Avalanche fans can breathe a sigh of relief about Cale Makar. Jared Bednar said Wednesday morning that Makar is “OK” and could play Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. Makar did not skate Wednesday at Family Sports Center, but it was an optional practice. “He’s OK. He’s making the trip,” Bednar said. “Wants to see if he’s feeling good enough to go tomorrow.” Makar was injured during the second period of a 6-3 win against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night at Ball Arena. He left a shift during a power play with 10:08 remaining in the second period and did not return before the intermission. He took one shift that lasted 29 seconds early in the third period. Makar tested his lower-body injury during a television timeout before leaving the bench area and not returning. Bednar said after the game that Makar had “tweaked something” and television replays showed the star defenseman shaking his right leg after turning in the corner during that final second-period shift. Makar leads all NHL defensemen with 23 points this season. He is tied for a second in the NHL among all players behind Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon, who has 25 points. Given how the start of this season has gone, Makar’s absence against the Kraken felt like yet another low point during the club’s injury and availability crisis. Maybe the Avs’ luck has finally turned a bit. Artturi Lehkonen made his season debut after shoulder surgery against Seattle. He said afterwards that he felt rusty at times, but Lehkonen scored a goal and put in some strong work in all three phases of the game. When asked where Lehkonen’s impact was most felt, Bednar immediately replied, “Everywhere.” “Having him back in the lineup is huge and we definitely benefited,” Nathan MacKinnon said. “He’s one of the best wingers in the league. He just does it all. There’s a short list of players you’d want on your team over him. To get him back finally was a huge boost of morale.” The Avs are also about to get two more key forwards back. Jonathan Drouin will not travel with the team to Winnipeg, but he could play Saturday at home against the Carolina Hurricanes. Drouin has not played since getting injured in the season-opening loss in Las Vegas. Drouin and Valeri Nichushkin skated during the optional practice Wednesday. Nichushkin remains on track to make his season debut Nov. 15 against the Los Angeles Kings, assuming the NHL and NHLPA sign off on his full reinstatement from the players assistance program. Bednar has praised the play of several complimentary forwards during the start of the season, but adding Drouin, Nichushkin and Miles Wood in the coming days will give him and the organization some tough decisions on who stays with the NHL club and who plays where. “Whenever we can add top players back in the lineup, it’s definitely a positive thing,” Bednar said. One top player where the updates haven’t been as positive lately is Gabe Landeskog. Bednar said recently the captain has taken some time away from the ice during his rehabilitation process as it nears the 18-month mark since knee cartilage replacement surgery. He offered a little more clarification on whether Landeskog sustained a “setback” while also reiterating on his weekly radio show that both the club and the player expect him to play for the Avalanche at some point this season. “I don’t know if you can call it (a setback),” Bednar said. “I think there’s ups and downs throughout the course of his rehab, especially now, when he’s feeling better and getting closer to play. He’s pushing himself into different areas, and sometimes he reacts well and moves on to the next thing, and then the next thing might not feel great for him. … He’s continuing his work and in the gym every day, and he’ll get back on the ice soon.” FOOTNOTE: Bednar said that Alexandar Georgiev will start in net for the Avalanche on Thursday in Winnipeg. It will be Georgiev’s second start in the past nine games. Related Articles Colorado Avalanche | Nathan MacKinnon’s huge night snaps Avalanche skid, but Cale Makar injured against Kraken Colorado Avalanche | The real version of the Colorado Avalanche in 2024-25 is almost here Colorado Avalanche | Valeri Nichushkin cleared to practice with Avalanche, remains in player assistance program Colorado Avalanche | Avalanche Journal: Colorado’s Big Three are excelling without overextending. Will it pay off come playoff time? Colorado Avalanche | Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen are producing, but shooting less so far this season Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.