Aside from captain Gabriel Landeskog’s season-long absence, the second-most important player on the Colorado Avalanche roster who might not be ready for the start of the season is backup goaltender Pavel Francouz.
He has yet to skate with the team during training camp, and Friday his coach said there was no timeline for Francouz’s return. That makes 23-year-old Justus Annunen, with four games of NHL experience on his resume, the next man up.
“It is how it works. Somebody gets hurt and some other guy gets a chance,” Annunen said. “It’s unfortunate for Frankie, but I have a chance right now and I have to do my best.