Jared Bednar sends blunt message on Cale Makar after Avalanche fall into 0-2 blow

The Colorado Avalanche entered the Western Conference Final full of confidence after an impressive playoff run, but two games into the series against the Vegas Golden Knights, the mood around the team has shifted dramatically.

After suffering back-to-back defeats, Colorado now finds itself staring at a daunting 0-2 series deficit — a position that history suggests is incredibly difficult to recover from in the NHL playoffs.

Yet while the losses themselves have raised concerns, much of the discussion surrounding the Avalanche has centred on one major absence rather than the performances on the ice. Star defenseman Cale Makar has missed both opening games of the series through injury, leaving a major void in Colorado’s lineup at a crucial stage of the postseason.

Following the Game 2 defeat, head coach Jared Bednar was asked about Makar’s status and whether there was added urgency to get him back on the ice given the team’s difficult position.

Bednar admitted the desire to have Makar return has existed from the moment the defenseman went down, joking that urgency has been present since the injury first occurred. However, he made it clear that any decision regarding a comeback ultimately rests with the player and medical staff rather than the coaching team.

The Avalanche coach explained that Makar has been working relentlessly to recover as quickly as possible, but stressed that the organisation will only welcome him back once he is medically cleared and fully comfortable to return.

Colorado’s struggles without their defensive leader have only underlined how important Makar is to the team’s success. Widely regarded as one of the NHL’s elite defensemen, the star blueliner enjoyed another outstanding campaign, averaging close to 25 minutes of ice time per game during both the regular season and playoffs.

His impact extends well beyond defensive reliability, with Makar continuing to provide a major offensive spark from the back end. Across nine playoff appearances prior to the injury, he recorded four goals and one assist for five points while posting a strong plus-five rating.

Without him, Colorado have looked vulnerable against a confident Vegas side, and his absence has arguably become the defining storyline of the series so far. With the Avalanche desperate to avoid falling into an even deeper hole, attention will now turn to whether Makar can return in time to help spark a turnaround.

As things stand, Colorado appear to be missing more than just one player — they are missing arguably the driving force of their entire defensive structure during one of the most important moments of the season.