Avalanche Activate Logan O’Connor; Recall Taylor Makar

Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed (via DNVR Avalanche’s Bailey Curtis) that forward Logan O’Connor would return to the Colorado Avalanche’s lineup tonight. Furthermore, Colorado announced that they recalled forward Taylor Makar from the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.

O’Connor will make his 2026-27 season debut tonight after missing the Avalanche’s first 10 games. At first, O’Connor was recovering from a lower-body injury that he sustained during preseason. His injury recovery quickly turned into a personal leave after his father, Myles O’Connor, unexpectedly and tragically passed away on October 8th. Since the season began on September 29th, O’Connor has met each long-term injured reserve activation requirement (10 games or 24 days).

When healthy, the Avalanche know what O’Connor brings. A prototypical bottom-six forward, O’Connor scored 40 goals and 96 points in 300 games for Colorado from the 2021-22 campaign to the 2024-25 season. Unfortunately, marred by injuries last year, O’Connor finished the 2025-26 season with two assists in 13 contests.

Additionally, O’Connor is a strong defensive forward and penalty killer. Throughout his career, O’Connor has managed a 51.8% CorsiFor and 92.5% on-ice SV% at even strength. He has also been a major factor in the Avalanche sustaining a top-10 penalty kill since he became a full-time NHLer in the 2021-22 season.

Meanwhile, Colorado has recalled Makar after reassigning Gavin Brindley yesterday. Although he began the year on the Avalanche’s opening-night roster, Makar has only played for AHL Colorado this season. The younger brother of defenseman Cale Makar, Taylor has scored three goals and four points in six games for the Eagles this season.