The 2024-2025 NHL season has kicked off with an unfortunate opening act for several teams, as high-profile injuries have emerged to sway team strategies and potential outcomes. Key players across the league are grappling with injuries that could significantly impact their respective teams in the early parts of the season.
Injuries Plague Panthers and Other Teams
Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers is among the notable players sidelined. The dynamic forward sustained a lower-body injury on October 9 while valiantly defending against an empty-net goal in a matchup against the Ottawa Senators. Head Coach Paul Maurice shared that Barkov is expected to be out for two to three weeks, speculating a possible return for the NHL Global Series in Finland early November. "Paul Maurice estimated that Barkov would be sidelined two to three weeks, with a chance to return to the ice by the team's early November NHL Global Series match in Finland if not sooner," he conveyed.
Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks also finds himself on the injured reserve list following an injury sustained during training camp. Celebrini’s presence on the ice will be sorely missed, though he is only expected to be absent for the next two games.
Continued Recovery for Key Players
Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Thatcher Demko is battling to recover from a knee injury incurred during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Nashville Predators in Game 1. With a three-to-four-week recovery timeline, the Canucks will have to brace themselves to compensate for his absence in front of the net.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche is dealing with the persistent absence of Gabriel Landeskog. The star player has been out since their 2022 Stanley Cup win, missing the entire 2022-23 season following arthroscopic knee surgery. A cartilage transplant surgery has now ruled him out for the entirety of the 2023-24 season, a significant blow to the Avalanche's aspirations. Additionally, Artturi Lehkonen sits on injured reserve after shoulder surgery, contributing to the Avalanche's woes.
Lengthy Recoveries and Returns
The Anaheim Ducks are closely monitoring John Gibson, who is recuperating from appendectomy surgery. His expected return is slated for early November, a relief for a team needing his steadfast presence in goal. Yegor Sharangovich of the Calgary Flames is another player on the injured list, contending with a lower-body injury.
Evander Kane of the Edmonton Oilers faces a longer recovery timeline, aiming for a February 2025 return following hip and hernia surgeries. Without a specific return date, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings is in rehabilitation after ankle surgery, leaving the team's defensive structure somewhat in flux.
Injury Challenges Across the League
The New Jersey Devils are managing the absence of Luke Hughes, who is working to overcome a shoulder injury with hopes of returning in early November. Brett Pesce, also from the Devils' roster, suffered a fractured fibula but is anticipated to be back by late October 2024.
For the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bryan Rust’s recovery from a lower-body injury is underway. Similarly, the St. Louis Blues' Torey Krug will miss the entire 2025-26 season following ankle surgery, a significant period to be without a key player.
In Toronto, Calle Jarnkrok is projected to return in late October following a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Nick Bjugstad of the Utah Hockey Club is managing an upper-body injury, with an early November return in sight. John Marino, also from Utah, anticipates a mid-October return.
Battles Beyond the Ice
Vancouver Canucks' Dakota Joshua has his sights set on a late-October comeback while recovering from testicular cancer, showcasing determination beyond the standard injury report. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights continue to await the recovery of William Karlsson from an undisclosed injury, targeting an October 2024 return.
As the season progresses, these injuries present challenges and opportunities alike for teams across the league, asking for strategic depth and player resilience. The coming weeks will reveal which teams can adapt effectively in the face of these adversities and how these players' returns will impact their teams' trajectories.