DENVER — Avalanche coach Jared Bednar is comfortable with how the team has handled the health of Cale Makar after the defenseman, on two separate occasions this month, was cleared to return to games in which he sustained head injuries that later turned out to be related concussions.
The defending Norris and Conn Smythe winner is listed as day-to-day while in concussion protocol after the second hit to the head area, which occurred during the third period of Colorado’s 4-1 win Saturday at St. Louis. He’s in a separate protocol from the one he went through after the initial injury Feb. 7 in Pittsburgh.
Makar will not be available for the Avs’ upcoming back-to-back Friday (6 p.m. MT) at Winnipeg and Saturday (8 p.m.) vs. Calgary. The protocol lasts seven days with baseline testing every day and a gradual return process. “We listen to the player once all the tests are passed,” Bednar said.
