Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said defenseman Cale Makar will notify the team when he is ready to return to play.
The uncertainty surrounding Makar's availability comes at a critical juncture for the Avalanche, who have lost the first two games [1] of the Western Conference Finals.
Speaking after Game 2 at Ball Arena in Denver on May 21, Bednar said the decision regarding the player's return does not rest with the coaching staff. The coach said the timeline for the star defenseman is dependent on the player's own recovery process.
"He will tell us when he's ready," Bednar said.
Bednar said he is distanced from the medical determination of the player's status. The coach said he does not control the return-to-play timeline for injured athletes.
"I don't make that decision," Bednar said.
Despite these comments, reports regarding Makar's future availability have remained inconsistent. While Bednar said the player would communicate his readiness, other reporting suggests that Makar's status is completely unknown moving forward [2].
The Avalanche are currently facing a deficit in the series against the Vegas Golden Knights. The absence of a key defenseman like Makar creates a significant void in the team's defensive rotation, and power-play capabilities as they attempt to avoid elimination.
“"He will tell us when he's ready."”
The lack of a concrete return date for Cale Makar puts the Avalanche in a precarious position. By shifting the decision-making power to the player, Bednar avoids committing to a timeline that could be derailed by a setback, but it leaves the team's strategic planning for the remainder of the series in flux.
