The Colorado Avalanche will be without a key piece of their lineup as the regular season winds down. Head coach Jared Bednar announced Thursday that veteran forward Nazem Kadri will miss "some games" due to a finger injury.

Bednar expressed optimism, however, stating the team hopes to reintegrate the 2022 Stanley Cup champion before the playoffs begin, potentially as soon as next week. This timeline is crucial, as the Avalanche have just five games remaining on their schedule to fine-tune their roster for another championship run.

The injury occurred during Tuesday's 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Since being re-acquired by Colorado at the trade deadline, Kadri has provided valuable secondary scoring, notching four goals and five assists in 16 games. His playoff experience and tenacity are considered vital assets for the postseason grind.

While the Avalanche have already secured the Central Division and the Western Conference's top seed, they are navigating some injury concerns. In addition to Kadri, superstar defenseman Cale Makar remains sidelined with an upper-body injury, though he took a positive step by skating in a non-contact jersey Thursday.

The team's immediate focus shifts to their Thursday night matchup against the Calgary Flames, where a win would clinch the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's best regular-season record. How they manage these final games without key contributors like Kadri will be a telling test of their depth as they prepare to defend their status as a league powerhouse.