What happened: Colorado head coach Jared Bednar announced Saturday that Nathan MacKinnon will miss at least one month with an injury. Defenseman Cale Makar is also sidelined and expected to miss approximately two weeks.

Why it matters: Colorado loses its top center and premier defenseman simultaneously during the regular season. The concurrent absences test team depth across all situations, forcing immediate reshuffling of top-unit minutes and power-play roles.

What to watch: Colorado will adjust its line combinations and defensive pairings while monitoring recovery progress for both skaters.