Makar took some time off to recover, but it is apparent now that it wasn't nearly long enough, as a 3rd period collision with St. Louis Blues forward Alexei Toropchenko on February 18th appeared to stun the Norris Trophy winner, leading to a concussion spotter pulling him from the game.
Now, just a few days later, the Avs are fearing the worst. Makar is expected to miss some time after suffering his 2nd concussion in an 11-day span. Very scary stuff for such a young, talented player.
The collision itself between Toropchenko and Makar didn't seem overly dangerous, but as Makar committed to the hit in an attempt to stand Toropchenko up at the blueline, Toropchenko's arm did get up into the head of Makar. As anyone with a concussion knows, once you've had one concussion, they become easier to get. Given the extremely short timespan between Makar's first concussion this season and what is believed to be his second, there is certainly reason for concern here.
The timing couldn't be worse for Makar and the Avs, as the playoffs are just around the corner and the Minnesota Wild are breathing down their necks for 3rd in the Central Division standings. The Avs are already without the services of captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Erik Johnson. Losing Makar as well could be catastrophic and may even allow the Nashville Predators to get back into the playoff hunt as well.
POLL | ||
FEVRIER 21 | 103 ANSWERS Colorado Avalanche receive some devastating news about superstar defenseman Cale Makar Should the Avs shut down Cale Makar for the rest of the year as a safety precaution? | ||
Yes | 77 | 74.8 % |
No | 26 | 25.2 % |
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