Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said defenseman Cale Makar will notify the team when he is ready to return to play.
The status of Makar is critical as the Avalanche attempt to recover from a 0-2 [1] deficit in the Western Conference Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Bednar said to the media following the Game 2 loss in early June 2024 to manage speculation regarding Makar's availability. The defenseman is dealing with an upper-body injury [2]. While some reports indicated that Makar will miss some time [3], other accounts suggest his status moving forward remains unknown [1].
Bednar shifted the responsibility of the return timeline to the player. "He will tell us when he’s ready," Bednar said [4].
The coach further distanced himself from the medical decision-making process during the press conference. "I don’t make that decision," Bednar said [5].
These comments have sparked varying interpretations among analysts. Some observers suggested Bednar called out Makar after the Game 2 loss [6]. Other reports indicated the comments put the defenseman in an awkward spot rather than serving as a direct call-out [7].
The team continues to face pressure to secure a victory to stay alive in the series. The absence of a top defenseman creates a significant gap in the Avalanche defensive rotation during the high-stakes playoff environment.
“"He will tell us when he’s ready."”
The uncertainty surrounding Cale Makar's return places the Colorado Avalanche in a precarious position. By deferring the timeline to the player, Bednar avoids committing to a specific date but leaves the roster in flux during a critical series deficit. The conflicting reports on whether Makar will miss significant time or is simply day-to-day suggest a lack of a concrete recovery roadmap, which may force the team to rely more heavily on depth defensemen.
