The Avalanche have been missing their mayor, but they remain optimistic he will return. While most of the Avalanche will break for the Olympics after Wednesdays game against San Jose until they return to practice on Feb. 18, Log an OConnor will keep working.According to our news partners at The Gazette, the 29-year-old winger has not played a game this season after undergoing hip surgery over the summer.It looked like he was nearing a return in early November, but soft tissue issues unrelated to his hip surgery popped up and he hasnt been seen on the ice much since.Now, the veteran forward is back skating again, and the team is hopeful hell be back on the ice before the season ends.Hes back on the ice now, making progress, Jared Bednar said after Tuesdays optional skate. Hell be a guy that uses this break to his advantage. Hes planning on getting on the ice, staying on the ice, and working his way back to hopefully join the team at some point in the near future, if everything goes well.We feel confident in the plan, and he feels good about it, and hes starting to ramp up here again.While OConnor isnt a superstar by any means, he is a crucial piece to the Avalanche, both on and off the ice. The winger is a big part of Colorados penalty kill and arguably their most dangerous forward while shorthanded.In addition to the energy he brings every game, he was the teams most consistent forward during the Dallas series last postseason, picking up six points in seven games.In the locker room, hes become a large piece of the leadership group, becoming more vocal as his NHL career has gone on. His potential return would no doubt bolster the teams depth heading into the postseason.OConnor is in the first season of a six-year contract extension he signed that sees him carry a cap hit of $2.5 million.The Gazette's Evan Rawal contributed to this web story._______Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching. ...read more read less