The 2024-25 NHL season has commenced with a wave of challenging circumstances as several key players across the league find themselves sidelined due to injuries. The specter of injury looms over numerous franchises, affecting team dynamics and performance on the ice.
Significant Setbacks for Teams
The Florida Panthers are grappling with a temporary loss of their star player, Aleksander Barkov, after a lower-body injury sustained on October 9 in a match against the Ottawa Senators. The incident occurred while Barkov was intercepting an empty-net goal, leading to a two-to-three-week recovery period. The Panthers remain hopeful, as head coach Paul Maurice hints at the possibility of Barkov's return by early November for the NHL Global Series in Finland, stating, “(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.”
Meanwhile, Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks has been marked on the injured reserve list due to an injury during training camp. Celebrini is expected to miss at least the next two games, putting a strain on the Sharks' early roster configuration.
The Vancouver Canucks face their own trials as goaltender Thatcher Demko recuperates from a knee injury incurred during the punishing 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Nashville Predators. Projected recovery for Demko stands at three-to-four weeks, leaving the team to adjust their goalkeeping options in his absence.
Lingering Issues from the Past
In Colorado, the Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog remains out of action since their 2022 Stanley Cup victory. Following arthroscopic knee surgery and missing the entire 2022-23 season, Landeskog's rehabilitation continued into the 2023-24 season as he underwent a cartilage transplant surgery, ruling him out once more. The Avalanche also have to cope without Artturi Lehkonen, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, continuing a challenging period for the team's lineup integrity.
John Gibson, goaltender for the Anaheim Ducks, is nearing a return after undergoing appendectomy surgery. His return is anticipated in early November, offering some relief to the Ducks’ squad.
Ongoing Rehabilitation and Return Timelines
Elsewhere in the league, Yegor Sharangovich of the Calgary Flames and Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings remain on the injured reserve list. Sharangovich deals with a lower-body injury, while Doughty is in recovery from ankle surgery, with no specific timeline for his return.
Evander Kane of the Edmonton Oilers looks towards a longer recovery trajectory, with a target return date in February 2025 following surgical procedures on his hip and hernia. The impact of Kane's absence is well-felt as the Oilers strategize towards his comeback.
For the New Jersey Devils, it's a mixed bag as Luke Hughes nurses a shoulder injury with hopes of returning by early November, while Brett Pesce, strikingly, is projected to return as early as October 2024 following a fractured fibula.
Future Prospects and Returning Players
The Pittsburgh Penguins are hopeful as Bryan Rust manages a lower-body injury, with his progress closely monitored by the medical team. Similarly, the Toronto Maple Leafs anticipate Calle Jarnkrok's return by late October from a lower-body injury, fortifying their offensive lineup.
New entrants to the league, like the Utah Hockey Club, also face the harsh realities of player injuries. Nick Bjugstad's upper-body injury is being carefully managed, with a potential return by early November. John Marino of the same team is expected back mid-October, providing a gleam of optimism for the club.
Dakota Joshua of the Vancouver Canucks stands as an inspiration, aiming for a late October return as he battles back from testicular cancer, demonstrating resilience and determination.
Finally, Vegas Golden Knights eagerly await William Karlsson’s October 2024 return despite keeping details of his injury under wraps, signaling strategic hopes for his reintegration into the team.
As the NHL season progresses, the hopes of many teams lie in the recovery and return of these key players. The coming months will reveal which teams can best adapt to and mitigate the challenges posed by this flurry of injuries, setting the stage for an unpredictable yet thrilling hockey season.