Oliver Kylington has made his much-anticipated return to the Colorado Avalanche lineup after being sidelined for 31 games due to an upper-body injury. In contrast, teammate Josh Manson will miss upcoming games due to his own injury.

Meanwhile, in Columbus, Zach Werenski is back on the ice for the Blue Jackets following a brief absence. The Florida Panthers welcomed Mackie Samoskevich back as well, though his return was cut short by a new upper-body injury.

The Nashville Predators' Jonathan Marchessault took a maintenance day, while Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils skated solo, indicating a positive trend in his recovery. However, he won't be available this week. The status of Jonas Siegenthaler remains uncertain after an injury in his last game.

In Philadelphia, Owen Tippett's absence will continue as he won't return for the Four Nations. The Pittsburgh Penguins are closely monitoring Sidney Crosby's condition as the team awaits more updates. Anthony Cirelli's situation for the Tampa Bay Lightning looks grim with no clear timeline for his return.

As teams gear up for the Four Nations tournament, the injury reports are a mixed bag, with some players returning while others are still a question mark, intensifying the stakes as the season progresses.

Oliver Kylington's departure from the Calgary Flames left many puzzled, especially considering his previous connection with the team and struggles with the Colorado Avalanche. Having earned a place as a fan favorite due to both his talent and his fight for mental health awareness, Kylington's free agency situation turned sour. Although the Flames were supportive during his absence, contract negotiations faltered, leading to the signing of Jake Bean instead. Kylington's one-year contract with the Avalanche was a fraction of what he had hoped for. Now, with his return to the ice on the horizon, he is a player to watch closely.

The Colorado Avalanche faced a crowded practice session on Monday, seeing a return of eight players who had been unavailable during their last game. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood, who was activated from injured reserve, participated and is set to be an option for the team's upcoming game against the New York Rangers. Wedgewood's rapid recovery from a serious ankle injury is a boost for the team, according to coach Jared Bednar.

However, not all injury updates were positive. Samuel Girard remains sidelined due to an upper-body issue, while Valeri Nichushkin's lower-body injury is taking longer to heal than initially expected. Reports on captain Gabe Landeskog's recovery from surgery revealed that while he has made progress, he is not yet able to skate regularly.

New additions like Miles Wood and Oliver Kylington also participated but will need more time before returning to play. Meanwhile, Ivan Ivan has been cleared to return to action but will be playing in the AHL for now. With John Ludwig back from a conditioning stint, the Avalanche are managing their defensemen well despite ongoing injury challenges.

Jared Bednar, head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, expressed his frustration regarding the NHL's decision not to stop play when goaltender Scott Wedgewood was injured during a game against the Buffalo Sabres. Wedgewood sustained a leg injury after a collision, leading to a goal being scored by the Sabres while he remained down on the ice. Bednar emphasized the need for referees to protect goalies just as they do for other players, stating that the play should have been halted.

The Avalanche ultimately won the game 6-5 in overtime, but the incident has raised concerns about Wedgewood's condition, with Bednar indicating he could be sidelined for several weeks. The team is hoping for a favorable diagnosis, as they are already dealing with multiple injuries to key players.

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar provided updates on player injuries ahead of a five-game road trip. Ross Colton is set to join the team after skating in a non-contact jersey, with a potential return by the trip's end.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Drouin and Oliver Kylington are both week-to-week due to injuries. Colton's return would be significant as he had been performing well before his injury, scoring eight goals in ten games this season.