Compher (finger) was designated to the injured reserve by Colorado on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Although this roster move has been foreshadowed since Compher was taken out of Thursday's game with a broken thumb, we still don't have a clear timetable for his return. The 22-year-old was playing well too in his sophomore season notching four points in eight games, and will likely reprise his role of centering the third line when he recovers.

Compher broke his thumb during Thursday's game against the Blues, Bleacher Report's Adrian Dater reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 22-year-old pivot will reportedly be sidelined for "awhile" with his injury, so the Avalanche will likely need to recall a forward from the minors to round out their depth up front for the foreseeable future. Compher has tallied three points in seven games this season.

Compher has been ruled out of the remainder of Thursday's game against the Blues due to a hand injury.

EDGE Analysis

The severity of Compher's ailment is currently unknown, but Colorado doesn't play again until Tuesday, so he may not be forced to miss any game action. The Avalanche should release an update on his status in the coming days.

Compher collected an assist during Wednesday's 6-3 win over Boston to extend his point streak to three games.

EDGE Analysis

Compher has played well to start the campaign and appears to have solidified a middle-six role moving forward. The 2013 second-round pick was a prolific scorer at the University of Michigan before turning pro last year. He recorded 13 goals and 30 points through 41 outings with San Antonio in the AHL before a 21-game stint with Colorado to finish the 2016-17 season. Still, while the upside is there to be a reliable fantasy asset, it's probably best to take a wait-and-see approach with the 22-year-old forward in most settings.

Compher fashioned a secondary assist in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Wild.

EDGE Analysis

The versatile prospect out of Northbrook, Illinois has played in the past 19 games, earning a decent amount of rink-run with the Avalanche appearing to have conceded their playoff hopes near the trade deadline in early March. You can see flashes of brilliance from Compher; he's picked up three points in the last four.

The Avalanche recalled Compher from AHL San Antonio on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

The Avalanche are the worst team in the NHL, and will now use the rest of the 2016-17 campaign to evaluate their young talent, including the 21-year-old Compher. The American pivot was selected in the second round of the 2013 draft by the Sabres before being traded to Colorado in 2015. Compher has played well in the minors this season, notching 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 41 games with AHL San Antonio. He could make his NHL debut as soon as Thursday against the Senators.

Compher was cut from Avalanche training camp on Thursday and will head to the AHL, Terry Frei of the Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

With the season fast approaching, Compher was one of three Avs players sent to San Antonio as the team shores up their lineup in advance of the Oct. 15 opener. Compher was a three-year standout at the University of Michigan, where he most recently rattled off 63 points -- and a whopping plus-35 rating -- in just 38 games with the Wolverines last season. Given his collegiate production, he should have a decent shot at being productive in the NHL, but for now, he'll start his professional career in the AHL.

Compher was traded to Colorado on Friday along with Mikhail Grigorenko, Nikita Zadorov and the 31st overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Ryan O'Reilly and Jamie McGinnTSN's Darren Dreger reports. Compher announced last month that he will be returning to the University of Michigan for his junior season in the fall. Long term, Compher projects as a third-line center who can help out on the penalty kill and has great leadership qualities. Colorado has arguably the worst prospect pool in the entire NHL and Compher immediately becomes ones of their brighter prospects.

Compher announced he will be returning to Michigan for the 2015-16 season on WGR 550. The decision isn't exactly surprising, considering how pedestrian Compher's sophomore year went. He finished the season with 24 points in 34 games, a seven-point drop from his freshman season when he was named the Big Ten Rookie of the Year. The Sabres already have a slew of rookies ready to step in right away next year, including Sam Reinhart and potentially Jack Eichel, which means they can afford to be patient with Compher. An early pick in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft, Compher has the potential to be a valuable second- or third-line player with intangibles.