The Avs’ Pros and Cons of the 4 Nations Break

Break time is over for most of the Avalanche and they are ready to get back at it. Practice resumed on Wednesday after more than a week off from the NHL. Players were able to rest, regroup and spend time with their families, but was it too long?

“It was kind of good just to sweat out the break. Ten days off is never easy so it’s nice to get back into the swing of things,” Ross Colton said.

Forward Casey Mittelstadt said his body felt good after practice but the hardest adjustment was the altitude. He spent his time off in Florida but said he skated while he was there.

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Colton also hit the ice a few times to break in new skates while he was visiting family in New Jersey but didn’t go too hard. As a high-energy player, he appreciated the break but felt it was too much time off.

“Ten days off, that’s pretty hard to not touch the ice. I don’t know if everyone did that, but just for me that’s too many days off for me,” Colton said. “Did a couple light workouts and spent some quality time with family and friends and was fortunate enough to touch the ice a little bit.”

When Jonathan Drouin was not watching the 4 Nations games, he sort of got some skating in while he was visiting family in Montreal.

The extensive hiatus helped players regroup physically and mentally. But it also makes it more difficult to restart and get focused for the first couple of games back.

Martin Necas took some time off but also spent time getting settled into Denver. He did not skate during the break but got some workouts in and played pickleball on a Caribbean island.

“Obviously, long break, felt really long, to be honest. And obviously the first couple skates are going to be a little tougher for no skating for a while.

“We have four practices or whatever, and then we go play, and we’re going to be rested, we’re going to be ready, and excited about the games,” Necas said.

Importance of Mental Break for Avs Players

The 10 days off allowed muscle aches or strains to heal but it also helped players to mentally reset. The sunshine and 80-degree weather in South Florida boosted Mittelstadt’s ability to shut down and restart.

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“Try to stay in shape while you’re gone, and just overall for mental well-being as well.

“Personally, my body realizes we have a break and kind of shuts down for a couple days but then obviously the challenge is you got to get to the other side of that and get it back going again. So, it’s been nice,” Mittelstadt said.

Necas also appreciated the mental pause from the game and said he has come back with some energy and is excited to get back into the season.

Head coach Jared Bednar understands the different types of players on his team and how that mental rest helps establish a healthy balance.

“It’s just different for each guy but both are probably equally as important to kind of get reset and ready to go and excited about the stretch around here, I think is important, and to be feeling good physically is equally as important,” Bednar said.

The Avs’ 4 Nations participants — Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Artturi Lehkonen — did not have the time off like their teammates, but that may be advantageous for them to more easily get back at it.