Avalanche Recall Forward, Defenseman Ahead of Game vs Tampa Bay

The Avalanche are adding depth to their roster ahead of a game Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The team recalled defenseman Jack Ahcan and forward Tristen Nielsen from the Colorado Eagles on Monday.

Ahcan has been called up before and has dressed in two games this season. Having him available to head coach Jared Bednar allows for an opportunity to rotate him in for Ilya Solovyov. Colorado has juggled between the two and even previously called up Wyatt Aamodt, but didn’t use him.

The spot they’re playing is the one that Samuel Girard will likely take back when he’s healthy, which could be as early as this weekend.

As for Nielsen, it’s far more likely that he’s a sure bet to make his NHL debut on Tuesday. The undrafted Canadian left-shot forward was signed to an NHL contract last Monday following a strong start to his AHL campaign with the Colorado Eagles.

Nielsen, who attended Avs camp on an AHL contract, has five goals and nine points in 11 games in the AHL. Last season he played with the eventual Calder Cup champion Abbotsford Canucks and posted just 28 points in 67 games.

It’s likely that he’ll slot in on the fourth line with center Zakhar Bardakov and winger Parker Kelly.

Colorado recently called up Taylor Makar and he made his NHL debut on Saturday in San Jose. Like Makar, Nielsen is stepping in for an injured Gavin Brindley, who suffered a concussion in Vegas after taking a hit from forward Ivan Barbashev.

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