Carson Soucy (lower body) returned to practice for the first time Thursday.
NHL Injury Report
Ryan Carpenter (undisclosed) has been activated from the Injured Reserve.
Carpenter has not played since December 3rd, a 10-game absence, and will be eligible to return to the lineup for the Sharks on Thursday after being activated from the injured reserve. The 32-year-old centre is on pace to play the most amount of games he has in three seasons and has a goal, four assists, 21 SOG, and two PIMs in 18 games played this season. In a corresponding move, the Sharks placed Givani Smith on IR.
Givani Smith (lower body) has been placed on the Injured Reserve.
Smith last played on December 21st and will be out of the lineup indefinitely as he has been placed on IR with a lower-body injury. He has one goal and two assists in 26 games this season.
Jack Roslovic (fractured ankle) has a chance to return to the Blue Jackets' lineup Friday vs. Toronto.
Roslovic has not played since November 12th, a 21-game absence, due to a fractured ankle and could make his return to the lineup on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs despite not participating in line rushes at practice on Thursday. Before his injury, Roslovic played predominantly on a line with Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau, scoring eight points (2G / 6A) in 14 games.
Zach Werenski (lower body) is expected to be out week-to-week.
Werenski suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday's contest against the New Jersey Devils and exited the game after playing only 11:15 time-on-ice. Werenski has struggled to stay healthy the last several seasons and will likely be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. He has been a solid contributor for the Blue Jackets on the blueline this season, scoring 19 points, all assists, in his last 23 games. Ivan Provorov assumed the top powerplay role after Werenski exited the game on Wednesday.
Jeff Petry (upper-body) is expected to return Friday vs. Nashville after a one-game absence.
Petry skated on a pair with Ben Chiarot at practice on Thursday and is expected to make his return to the lineup after being unable to play on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury. In 27 games this season, Petry has ten points (1G / 9A), 34 shots, 34 hits, and 49 blocks.
Pavel Buchnevich (illness) missed practice Thursday and is questionable Friday vs. Colorado.
Buchnevich was held without a point in 19:42 time-on-ice on Wednesday, firing five shots on goals and taking three hits, but was absent from practice on Thursday as he battles an illness. His status for Friday's contest against the Colorado Avalanche remains in the air.
Tyson Barrie (upper body) is considered day-to-day.
Barrie was a healthy scratch on Wednesday, replaced by Dante Fabbro, and is now day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Before the Christmas break, Barrie had played five straight games for the Predators, scoring one point (1G / 0A), a -2 plus/minus, and averaged slightly over 17 minutes per night.
Semyon Varlamov (undisclosed) is day-to-day after missing practice Thursday and will be a game-time decision Friday vs. Washington.
Varlamov entered Wednesday's 7-0 blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in relief of Ilya Sorokin in the third period, allowing one goal on seven shots (.857 SV%). However, he was absent from practice on Thursday, dealing with an undisclosed injury, and is considered day-to-day ahead of Friday's contest against the Washington Capitals. The Islanders recalled Ken Appleby from Bridgeport (AHL), who will likely serve as the backup to Sorokin if Varlamov is unable to suit up on Friday.
Mark Giordano (broken finger) appears set to return Friday vs. Columbus.
Giordano has not played since November 28th, missing 12 games, and will likely return to the lineup on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Before his injury, Giordano skated predominantly on a pair with Jake McCabe, scoring five points (1G / 4A) while averaging 17:52 time-on-ice in 20 games this season.
Zach Werenski (lower body) was absent at Blue Jackets' practice after leaving Wednesday game early.
Werenski suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday's contest against the New Jersey Devils and exited the game after playing only 11:15 time-on-ice. Werenski has struggled to stay healthy the last several seasons and will be reevaluated after not participating in practice on Thursday. He has been a solid contributor for the Blue Jackets on the blueline this season, scoring 19 points, all assists, in his last 23 games.
Cole Caufield (treatment) will play Thursday in Carolina despite missing the morning skate.
Caufield has four points during his current four-game point streak (1G / 3A) and will play on Thursday after not partaking in the morning skate on Thursday. The talented winger has one goal in his last 11 games but still produces a high shot volume, averaging 3.4 shots per game.
Tage Thompson (personal) has been assigned to the non-roster list.
Thompson was a late scratch for Wednesday's game, with the team only announcing his absence just over 30 minutes before the puck drop, and has now been assigned to the team's non-roster list for personal reasons. Thompson has nine goals and ten assists in 26 games this season. Tyson Jost drew into the Sabres' lineup and centred the first line in Thompson's absence.
Jordan Harris (lower body) has been activated off the Injured Reserve and will return Thursday.
Harris has not played since November 18th, missing 15 straight games, and is eligible and expected to return to the lineup on Thursday after being activated from IR. The 23-year Harris was averaging 18:45 time-on-ice and had three points (0G / 3A) through 16 games this season.
Ross Colton (lower body) will get treatment after blocking a shot and is questionable for Friday vs. St. Louis.
Colton blocked a shot in the third period and exited the game after playing only 11:16 time-on-ice with an undisclosed injury. Before leaving the game, Colton recorded four hits and extended his point streak to two games with an assist. His status for Friday's game against the St. Louis Blues remains up in the air.
Cole Caufield (treatments) did not take part in Montreal's morning skate Thursday.
Caufield has four points during his current four-game point streak (1G / 3A) and will likely be a game-time decision after not partaking in the morning skate on Thursday. The talented winger has one goal in his last 11 games but still produces a high shot volume, averaging 3.4 shots per game.
Addison (lower-body) will return to the Sharks' lineup for Wednesday's game in Los Angeles.
Addison has missed the Sharks' previous three games due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup Wednesday in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old puck-moving defensemen was acquired by San Jose earlier in the season and has a goal, 10 assists, 40 SOG, 18 PIMs and a -13 plus/minus through 31games with both San Jose and Minnesota this season.
Trouba (upper-body) will not return to Wednesday's game against the Capitals.
Trouba suffered the injury after he appeared to take an inadvertent elbow to head from Tom Wilson as the former drove toward the Rangers' net. We should expect to receive an update on Trouba's injury and a possible timeline to his return in the coming days. The Rangers' captain has two goals and eleven assists in 32 games this season.
Werenski will not return to Wednesday's game in New Jersey due to a lower-body injury.
Werenski suffered an apparent knee injury in the second period of Wednesday's game against the Devils and did not return. He appeared to be unable to put any weight on his leg as he exited the ice. Werenski has one goals and 24 assists in 33 games this season. We should get an update on the injury and a possible timetable for his return in the coming days.
Gustafsson (undisclosed) is not on the ice for warmups and is not expected to play in Chicago on Wednesday.
Gustafsson was a game-time decision for Wednesday's game in Chicago due to an undisclosed injury. He has two goals and two assists in 27 games this season.
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.