Avalanche's Compher expected to miss 1 month with upper-body injury

Colorado Avalanche forward J. T. Compher will miss approximately one month with an upper-body injury, head coach Jared Bednar announced Monday, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh.

Compher sustained the injury on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks and was forced to exit during the first period. Bednar said after the game that Compher pulled something in his upper body and wasn't "doing great right now."

The 26-year-old is tied with Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen for most goals on the Avalanche's roster with five.

Compher was filling the top-line center role in the absence of Nathan MacKinnon, who has been on the shelf since getting hurt against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 6.

Bednar said Rantanen will move to center with MacKinnon and Compher out, according to NHL.com.

As for defenseman Bowen Byram, Bednar confirmed he is in concussion protocol and won't start skating until he feels better. Byram has been out since taking an elbow to the face against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 11.

Colorado has been battling a myriad of injuries all season long and holds a 6-5-1 record to start the year.

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