Colorado Avalanche Get Good News On Jonathan Drouin's Impending Return

The Colorado Avalanche, up 1-0 on the Dallas Stars heading into Game 2 of their second-round series Thursday night, have some good news to report on forward Jonathan Drouin, who has yet to play in the postseason.

The top-six winger is progressing more quickly than expected from his injury suffered on the final night of the regular season after suffering a deep skate cut to his lower thigh. Recently, Drouin suggested that he was aiming to return "late second round or the start of the third round", but it now seems like he might be able to beat that, if we go by appearances, and what head coach Jared Bednar told the media today.

He's made some really good progress here over the last few days. Getting stronger in the gym, feeling good with his rehab and what he’s sort of been able to ramp up and do off the ice, and then yesterday skating for the first time. Joining the group today, that’s a quick second step, so things moving in the right direction with him.

Only 24 hours after skating for the first time since his injury, he participated in a full skate with his teammates on Thursday ahead of Game 2. Bednar still won't reveal any particular timeline for Drouin, but from this latest update, perhaps he might be ready to re-join the lineup when the series moves to Denver for Games 3 and 4 starting this weekend.

Drouin moving pretty well, if you ask me. pic.twitter.com/p8qL9oCZ06
— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) May 9, 2024

The original timeline from the team was "four weeks or less." He's at the three-week mark today.

Drouin had a tremendous comeback season this year in his first year with the Avalanche after four injury-riddled and troubled seasons in Montreal, scoring 19 goals and career-highs with 37 assists and 56 points. His +12 rating was also the best of his 10-year NHL run. The 29-year-old was the third overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft.