Although we do have injuries in the NHL, COVID is once again the big story in the league–the changing protocols to try to keep players safe; the expanding list of teams that have been exposed, caught the virus, and recovered; and the games that have to be postponed are continuing news.
Just a few days ago, the NHL clarified what its “Players Who Are Unavailable” means, with this statement: “Such ‘COVID Protocol Related Absences’ can be the result of a number of factors including, among others: (1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol.” That is a very wide range of possibilities.
The additional COVID protocols adopted last week have players who are “well” and their families restricted in their off-ice activities in the hopes of stopping the acquisition of the virus (of variants thereof), but one still has to wonder whether, at some point, a hub-type bubble will be initiated to get all these postponed games played.
We are trying to keep you abreast of who is out (and why, if it is announced). Just know that this list can change quickly, so come back often.
Today’s List
The way this is set up is by team, with the player’s name; the nature of the injury; whether he is on the IR or LTIR or just “out”; the nature of the injury; and when he is expected to return.
Anaheim
Ryan Kesler–LTIR–hip injuries–unlikely return (one more year on contract); Brendan Guhle–LTIR–MCL (Knee)–1 to 2 more weeks; Josh Manson–IR–oblique muscle injury–3 weeks; Hampus Lindholm–out–lower body injury–unknown
Arizona
Marian Hossa–LTIR–skin disorder–not returning; Drake Caggiula–out–lower body injury–day-to-day; Antti Raanta–out–upper body injury–day-to-day
Boston
Ondrej Kase–IR–upper body injury–week-to-week; Matt Grzelcyk–out–lower body injury–day-to-day; Jakub Zboril–out–upper body injury–day-to-day; David Krejci–out–lower body injury–unknown; Rasmus Ristolainen–out–recovering from illness–-day-to-day
Buffalo
Zemgus Girgensons–IR–hamstring surgery–out for the season
Calgary
Derek Ryan–LTIR–broken finger–unknown; Sean Monahan–out–lower body injury
Carolina
Petr Mrazek–out–thumb surgery–unknown; Max McCormick–IR–upper body injury–unknown
Chicago
Jonathan Toews–LTIR–medical condition–unknown; Kirby Dach–LTIR–wrist–4 months; Alex Nylander–LTIR–knee surgery–3 to 5 months; Zack Smith–IR–back injury–unknown; Brent Seabrook–IR–shoulder/hip/back issues–unknown; Connor Murphy–IR–hip injury–10 to 14 days; Andrew Shaw–out–concussion protocol–day-to-day
Colorado
Pavel Francouz–LTIR–lower body injury–week-to-week; Erik Johnson–IR–upper body injury–week-to-week; Cale Makar–out–upper body injury–day-to-day; Dennis Gilbert–out–upper body injury–day-to-day
Columbus
Brandon Dubinsky–LTIR–wrist–will not return; Gustav Nyquist–IR–shoulder surgery–2 to 3 months; David Savard–out–illness–day-to-day
Dallas
Tyler Seguin–out–hip surgery–2 months; Stephen Johns–LTIR–post-concussion issues–unknown; Ben Bishop–LTIR–knee surgery–6 to 8 weeks; Alexander Radulov–out–lower body injury–day-to-day; Roope Hintz–out–lower body injury–day-to-day
Detroit
Henrik Zetterberg–IR–back–will not be returning; Jared McIsaac–IR–shoulder surgery–2 to 3 months; Tyler Bertuzzi–out–upper body injury–week-to-week; Vlad Namestnikov–out–undisclosed–unknown
Edmonton
Oscar Klefbaum–LTIR–shoulder injury–out for season; Ethan Bear–IR–upper body injury–day-to-day; Zach Kassian–LTIR–undisclosed–week-to-week; William Lagesson–out–undisclosed–unknown
Florida
Noel Acciari–out–upper body injury–7-10 days
Los Angeles
Jaret Anderson-Dolan–out–upper body injury–day-to-day; Sean Walker–IR–upper body injury–week-to-week; Martin Frk–out–lower body injury–week-to-week
Minnesota
Marco Rossi–IR–upper body injury–indefinite; Alex Stalock–IR–upper body injury–indefinite; Andrew Hammond–out–COVID protocol–unknown
Montreal
None
Nashville
Connor Ingram–out–player assistance program–unknown; Luca Sbisa–IR–upper body–unknown; Brad Richardson–out–upper body injury–unknown; Ryan Johanson–IR–upper body injury–day-to-day; Mattias Ekholm–IR–lower body injury–week-to-week; Mathieu Olivier–IR–upper body injury–unknown
New Jersey
Nico Hischier–out–COVID protocol–unknown; Ryan Murray–out–illness–day-to-day
NY Islanders
Johnny Boychuk–LTIR–eye injury–not expected to return
NY Rangers
Filip Chytil–IR–upper body injury–4-6 weeks/COVID protocol–unknown; Jacob Trouba–out–upper body injury–4 to 6 weeks; Kappo Kakko–out–COVID protocol–unknown
Ottawa
Vitaly Abramov–IR–unknown–unknown; Matt Murray–out–neck strain–day-to-day; Ryan Dzingel–out–COVID protocol–unknown; Thomas Chabot–out–upper body injury–day-to-day; Marcus Hogberg–out–lower body injury–day-to-day
Philadelphia
Isaac Ratcliffe–IR–rib injury–unknown; Wade Allison–IR–unknown–unknown; Kirill Ustimenko–IR–hip surgery–2 to 3 months; Justin Braun–out–COVID protocol–unknown; Travis Konecny–out–COVID protocol–unknown; Morgan Frost–out–shoulder surgery–out for the season; Claude Giroux–out–COVID protocol–unknown; Scott Laughton–out–COVID protocol–unknown; Oskar Lindblom–out–COVID protocol–unknown; Jakub Voracek–out–COVID protocol–unknown
Pittsburgh
Sam Miletic–IR–unknown–unknown; Zach Trotman–IR–knee surgery–2 to 4 weeks; Juuso Riikola–LTIR–upper body injury–unknown; Evan Rodrigues–LTIR–lower body injury–unknown; Brian Dumoulin–IR–lower body injury–week-to-week; Jared McCann–out–lower body injury–week-to-week
San Jose
Devan Dubnyk–out–lower body injury–day-to-day; Erik Karlsson–out–lower body injury–day-to-day; Radim Simek–IR–upper body injury–day-to-day
St. Louis
Vladimir Tarasenko–LTIR–shoulder surgery–week to week; Alexander Steen–LTIR–back injury–will not return; Scott Perunovich–out–shoulder surgery—out for the season; Tyler Bozak–IR–upper body injury–day-to-day; Colton Parayko–out–undisclosed–day-to-day; Robert Thomas–out–broken thumb–4 to 6 weeks; Jaden Schwartz–out—lower body injury–day-to-day; Ivan Barbashev–IR–ankle injury–unknown; Sammy Blais–out–COVID protocol–unknown
Tampa Bay
Nikita Kucherov–LTIR–hip surgery–out for regular season; Marian Gaborik–LTIR–back injury–will not return; Anders Nilsson–LTIR–post-concussion syndrome–indefinite; Mitchell Stephens–out–leg injury–month-to-month; Anthony Cirelli–out–upper body injury–week-to-week
Toronto
Nick Robertson–LTIR–knee injury–day-to-day; Jack Campbell--LTIR–leg injury–unknown; Wayne Simmonds–LTIR–broken wrist–5 weeks
Vancouver
Michael Ferland–LTIR–concussion–indefinite; Jayce Hawryluk–LTIR–unknown–unknown; Travis Hamonic–IR–upper body injury–day-to-day; Tyler Motte–IR–lower body injury–week-to-week; Justin Bailey–out–upper body injury–unknown
Vegas
Brayden McNabb–LTIR–lower body injury–unknown; Tomas Nosek–out–COVID protocol–unknown; Robin Lehner–out–upper body injury–unknown
Washington
Beck Malenstyn–LTIR–achilles tendon surgery–4 to 6 months; Michal Kempny–LTIR–achilles tendon surgery–week-to-week; Henrik Lundqvist–LTIR–heart surgery–indefinite
Winnipeg
Bryan Little–LTIR–head injury–out for season; Pierre-Luc Dubois–out–lower body injury–day-to-day
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