The Colorado Avalanche’s defensive depth took a hit Tuesday when Jacob MacDonald underwent hip surgery that’ll keep him sidelined until early 2026.
The team expects MacDonald won’t return to action until February or March, missing a big chunk of the upcoming season.
It’s especially tough timing considering MacDonald just had the best year of his pro career. Playing for the Colorado Eagles in the AHL last season, he put up incredible numbers – 31 goals and 55 points in 63 games, with a stellar +24 rating.
His dominant performance earned him a trophy case full of hardware. MacDonald took home the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s best defenseman, grabbed the President’s Award for all-around excellence, and landed a spot on the First All-Star Team.
This is MacDonald’s second go-round with the Avalanche organization. He spent the previous year and a half with the San Jose Sharks, where he tallied 8 goals and 15 points in 59 NHL games while averaging about 14 minutes of ice time per night.
While losing MacDonald isn’t devastating for the Avs’ main roster, it does leave them thin on defensive depth. Right now, they’re looking at Ronald Attard and Jack Ahcan as their most experienced backup options if injuries hit the blue line.
The timing might push Colorado into the free agent market for some defensive help. While they probably won’t chase top available defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, don’t be surprised if they offer tryouts to veterans like T.J. Brodie or Jonathon Merrill before training camp starts.
