Injuries Still An Issue For Avs, With Two Stars Not Close To A Return

The Colorado Avalanche have been dealing with injuries to many veterans this season. But on Tuesday, two Avs veterans in particular were identified as being a good ways away from making their return to action.

One of the two veterans -- winger Valeri Nichushkin -- is closer to coming back, although Avalanche coach Jared Bednar confirmed Nichushkin has suffered a setback.

"Got to back up a little bit and build him back up again," Bednar said of Nichushkin. Bednar added that Nichushkin still has "some distance to go" before he's ready to play NHL games again. Nichushkin's lower-body injury has already kept him out of the lineup for six games -- seven, if you count Colorado's Tuesday tilt against the New York Rangers.

Nichushkin isn't the only Avs veteran forward who remains out of action. Of course, we're talking about captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has been skating once again after missing the past two seasons and all of this season thus far with a right knee injury. There were reports that Landeskog's knee had swelling issues of late, but Bednar told media those reports were not accurate.

Related: Landeskog recovering ‘slow and steady’

“There’s forward progress for sure," Bednar said of Landeskog's health status. "But we don't have a new timeline or a firm timeline yet.”

The fact the Avalanche are winning games without two key veterans has to be heartening to Colorado fans. If and when Landeskog and Nichushkin do return to action this season, it will be like a trade acquisition or two. But for the moment, at least, the Avs have to do their best when they're not at 100-percent in terms of having all their talent available to play