Murphy will not play in the Hurricanes season opener.
Muprhy, 21, is arguably the Hurricanes best offensive defenseman but will sit out the Hurricanes season opener but could be back in the lineup on Saturday according to coach Bill Peters.
NHL Injury Report
Kane (lower-body) left Thursday's game and will not return.
Kane last just thee shifts in the Jets season opener vs. the Coyotes. He totalled just 1:24 of ice-time before retiring to the dressing room for the night. Kane missed 18 games with a variety of injuries last season; one of which was a hand infection that cost him six games. Winnipeg is back in action on Saturday, expect an update on Kane on Friday morning.
Boyle will miss four to six weeks after suffering a broken hand in Thursday's win over the Blues.
Boyle, who signed a two-year deal worth $9 million this offseason broke his hand early in the third period of his Rangers debut. He had two shots, two penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating in 14:01 of playing time before sustaining the injury. New York is back in action on Saturday, expect them to place Boyle on IR and recall a defenseman from Hartford (AHL). Matt Hunwick will likely slide in for Boyle against the Blue Jackets.
Grabner will miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery.
Grabner started the season on injured reserve and will be out until mid-to-late November after having surgery Thursday. The speedy winger will look to improve on his 12 goal, 14 assist performance from last season when he returns.
Coburn (lower-body) will not play tonight.
There was no report of an injury to Coburn this morning, but the news just came down as the Flyers hit the ice for warmups. Nick Schultz will slide into the lineup and make his Flyers regular season debut.
Sam Bennett will undergo surgery on his shoulder next week and is expected to miss 4-6 months.
This summer's fourth overall pick is expected to make a full recovery, but will have to wait until next season to crack the Flames roster. This injury also means that Bennett will not be able to participate in the IIHF World Junior Championships starting on Boxing Day. Bennett has a bright NHL future ahead of him and he will be back in Flames camp next fall.
Tanev (undisclosed) missed practice Thursday and will be reevaluated on later today.
Tanev suffered an undisclosed injury in Wednesday's season opening 4-2 win over the Flames. Head coach Willie Desjardins did not shed any light onto Tanev's situation but hopes he is back for their next game which comes on Saturday. Tanev finished Wednesday's game with two assists, two shots and a minus-1 rating in 19:45 TOI. Note that Tanev had just 11 assists in 64 games last season.
Muzzin (undisclosed) says he will miss a few more games.
Muzzin was on the ice for Kings practice this afternoon, but apparently the injury won't stop him from skating and he may even take warmups, but he will miss a couple more games. Muzzin's fill-in Brayden McNabb was a minus-1 with no shots in 23:27 TOI.
Gunnarsson (hip) has been cleared for contact.
Gunnarsson has already been ruled out for the first week of the season but will not go on IR and should only miss three or four games. He is not an offensive threat and won't help you fantasy team, but will be a steady presence on the Blues back-end.
Bouwmeester (undisclosed) will be in the Blues' lineup tonight.
Bouwmeester was "fixing leaks" this morning and will play tonight. Alright, no idea what that means, but Bouwmeester will play on the Blues second pair with Kevin Shattenkirk. He had 37 points (4G / 33A) and a plus-26 rating in 82 games last season. He has played in 717 consecutive games (longest active streak) so it is not really surprising that he will suit up tonight.
Fowler (leg) has been medically cleared to play tonight vs. Pittsburgh.
It is up to the coaching staff whether Fowler will play, but if he does it will be on the Ducks second pair with his usual partner Ben Lovejoy. He is coming off of a strong season, having posted six goals and 30 assists (36 points) in 70 games. He has 40 points in his rookie season and on a high-octane Ducks' offence he could get back there this season.
Fowler (leg) is on the ice for the Ducks' morning skate.
Fowler skated hard on Wednesday and is on the ice this morning in his regular spot with Ben Lovejoy. This is a good sign for Fowler's availability tonight, but we will get an official update following the gameday skate.
Bouwmeester (undisclosed) is not on the ice for the Blues morning skate.
There is no word as to why Bouwmeester is absent from the morning skate, but for now Barrett Jackman is skating in his spot with Kevin Shattenkirk. We will get an update on Bouwmeester's status following the morning skate.
Injury
Green (upper-body) will not play in the Capitals' season opener.
Green was skating on the fourth pair this morning so this comes as no surprise. "He is close," said head coach Barry Trotz, who added Green will definitely be back for the homestand next week and may even play on Saturday.
Drouin (thumb) not playing tonight, but skating at the Lightning's morning skate.
Drouin is participating in practice this morning and reportedly taking part in shooting drills, which is a good sign as he works his way back from a fractured thumb. He is not at 100%, but he is getting close.
Injury
Green (upper-body) unlikely to play in the season opener.
Green is skating on the Capitals fourth pair with John Erskine this morning, which suggests that his upper-body injury will keep him out of tonight's season opener. Injuries have become a trend for Green, but he is still one of the league's top offensive threats from the blueline. Expect a complete update following the morning skate.
Monahan (illness) is on the ice for pregame warmups.
Monahan did not participate in the morning skate but it looks like he will give it a go in the season opener vs. the Canucks. Monahan will centre the top-line with Curtis Glencross and Jiri Hudler on his wings.
Injury
Bieksa (upper-body) is on the ice for pregame warmups.
Bieksa skated the last two days so he was expected to be in the lineup tonight, so his participation in warmups all pretty much assures that he will play. Expect Yannick Weber to take a seat with Bieksa playing.
Nikitin (ankle) has been medically cleared to play in Thursday's opener.
Nikitin, 28, was acquired from Columbus this offseason to bring some added experience to the Oilers blueline. He had a breakout year in 2011-12, but has failed to eclipse the 20-point mark in any of his other four seasons. He will start his Oilers career on the second pairing with Mark Fayne; who will also be making his Edmonton debut.
Injury
Bieksa (upper-body) will be a game-time decision tonight.
Bieksa participated in the Canucks gameday skate and said that he "felt good" but will "see how things are this afternoon". So, Bieksa is still listed as a gametime decision, but it seems like there is a good chance that he will be in the lineup tonight. With only four games tonight you can put him in your daily lineups without getting burned if he doesn't play.
NHL Injury Report
Daily Faceoff NHL injury report compiles all of the reported injuries from across the National Hockey League so you can see who is set to be sidelined, what their injury is, and how long they are expect to be out of commission. Injury updates are some of the most important NHL player news for any hockey fan to stay on top of, as winning or losing can ultimately be decided by the absence of a key player from within a team’s lineup. If you’re an avid hockey bettor, it’s crucial to your betting success that you stay informed on the latest injury news. Check out the latest NHL injury report on this page and see who’s set to miss some time this NHL season.
Reading the NHL Injury Report
The daily NHL injury report provides you with information regarding the type of injury a player is suffering from, the severity of it, as well as the timeline for their potential return. Common injury designations are day-to-day (almost fully healthy) out (not healthy, but not a long-term issue), and injured reserve/long-term injured reserve (out for an extended period of time).
Along with our regularly updated NHL injury report, you can also stay in the know regarding NHL injuries through team reporters/beat writers, social media channels and journalists, as well as official site reports from the NHL or their respective clubs.
Common NHL Injuries
In a physical sport such as hockey, injuries are a necessary evil as the toll it takes on each player’s body builds up over the course of an entire season. With the speed the game is played at the NHL level, it is common place for various injures to occur on a game-to-game basis. Whether it’s from a hard hit, inadvertent contact from a stick, or even being pelted by a blocked shot or deflected puck, it can be nearly impossible to avoid getting banged up over the course of an NHL contest.
Unlike many other professional sports leagues across the globe, the NHL tends to keep injury details close to the vest, reporting injury designations as either an upper body injury or lower body injury after players undergo tests. Below we’ll dive into some of the most common injuries that occur across the NHL, how they can affect players, and how long these injuries can sideline them from action.
Upper Body Injuries
Upper body injuries encompass all injuries that occur from the waist and up which includes the torso, arms, back, as well as the head. Common upper body injuries include shoulder dislocation, clavicle fractures, and broken/sprained wrists. An upper body injury could happen in a number of ways.
One of the most common and severe injuries that occurs across the NHL are concussions. Concussions are caused when the brain bounces or twists within the skull. This can be caused in a number of ways in hockey, generally from a hard impact whether that’s against another players body, the ice, or the boards. Recovery timelines for concussions vary from case-to-case with some players suffering mild effects and clearing protocol within a few weeks, to drastic scenarios where a player could miss the remainder of the season.
Lower Body Injuries
While players are often able to play through upper body injuries, a lower body injury can force a player to miss an extended amount of ice time depending on the location and severity of the issue. Lower body injuries encompass all issues from the waist down.
With so many pivotal muscle groups found within the lower body, these types of injuries often leave athletes unable to practice, let alone compete. Arguably the worst lower body injury a player can experience is a knee injury. From ACL tears, to MCL strains, or even broken patellas, there a numerous key ligaments and muscles, within the knee that are essential to a hockey players ability to hit the ice. Severe injuries to the knee can lead to lengthy absences from the lineup as well as a host of potential issues down the line of a players career if not successfully rehabbed. Other common lower body injuries in hockey include hip pointers, groin strains, and sprained/broken ankles.
Reserve Lists
In the NHL, players are often moved in and out of the lineup due to injury but when an issue occurs in which a player is set to miss an extended period of time, they must be placed under the official designation of the injured reserve list. NHL teams utilize reserve lists as a way to provide injured players time to recover from their physical ailments, as well as to free up space within their active roster to replace the output of their missing player.
There are two versions of reserve lists in the NHL, the injured reserve list (IR) and the long term injured reserve list (LTIR). Each reserve list holds their own distinctions for players to qualify, as well as how teams are able to replace members of the roster when they are forced to send an injured athlete to an injury reserve list. Below are the key differences between each reserve list and how an injured player can find themselves placed there in a season.
Injured Reserve List
The injured reserve list (IR) is for any player who is set to miss seven calendar days or more due to injury, disablement or illness is designated. Once a player is sent to injured reserve they must spend at least seven calendar days out of the teams lineup, but is still able to attend practices, team meetings, as well as travel with their team. Players are eligible to stay on the injured reserve until they are cleared by their team medical staff as ready and fit to return to competition…. When a player is sent to the injured reserve list, clubs are able to call up players from their roster to replace them whether that is from a scratched member of their main roster, a call up from the minors (AHL/ECHL), or by signing a free agent (cap space permitting).
Long Term Injured Reserve List
Similar to the injured reserve list, the long term injured reserve list (LTIR) is designed for teams to make up for severe injuries that have occurred to a player during the season. A player can be placed on the LTIR if they have been evaluated by medical staff and are ruled out of action for a minimum of 24 calendar days or 10 NHL games. Players often spend a much longer time on this reserve list once they are placed there due to the nature and severity of their injuries.
One major difference between the IR and the LTIR is the ability to circumvent the salary cap. When a player is placed on the LTIR, teams are able to pull from what is referred to as the “LTIR Pool”. The LTIR pool is the amount in which a team is granted in cap space after a player has been assigned to the LTIR. This amount is determined by subtracting the total amount of cap space remaining for a team from the affected player’s salary cap hit for the season. The amount given in the LTIR pool is also dependent on whether a team is under or over the salary cap at the beginning of the regular season.
For example, if a player who has a $2 million annual cap hit is placed on the LTIR and their team was under the salary cap by $500K, they would deduct the $500K in remaining cap space from the player’s annual salary hit, leaving the team with $1.5M to spend on replacements for their injured player.
However, if a team is over the salary cap to begin the regular season the LTIR pool is divided differently. In this case whatever the value of the overage in salary cap is at the start of the season will be the LTIR pool funds available for a club. For example, if a team is over the salary cap by $1 million, and a player with a $5 million cap hit is placed on the LTIR, their LTIR pool is valued at $1M as that is the amount they were over the cap to begin the season.
When a player is removed from the LTIR, the team must be under the annual salary cap hit on that day.
Considering Injuries When Placing NHL Bets
Considering injuries when placing NHL bets is incredibly important. By staying informed about the latest injury news heading into a matchup, you can better formulate how a matchup may play out based on the personnel available for action. Here’s how you can use the NHL injury report to influence your next bet and help give you a knowledgeable boost on all your wagers placed on tonight’s clashes.
Moneyline and Puck Line Bets
When placing a moneyline or puck line bet, knowing who is suiting up for action can make or break your chances of winning your wager. It only takes the absence of one player to shift the lines and change the outcome of the game. By waiting for the latest injury report prior to puck drop, bettors can make informed decisions before throwing down a wager on an upcoming matchup.
For example, if the New Jersey Devils are set to play the Columbus Blue Jackets but Jack Hughes is out due to injury, you may not want to back the Devils on the moneyline. Instead, you can use this information to reevaluate where the best value is on the adjusted moneyline and puck line for this contest.
Goal Total Bets
Each team relies heavily on their top goal-scorers to produce on a nightly-basis. If one of these performers is sidelined due to injury this could majorly effect the final score of the game. For example, if Minnesota Wild star forward Kirill Kaprizov is out of action due to injury heading into a contest against the New York Islanders, you could use this information to your advantage by betting the Under on the matchup due to the elite goal-scorer’s absence.
The same can be said inversely about a team’s goaltending. If the Tampa Bay Lightning are set to be without superstar netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy in their clash with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it may be in your best interest to bet the Over as his backup may not be able to handle the oppositions high-powered offence.
Prop Bets
Player injuries are also a prevalent factor to take into account before placing a prop bet on a matchup. If a team is without some of their top line players, it can leave the door open for someone lower in the depth chart to step up in their place.
For example, if The Ottawa Senators are taking on the San Jose Sharks, but Brady Tkachuk is listed as out on the latest injury report, other members of the Senators may be due for an increase in output as they look to make up for the void in production left by their team captain.
Futures Odds
While you don’t need a crystal ball to place a successful futures bet, knowing the latest injury news for each team can make a positive impact on your bets potential success. The NHL regular season is a vigorous journey that takes a heavy toll on the bodies of the athletes competing, and can sometimes lead to key members of a roster winding up on the injured reserve as a result. If a team does end up with an injury to one of their top players, this could completely derail their hopes of competing into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For example, if Colorado Avalanche superstar forward Nathan Mackinnon suffers a season-ending injury just before the All-Star break, you can expect to see their Stanley Cup future odds drop drastically as their best player is put on the shelf. On the other hand, you can also expect to see the ripple effects of this change in odds as other top contenders see their Stanley Cup odds increase as the competition among the top of the league is dropped.
NHL Injury Report FAQs
How often does the NHL injury report get updated?
The NHL injury report is updated daily so that you can see the latest injury news ahead of puck drop in any of today’s matchups. Seeing timely updates to the NHL injury report can make a major impact on your daily fantasy sports picks and wagers on a particular game. All information provided on the NHL injury report is provided directly by the NHL and each respective franchise to ensure accuracy.
How long can a player stay on the injured reserve list?
While the minimum amount of time spent on the injured reserve list is seven calendar days, there is no maximum amount of time that a player can be placed on the injured reserve list. If a player is set to be sidelined for longer than 24 calendar days or 10 NHL games, then a club may opt to place them on the long-term injured reserve instead. This allows franchises with the ability to exceed the salary cap while a player is placed on this reserve list.
How long does it take to recover from an ice hockey injury?
No injury recovery timeline is the same as another as there are several factors that go into the rehab process for a player being affected by injury. Factors include but are not limited to, injury severity, player injury/medical history, age, as well as the location of the injury. Some injuries are able to clear up in a matter of days, while others may take an athlete out of action for the entirety of a season.