February 7, 2025

Acquanyc

Health's Like Heaven.

Often-injured Avalanche Matt Calvert taking preventative measures; Philipp Grubauer named No. 1 goalie; taxi squad identified

As a professional athlete, Matt Calvert is a pro about feeling helpless. For the second consecutive year, the Avalanche forward finished last season on the injured list and watched his team lose Game 7 of a Western Conference semifinal series in street clothes.

“You watch your team, they’re battling so hard, you’re so close to the next (series), and you’re sitting there doing nothing,” Calvert said on a video conference call Sunday.

It’s tough to win the big game without your toughest player, and Calvert is undoubtedly that for the Avs. The depth forward can contribute on any line and is a primary penalty killer who isn’t afraid of fighting anyone.  But he couldn’t stay healthy last season, missing the last 13 games of what became a shortened regular season and all seven games in the conference semifinal series against Dallas. He also missed seven games early in the season with a head injury from blocking a shot.

Since that Game 7 defeat on Sept. 4 in Edmonton, Calvert has worked on preventative measures.

“It’s something I’ve really focused on. I stayed in Denver all off-season and did everything possible to have my body ready for camp and improving any area I could,” he said. “Because that’s obviously a thing — if you can’t stay healthy you can’t help your team, and it’s not a great feeling. So definitely a focus of mine this year to put in extra work in doing the little things and still play the way I do.”

Calvert is again playing at even-strength on the fourth line with center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. The other winger will be Tyson Jost or Logan O’Connor, who are replacing Matt Nieto, who signed with San Jose as a free agent.

EJ still absent. The Avalanche practiced and scrimmaged Sunday and veteran defenseman Erik Johnson was still barred from Family Sports Center for being “unfit” — likely because of COVID-19 protocol. The Avs will take Monday off and it’s becoming unlikely Johnson will be a candidate to play in Wednesday opener against St. Louis at Ball Arena.

Rookie Conor Timmins, 22, has replaced Johnson on the second pairing with Sam Girard and coach Jared Bednar raved about Timmins after Saturday’s scrimmage. But the Avs will miss Johnson as an alternate captain and primary penalty killer. Timmins probably won’t be put into a penalty-killing role.

Grubauer No. 1. Bednar named Philipp Grubauer his No. 1 goalie and opening-night starter despite Grubauer missing the first three days of training camp because of COVID protocol. Barring injuries, Bednar expects Grubauer to start at least 60% of the games on the 56-game schedule.

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