He was traded to Colorado by the Florida Panthers in June 2019, and remained with the franchise until he was sent to the San Jose Sharks in January 2023 as part of the trade that saw Matt Nieto and Ryan Merkley head to Denver." -Kuehl
MacDonald signed a two-year, two-way deal with Colorado in July 2024, carrying a $775,000 NHL cap hit. He's played 135 NHL games with Florida, San Jose, and New Jersey, scoring 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points, and added 257 points in 358 total AHL games.
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