UPDATE! Fantasy Hockey: Injury Round-Up
Here is a list of key players who have recently been injured, many of the injuries have sadly come from a recent sidewalk injury, or have been hurt for awhile and where they stand in their recovery. It can be difficult to keep track of all your fantasy/favourite players, so here is a large list, broken down by team of fantasy relevant injuries.
Anaheim Ducks
Viktor Fasth (lower-body) – OUT since Nov. 18
Fasth worked out on-ice with goalie coach Dwayne Roloson on Monday. He has yet to participate in a full practice with the rest of the team and remains without a timetable for his return. The Ducks have a log jam at goalie and with Jonas Hiller already being declared “not tradable” , Fasth could be on the move when he returns to full health.
Boston Bruins
Dennis Seidenberg (knee) – OUT since Dec. 27
Seidenberg is out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL and MCL.
Calgary Flames
Michael Cammalleri (concussion) – OUT since Jan. 11
Cammalleri is expected to play on Saturday after missing the last 10 games.
Curtis Glencross (ankle) – OUT since Dec. 21
Glencross remains out with a high-ankle sprain. His original timetable of eight weeks, has not changed as of now. Eight weeks would put his return at February 15, which is in the middle of the Olympic break, so expect Glenncross to be at full health post-Olympics.
Carolina Hurricanes
Cam Ward (lower-body) – OUT since Dec. 31
Ward has been sent to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) for a conditioning stint, should be able to start in Carolina next week.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Marian Gaborik (collarbone) – OUT since Dec. 21
Gaborik took part in the Blue Jackets morning skate on Saturday and will travel with the team on their upcoming road-trip, but will not play. Their target date for his return, is just after the Olympics.
Detroit Red Wings
Pavel Datsyuk (groin) – OUT since Jan. 1
Datsyuk has missed the last 11 games, but has been skating regularly with the team. Datsyuk declared himself 100 per cent for the Olympics in his home country. He will likely get a few games in before heading to Sochi, so monitor his status as the weekend approaches.
Henrik Zetterberg (back) – OUT since Jan. 24
Zetterberg returned to the Red Wings lineup on Friday and played over 23 minutes.
Johan Franzen (concussion) – OUT since Jan. 28
Franzen missed 16 games with a concussion, but returned on Sunday for one game, but now finds himself back on IR with lingering concussion symptoms. Franzen has ruled himself out of the Olympics.
Stephen Weiss (hernia) – OUT since Dec. 10
Weiss has been out for over a month and a half after undergoing surgery on a sports hernia. He skated in full-gear with the team last week, but likely won’t return until after the break.
Edmonton Oilers
Ales Hemsky (ankle) – OUT since Jan. 14
Hemsky will return to the Oilers lineup on Saturday after missing the last seven games with an ankle injury.
Florida Panthers
Aleksander Barkov (lower-body) – OUT since Jan. 2
Barkov is expected to return to the Wild’s lineup tonight.
Minnesota Wild
Josh Harding (illness) – OUT since Dec. 31
There is not much to report on Harding. The Wild have been very hush-hush about his progress, or lack thereof. It seems rather obvious that he had a setback with his multiple sclerosis, which was always the concern with Harding, despite how great he has been this season. He is doubtful to be back anytime before the break.
Mikko Koivu (ankle) – OUT since Jan. 4
Koivu traveled with the Wild but only skated after the team was off of the ice. He remains out as he tries to progress towards playing for Finland at the Olympics. However for the Wild, he was originally expected to miss a month which means he could be back for a few games before the break, but that seems unlikely at this time.
Jared Spurgeon (foot) – OUT since Jan. 2
Spurgeon skated on Friday with the team and may return to the lineup on Saturday.
Montreal Canadiens
Alex Galchenyuk (hand) – OUT since Jan. 6
After surgery, Galchenyuk was declared out for six to eight weeks. Six weeks would have him back in the middle of the break while eight weeks would have him missing three games after they resume play. Regardless, he is out until after the Olympics.
Nashville Predators
Pekka Rinne (hip) – OUT since Oct. 22
There is no new news on Rinne’s status. He was cleared to begin more strenuous workout activities in early January, but he is still a long ways away from suiting up. He could miss the remainder of the season or not? We really do not know.
Shea Weber (undisclosed) – INJURED on Tuesday
Weber missed NO time and played on Friday and recorded two goals while playing over 25 minutes… the guy is a BEAST.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pascal Dupuis (knee) – OUT since Dec. 23
Dupuis is likely out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL.
Beau Bennett (wrist) – OUT since Nov. 22
Bennett has been skating recently, but still is not expected to be back until after the Olympic break. He could slide onto the top-line with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz with Dupuis likely out for the remainder of the season.
San Jose Sharks
Logan Couture (hand) – OUT since Jan. 5
Couture is reportedly “close” to returning after undergoing hand surgery earlier in the month. Head coach Todd McLellan said that he is shooting the puck very well and hopes to have him back before the break. Hope is one thing, but there is still no definitive word when he will return.
Tomas Hertl (knee) – OUT since Dec. 19
Hertl is in the very early stages of his rehab and remains without a timetable for his return from PCL and MCL surgery. His fantasy hockey season is likely over, but is worth stashing in deep keeper leagues.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Steven Stamkos (leg) – OUT since Nov. 11
Stamkos has been skating with the Lightning and has shed his no-contact jersey. He is hoping to play one or two games before the Olympic break before deciding with Steve Yzerman if he can play for Team Canada. Right now a tentative date for his return is Feb. 6, but that is a loose date at best. His recovery has been miraculous, but until he gets into full-contact, game action, he won’t know how is leg is going to respond. With all this positive news swirling around Stammer right now, you could sell super-high on him, or hold onto him because he is a stud… Your call.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Dave Bolland (achilles) – OUT since Nov. 2
Bolland participated in Maple Leafs full-practice this morning but only lasted about 30 minutes. He has been skating regularly for a couple of weeks, but there is still no timetable for his return.
David Clarkson (elbow) – OUT since Jan. 15
Clarkson participated in his first full practice since undergoing a procedure on his elbow this morning. He only lasted about 15 minutes, which is not a great sign. He remains day-to-day.
Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin (ribs/finger) – OUT since Jan. 18
Sedin has skated for a couple days in a row and appears likely to return to the Canucks lineup on Monday in Detroit.
Washington Capitals
Mikhail Grabovski (lower-body) – OUT since Jan. 24
Grabovski did not skate on Wednesday which puts his status for Thursday’s game in jeopardy. He is not expected to be out long-term. Monitor his status on a game-by-game basis.
Winnipeg Jets
Evander Kane (hand) – OUT since Jan. 28
Kane has an infection in his hand that will keep him out until after the Olympics.