Lecavalier (back) is on the ice for the Flyers morning skate; not playing.
Lecavalier is skating for the second day in a row as he continues to work his way back from a non-displaced fracture in his lower-back. Consider him week-to-week for now.
NHL Injury Report
Iginla (finger) is on the ice with the Bruins, so he should be in the lineup tonight vs. the Flames.
This comes as no surprise as Iginla was able to finish Saturday's game after injuring his hand in a fight with Ryan Kesler. Iggy will face his former team tonight having registered four goals and two assists in his last nine games.
Injury
Grabovski (illness) did not travel with the Capitals to Philadelphia, so he will not play tonight.
Grabovski will miss his second straight game because of the flu. This is a tough break for a forward who had been heating up lately, Grabo has two goals and six assists in his last eight games. Expect Martin Erat to continue to centre the second-line while Grabovski is sick.
Lecavalier skated this morning as he progresses back from a non-displaced fracture in his lower-back.
Lecavalier said he is making slow progress and hopes to skate again on Tuesday. His original timetable was 3-4 weeks and it has only been one week, so consider Vinny week-to-week still.
Injury
The Blackhawks have activated Bryan Bickell (lower-body) from injured reserve.
Bickell has not played since November 19 against the Avalanche. In 22 games this season he has registered five goals and one assist. With his activation from IR the Blackhawks have returned Jeremy Morin to the AHL. Bickell will likely make up one of the NHL's best third lines with Andrew Shaw and Brandon Saad.
Darren Helm (shoulder) expected to join morning skate Tuesday, if goes well, could be ready for Thursday or Saturday's games.
Helm missed the last six games and won't play tomorrow vs. the Ducks. In 15 games he has registered seven goals and three assists. He is a key part of the Red Wings forward corp and his return would be big for a team who is struggling right now.
Justin Abdelkader (blow to head, undergoing concussion protocol) biked today, might be ready by the weekend.
Abdelkader left Saturday's game after being hit to the head by Derek Engelland and did not play against the Lightning on Saturday. He is expected to miss the Red Wings games tomorrow and Thursday but he could be back for Saturday's contest in Toronto.
Iginla (hand) did not skate this morning because he was being evaluated by team doctors.
Iginla injured his hand in a fight with Ryan Kesler on Saturday. He left the game briefly but did return to finish the game despite his hand looking very gruesome. Monitor his status during Tuesday's morning skate.
Bogosian (groin) skated with the Jets this morning.
Bogosian has been out since October 15 but is feeling better. There is still no timeline for his return, but he has been upgraded to day-to-day. Head coach Claude Noel doesn't expect him to play on this trip.
Doan, who is on injured reserve with an illness, didn’t accompany the Coyotes for the start of their trip, but it’s possible he could join them at some point.
If he were to meet the team at one of their four stops, Doan could start skating at that time. But, considering he’s remaining in the Valley for now, a return to the ice isn’t imminent. “His weight is pretty the same,” Tippett said. “When you’re sick, you’ve got some fatigue, and that’s going to take a few days to get over. I think that’s the biggest issue right now.”
Nathan Horton (shoulder) is expected to debut after Christmas.
Horton continues to progress well following offseason shoulder surgery. He is now inching closer to being day-to-day rather than week-to-week.
Curtis McElhinney skated on own today. Looked and felt good, head coach Todd Richards said.
McElhinney will not dress tonight but this is positive news that he will not be out for long. After tonight, the Blue Jackets are back in action on Thursday, monitor McElhinney's status leading up to their matchup with the Flyers.
McQuaid (lower-body) started skating on his own last Wednesday in Edmonton. Today is the first day he's joining team for practice.
McQuaid has missed the last six games and has only played in 18 of a possible 33 games this season. McQuaid is questionable for tomorrow's meeting with the Flames but could return later in the week.
Kane will return to the Jets lineup tonight after missing the last six games with a lower-body injury.
”I’m back in and ready to go,” Kane said. He is expected to skate on a like with Mark Scheifele and Michael Frolik when the Jets take on the Blue Jackets tonight. Kane has seven goals and seven assists in 26 games.
Injury
McCormick out 4-6 weeks with an upper body injury.
McCormick played just 1:55 before leaving Saturday's game and not returning. He has one goal and four assists while averaging only 8:09 TOI in 25 games this season. He is not fantasy relevant.
Ranger did not make the trip to Pittsburgh. He is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
The Maple Leafs are back in Toronto to play the Panthers tomorrow, consider Ranger questionable, especially considering he was a healthy scratch on Saturday.
Avalanche defenseman Ryan Wilson says he’s ready to go. Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said Wilson is almost ready to go.
Wilson, who completed another full practice Sunday and was available to the media for the first time since suffering a back injury Nov. 6 against Nashville, is not expected to play Monday against the Dallas Stars. But Roy wants to play Wilson on Tuesday’s against the Stars in Dallas, assuming he has another good skate Monday morning. Wilson, 26, said he injured his back in a collision against the boards, and he hopes this latest setback is his last for a while.
Mikael Granlund, who has missed the past nine games and 11 of the past 12 (really 12 in a row because he was lost one shift into his return November 27 against Phoenix, is practicing with the Wild this morning.
Granlund, who has been skating on his own, is skating with extra forwards Justin Fontaine and Mike Rupp, which also indicated that Mike Yeo will return with the same lineup as the Colorado win on Tuesday against the red-hot Vancouver Canucks. Including the Phoenix game that Granlund skated 29 seconds in, the Wild is 5-6-1 without Granlund with 18 goals scored (1.5 goals per game). I'd still be surprised if Granlund plays in any of the next few games just because of his history of concussions, but at the very least, maybe he'll now come on the upcoming road trip to practice.
Sobotka (upper-body) is not skating this morning and is likely out tonight vs. Ottawa.
Sobotka left Saturday's games after he suffered an upper-body injury and did not return. Sobotka played just 9:25 before retiring to the dressing room for the remainder of the night. He has recorded two goals and four assists in his last 10 games.
Schwartz is not on the ice for the Blues this morning and could be out tonight.
There is no word on what is ailing Schwartz but his absence from the morning skate suggests that he will not be in the lineup tonight against the Senators. Schwartz has been hot as of late posting five goals and seven assists in his last 12 games.
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.