Andrew Cogliano Out Indefinitely With Fractured Neck

The NHL Department of Player Safety will certainly be under fire after this one. And deservedly so.

Hours after landing in Colorado, news came out that Andrew Cogliano, who was on the receiving end of a dirty hit by Jordan Eberle in Game Six, is out indefinitely with a fracture neck. The specific injury is a fracture of the C5 Lamina, according to Elliotte Friedman, who broke news of the injury. A two-minute minor penalty is all that was called on the play, and Eberle faces no supplemental discipline from the league. Cogliano returned to play in the third period.

It’s terrible news for the Avalanche, who just cannot catch a break with injuries. Cogliano has played on the third line all year long, and played 11:01 on Friday night. With the team already down Darren Helm and Josh Manson, they’ll likely need to bring up another player for Game Seven. The other option is to play Kurtis MacDermid, who has not dressed in a playoff game since the Avalanche acquired him.

After the team landed in Colorado, I asked Jared Bednar how Cogliano was feeling the day after the hit. At the time, Bednar said he was feeling okay, but sore. After the team landed, Cogliano was reevaluated, and that’s when the injury was discovered, so Cogliano will not be available for Game Seven.

With no supplemental discipline headed Eberle’s way, it’s not a good look for the NHL. You’re taught not to make a hit like that when you’re extremely young, and there was no excuse for it. Eberle has no history, and it was a mistake on his part, but that doesn’t excuse the hit itself.

Here is what former NHL player Mike Johnson had to say on the hit itself.. It will be interesting to see how the Avalanche approach this. Bednar already voiced his frustration with the ruling by the NHL (“I don’t know. I can’t figure it out anymore. I don’t even try.”), but he may discuss it further on Sunday after morning skate.