MacKinnon to miss about 3 weeks with lower-body injury

Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon will miss "give or take three weeks" due to a lower-body injury, head coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday.

MacKinnon was hurt in Saturday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. It remains unclear how exactly he suffered the ailment.

The 26-year-old has recorded a goal and nine assists in eight contests this season. He missed the opening two games of the campaign due to COVID-19.

J.T. Compher is projected to take MacKinnon's place on the top line between Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. Here was the rest of the team's lineup at Wednesday's practice:

MacKinnon's absence comes just when the Avs were on the verge of becoming fully healthy.

Devon Toews made his season debut Saturday after undergoing shoulder surgery in the summer. His defense partner, Cale Makar, missed the last two games due to an upper-body injury and is nearing a return, as is forward Valeri Nichushkin, who hasn't played since the season opener.

The Avalanche have had bad luck with injuries and COVID-19 absences this season. In addition to the aforementioned issues, Landeskog, Rantanen, and Samuel Girard have all missed multiple games. Backup goalie Pavel Francouz also has yet to appear in a game due to an ankle injury.

The reigning Presidents' Trophy winners are off to an uneven 4-5-1 start.