Colorado Avalanche fans hoping for a swift, non-surgical return of superstar defenseman Cale Makar may need to brace for a much longer absence. According to multiple medical experts who have reviewed the available imaging and game footage, the lower-body injury sustained by the Norris Trophy winner last week is more complex than the team’s initial “day-to-day” designation suggested.
While the Avalanche organization has remained cautiously optimistic, listing Makar as “week-to-week” with what sources describe as a low-grade groin and core muscle issue, two independent orthopedic surgeons not affiliated with the team have told this outlet that conservative treatment—rest and rehab—is a gamble that could backfire.
“Given Makar’s playing style—the explosive crossovers, the sudden stops, the rotational torque on his slap shot—a ‘mild’ core injury for a normal player is a red-flag injury for him,” says Dr. Ellen Vance, a sports medicine specialist who has previously consulted for NHL teams. “If he tries to play through this without surgery, he risks a full rupture that would not only end his season but potentially affect his career mobility.”
Dr. Vance and her colleague, orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Laroy, have independently concluded that the specific mechanism of Makar’s injury—a non-contact twist late in the third period against Winnipeg—points to a high-grade tear of the adductor or rectus abdominis. Both doctors recommend a minimally invasive surgical repair, which carries a recovery timeline of 10 to 12 weeks.
“The public perception is that surgery means the season is lost,” Dr. Laroy explains. “In reality, surgery is the fastest way to get him back on the rink at 100%. With surgery, he’s likely ready for the second round of the playoffs. With rest, he could re-injure it in his first game back, and then he’s done.”
The Avalanche declined to comment on specific medical recommendations, but a team source, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that “all options are on the table.” The source added that while the front office respects Makar’s desire to avoid going under the knife, the medical staff has begun quietly preparing the defenseman for the possibility that a procedure is inevitable.
Makar, 26, is widely considered the most dynamic blue-liner in the game, averaging over 26 minutes of ice time per night. Without him, the Avs have gone 1-2-0, and their power play has dropped from 28% to 16%.
For now, Makar remains in street clothes at Ball Arena, favoring his left leg. But the clock is ticking on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. As Dr. Vance puts it: “The question isn’t if Makar needs this surgery. It’s whether they wait until after he tries to come back too soon and fails.”
Fans hoping for a miracle rehab may need to accept that the real miracle would be seeing Makar return at all this spring—and that miracle likely comes with an operating room, not a therapy pool.
