McQuaid present.
Good sign for the team as a healthy McQuaid add to their depth on the blue line. Considering McQuaid plays third pairing minutes with no PP time, don't expect any fantasy hockey impact.
NHL Injury Report
Very possible he gets cleared for contact tonight.
Erskine is still looking for his season debut. He could play tonight against the Red Wings but likely does not since they don't play a gritty game. Look for him to get a chance once the team cools down.
Injury
Neuvirth now on ice to get work in. #Caps
Neuvirth is expected to travel with the team next week with his return coming shortly after. The injury prone backup is still fighting a sore foot with plenty of setbacks.
Injury
Butler and Carkner on the ice this morning...not ready to play yet but obviously gettting closer to returning to the lineup
Thus far, Butler has disappointed. Following 10 goals and 21 points, the right wing fell out of favor with his new coach and was relegated to a fourth line role. Expect more of the same when he gets back to health, perhaps even a 'conditioning stint' in the AHL.
Butler and Carkner on the ice this morning...not ready to play yet but obviously gettting closer to returning to the lineup
Carkner's presence certainly will give opposing teams less leeway with the Sens more talented players. From a fantasy hockey perspective he remains a solid PIM stream on the blue line. Monitor him closely as few defensemen can match his production.
Injury
Dekanich might be weeks away from making his Jackets debut.
Dekanich probably gets used as soon as he is healthy since starting goalie Steve Mason has had no breaks this season. The product of Colgate University won 23 of his 43 games played, posting a 2.02 GAA and .931 SV% while with Milwaukee last season. He could steal some starts from Mason eventually.
Sanford is expected to miss two to four weeks
Sanford holds a significantly small amount of fantasy hockey value considering he probably is demoted to the AHL once healthy.
Injury
The condition on defense will improve when Michael Sauer, rehabbing a previously separated and later aggravated right shoulder, returns to the lineup, but there still will be a massive hole to fill.
Sauer's return to the lineup could not come any sooner as the youngster will help stabilize a shaky defense. The St. Cloud native produced a plus-1 rating over his first two games but could not suit up for the last three with an ailing shoulder. Look for him to pair with either Michael Del Zotto or Tim Erixon when he returns.
The standard “nothing new” becomes more ominous by the day as it relates to the health of the 24-year-old defenseman, who apparently still is feeling after-effects of the concussion he sustained on a hit from his brother, Eric, in Carolina eight months ago today.
Staal missed the team's first five games with sophomore Ryan McDonagh filling in on the top defensive unit. The alternate captain remains far off from returning to the lineup, which hurts the team's long-term chances of improving. Stay tuned for a further update on the wounded d-man.
Neal, who leads the team with seven goals, also did not participate in a Thursday morning skate after a team day off Wednesday, but he insisted he is not hurt.
"Everyone's going to be dealing with soreness and bruises," he said. "But it's just taking a skate off and resting up for [tonight]."
Neal leads the League with seven goals (and one assist, on pace for the Cy Young). Look for him to continue his monstrous tear with or without Evgeni Malkin.
Penguins center Evgeni Malkin returned to practice Friday at Consol Energy Center and has not been ruled out of a home game tonight against New Jersey.
Somewhat better news for fantasy hockey owners although the more time he takes to recover, the better he will likely play down the stretch. Stay tuned for a further update.
Cal O’Reilly said a sore groin caused him to miss Nashville’s Thursday loss to the Vancouver Canucks. O’Reilly said he tweaked it about a week ago, and after a few days of rest, it’s feeling better. “It wasn’t pulled or anything, so it healed pretty quick,” O’Reilly said.
O'Reilly missed Thursday's game with both Brian McGrattan and Niclas Bergfors staying in the lineup. Through his first five games, the center has no goals and as assist with a minus-2 rating. Expect him to jump around the lineup as coach Barry Trotz looks for the chemistry he had last season.
Injury
Jacob Josefson suffered a broken right clavicle when he slid hard into the end boards with 3:05 left in the first period. Devils coach Pete DeBoer said he doesn’t know yet how long Josefson will be out, “but it’s a pretty significant injury.”
Josefson gets hurt for the second consecutive season at the worst possible time. With Travis Zajac already hurt, the team promoted him to a scoring line role. Look for the team to recall Adam Henrique in the meantime.
#CBJ D Radek Martinek suffered a concussion during his first shift tonight. He will be further evaluated on Saturday. When it rains...
By our count the team lists eight NHL players that are currently unavailable due to injuries. With Martinek out, look for rookie David Savard to draw back into the lineup and likely play on the top PP unit.
Injury
Devils right wing Nick Palmieri was assessed a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head for a hit on Torrey Mitchell 59 seconds into the game. It looked like Palmieri connected with his shoulder. Mitchell was shaken up had to be helped off the ice. He has not returned.
Last season, Mitchell only played in 66 games and 56 the season before making him somewhat injury prone. With three assists through his first five games played, the right wing was off to one of his best starts. Stay tuned for a further update on the Sharks third liner.
Noel said that defenceman Ron Hainsey (upper-body) wouldn’t be available for at least another week as well, though Hainsey did skate on his own Friday.
With Hainsey out of the lineup, the team will use Derek Meech on the bottom pairing and on the powerplay. With only 19 points last season and 26 the year before, Hainsey's days of fantasy hockey relevance are relatively depleted as a member of the Jets.
Eric Fehr took another step toward making his debut with the Winnipeg Jets, but he’s still at least a few weeks away from getting into a full practice.
Fehr continues to be sidelined following offseason surgery. The local RW should find his way onto one of the top two lines upon his arrival as has proven himself to be a worthy goal scorer in the NHL. His last three seasons have consisted of 10, 21 and 12 goal seasons but a return to the 20-goal range over a full season is not far fetched.
No surprises or changes based on the way the Kings are skating in practice today. Drew Doughty is not on the ice, but that’s not a big surprise given that Doughty can’t play until Tuesday at the earliest and isn’t yet in the 7-to-10 day timeframe for his return.
Certainly an encouraging sign for his fantasy hockey owners but Doughty likely stays sidelined at least until Tuesday. Stay tuned for a further update on his status...
Sheldon Souray, who missed yesterday's practice after receiving a shot for a wrist issue, skated this morning and is available to play.
Souray is available but the team may opt to sit him in favor of the physical Mark Fistric. With the team playing back-to-back nights, he probably sits out at least one of the two games.
Injury
Koivu, I've got to think, will be able to play, but we'll get an update after practice. He's definitely OK, and very lucky. Let's put it this way: What did happen to him is a lot better than what nearly happened to him.
Great to hear... so far it looks like sitting out practice was just a precautionary move.
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.