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NHL Injury Report

Alex Vlasic(D)|CHI
Injury
Injury
Vlasic (lower-body) is not expected to play in Chicago's season opener on Tuesday in Florida.

Vlasic had his preseason cut short due to a lower-body injury, and his status is unlikely for Chicago's season opener. The Blackhawks are expected to take eight defensemen to Florida, and Ethan Del Mastro is expected to take his spot in the lineup if he's unable to go.

Source:
Scott Powers 2025-10-06T18:42:25.891Z
Alex Vlasic
Martin Pospisil(C)|CGY
Injury
Injury
Pospisil (undisclosed) has been placed on IR and will miss Calgary's opener on Wednesday vs. Edmonton.

Pospisil returned to practice on Thursday after suffering an injury in a preseason game the night before, but will not suit up for Calgary's season opener against the Edmonton Oilers after being placed on IR on Monday. The 25-year-old Slovak forward is entering his third NHL season after recording career highs in games played (81), points (25), and hits (301).

Source:
Derek Wills 2025-10-06T20:52:40.899Z
Martin Pospisil
Jonathan Huberdeau(LW)|CGY
Injury
Injury
Huberdeau (undisclosed) has been placed on IR and will miss Calgary's season opener on Wednesday vs. Edmonton.

Huberdeau was ruled out of Calgary's opener earlier on Monday with an undisclosed injury and will now miss the next seven days after he was placed on IR by the Flames. The 32-year-old Huberdeau averaged 19:33 time-on-ice and had 62 points (28G / 34A) in 81 games last season, his most productive campaign with the Flames.

Source:
Derek Wills 2025-10-06T20:52:10.941Z
Jonathan Huberdeau
Mattias Samuelsson(D)|BUF
Injury
Injury
Samuelsson (upper-body) is a possibility to play in Buffalo's season opener on Thursday.

Samuelsson reaggravated an upper-body injury, sidelining him midway through training camp, but he could be ready to play in Buffalo's season opener after originally being ruled out. The 24-year-old is entering his sixth season with Buffalo after putting up career highs in goals (4), points (14), and games played (62) in 2024-25.

Source:
Heather Engel 2025-10-06T17:24:09.964Z
Mattias Samuelsson
Jalen Chatfield(D)|CAR
Injury
Injury
Chatfield (undisclosed) missed practice on Monday and is hopeful to return by Wednesday.

Chatfield was absent from practice on Monday due to an undisclosed injury but will likely be ready for Carolina's season opener on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 29-year-old Chatfield was effective in a shutdown role for the Hurricanes last season, averaging 18:53 time-on-ice and recording 18 points (7G / 11A).

Source:
Walt Ruff 2025-10-06T17:14:31.876Z
Jalen Chatfield
Artemi Panarin(LW)|NYR
Injury
Injury
Panarin (lower-body) will return for New York's season opener on Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh.

Panarin has had a low event training camp for the Rangers while managing a lower-body injury that has kept him sidelined for most of it. That said, he was a full participant at practice on Monday and will suit up for New York's season opener on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 33-year-old Panarin led the Rangers in points yet again last season, after putting up 37 goals and 89 points in 80 games played.

Source:
Mollie Walker 2025-10-06T16:36:42.925Z
Artemi Panarin
Zemgus Girgensons(C)|TBL
Injury
Injury
Girgensons missed practice on Monday after leaving Saturday's preseason game with an undisclosed injury.

Girgensons suffered an undisclosed injury in Saturday's preseason game against the Florida Panthers. Tampa Bay's season opener is on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, and it's unclear if Girgensons will be ready to suit up. The 31-year-old Girgensons played all 82 games in his first season with Tampa Bay in 2024-25, tallying six points (2G / 4A).

Source:
Gabby Shirley 2025-10-06T15:58:00.393Z
Zemgus Girgensons
Cam York(D)|PHI
Injury
Injury
York (lower-body) did not practice on Monday and is considered day-to-day.

York is slated to skate on Philadelphia's top defensive pairing alongside Travis Sanheim, but it's unclear if he will be ready for Thursday's season opener against the Florida Panthers. The 24-year-old York averaged 20:47 time-on-ice and tallied 17 points (4G / 13A) in 66 games last season.

Source:
Charlie O'Connor 2025-10-06T15:55:23.057Z
Cam York
Jesperi Kotkaniemi(C)|CAR
Injury
Injury
Kotkaniemi (upper-body) has been cleared for contact and returned to practice on Monday.

Kotkaniemi was cleared for contact and returned to team practice on Monday, but it's unclear if he will be ready for Carolina's season opener on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 25-year-old Kotkaniemi, the third-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, scored 33 points (12G / 21A) in 78 games last season.

Source:
Walt Ruff 2025-10-06T15:27:36.108Z
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
J.T. Miller(LW)|NYR
Injury
Injury
Miller (lower-body) returned to practice in full on Monday and will play in New York's season opener on Tuesday.

Miller suffered a lower-body injury earlier in training camp that kept him out of practice for over a week, but he returned to full-contact drills on Monday and has stated that he will be ready for New York's season opener on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Miller is entering his 14th NHL season and eighth in New York after being reacquired by the Rangers at the mid-point of last season. The newly appointed Rangers captain scored 21 goals and 70 points in 72 games last season.

Source:
Mollie Walker 2025-10-06T16:29:58.950Z
J.T. Miller
Ethan Bear(D)|NYI
Injury
Injury
Bear (undisclosed) has been placed on IR and is expected to be out for a few weeks.

The Islanders signed Bear to a one-year contract in the offseason to provide some depth on their blueline, but he will need to wait to make his team debut as he will be sidelined for a few weeks on Injured Reserve. The 28-year-old Bear spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 46 points (10G / 36A) in 62 games with the Hershey Bears. He has 67 points (17G / 50A) in 275 career NHL games.

Source:
Ethan Sears 2025-10-06T15:13:14.864Z
Ethan Bear
Semyon Varlamov(G)|NYI
Injury
Injury
Varlamov (knee) has been placed on IR.

Coming off offseason surgery, it's unclear when Varlamov will return to action, but he will start the 2025-26 campaign sidelined on the Injured Reserve. The 37-year-old netminder was limited to only 10 games last season (3-4-3), posting a 2.89 GAA and .889 SV%, due to various injuries.

Source:
Ethan Sears 2025-10-06T15:08:02.584Z
Semyon Varlamov
Dylan McIlrath(D)|WSH
Injury
Injury
McIlrath left Saturday's preseason game with a lower-body injury and did not practice on Monday.

McIlrath exited Saturday's preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to a lower-body injury and was absent from practice on Monday. The extent of his injury is unclear, but he was likely a long shot to make Washington's opening night roster on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. That said, the 33-year-old McIlrath was a solid depth blueliner for the Capitals last season, tallying two points (0G / 2A) in 17 games.

Source:
Tom Gulitti 2025-10-06T14:59:19.716Z
Dylan McIlrath
Matt Roy(D)|WSH
Injury
Injury
Roy missed practice on Monday after leaving Saturday's preseason game with an upper-body injury.

Roy exited Saturday's preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets due to an upper-body injury and was absent from practice on Monday. The 30-year-old Roy was slated to start the season on Washington's second defensive pair alongside Rasmus Sandin, but it's unclear whether his injury will keep him out of their season opener on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Roy had 24 points (3G / 1A) in 69 games last season.

Source:
Tom Gulitti 2025-10-06T14:55:49.778Z
Matt Roy
Pavel Dorofeyev(LW)|VGK
Injury
Injury
Dorofeyev (lower-body) is questionable for the season opener.

Dorofeyev missed the Golden Knights' preseason finale and is questionable for the season opener. Dorofeyev has missed a big portion of the preseason due to a lower-body injury but the Golden Knights haven't commented on whether they expect him to be in the opening night lineup or not. With Dorofeyev hurt, the Golden Knights haven't had a full lineup all camp, so there are still questions to be answered. As of Saturday, head coach Bruce Cassidy was still noncommittal on whether Shea Theodore would be on PP1 or if it would be Dorofeyev in a five-forward look.

Source:
NHL.com 2025-10-06T11:22:22.261Z
Pavel Dorofeyev
Teddy Blueger(C)|VAN
Injury
Injury
Blueger (undisclosed) is "a little dinged up" and questionable for the Canucks' season opener.

Blueger missed practice on Sunday and is questionable for Vancouver's season opener on Thursday. The Canucks will see how he responds in the next couple of days, but rookie Braeden Cootes could be in the opening night lineup if Blueger is unavailable.

Source:
Ben Kuzma 2025-10-06T11:16:27.269Z
Teddy Blueger

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.