Fantasy hockey injury update: December 14
Injuries you should know for your fantasy hockey lineups on December 14.
Unfortunately injuries are a very common occurrence in the National Hockey League. Most injuries are given very generic labels and little information is often known. For fantasy purposes, most injury status updates need to be checked just prior to puck drop given the fact that they can change quickly.
Below is an update of the injuries that will be relevant to fantasy hockey for the upcoming week.
Logan Couture – San Jose Sharks (C): Couture was actually able to make his return to the Sharks last week, but unfortunately, it didn’t last long. He picked up an assist in his first game back on December 8 but then left the game on December 9 with another injury. Couture had surgery this past Thursday to close a bleeding artery in his thigh and will be out again. Currently, there’s no timetable for his return to the ice.
Kris Letang- Pittsburgh Penguins (D): Letang has been diagnosed with an upper body injury, a very popular diagnosis in the NHL. The talented defenseman suffered the injury on Thursday and then missed Friday’s game. The initial report has Letang out about two weeks.
Mike Smith- Arizona Coyotes (G): Arizona’s top goalie suffered a lower body injury during the last week and missed two games because of it. He’s no officially placed on inured reserve, but will be eligible to return to action on Thursday. There’s no indication that he’ll be ready, but check Smith’s status as the week goes on.
Adam Henrique- New Jersey Devils (W): Henrique is having a great season for the Devils but was injured on December 8 and has now missed consecutive games due to a lower body injury. He could return as early as Tuesday, but there’s no official word on him.
Travis Zajac- New Jersey Devils (C): Zajac was injured on December 3 and is still dealing with an upper body issue. He missed the games on December 11 and December 13 and there is no word on when he could return.
James Reimer- Toronto Maple Leafs (G): Reimer has been out since early December with an undisclosed injury. He next chance to return to action will be December 15th, but there is not much information being released. Stay tuned.
Devan Dubnyk – Minnesota Wild (G): Dubnyk is still dealing with a groin injury, and though he didn’t play this past week, he was able to participate in practice on Thursday. Dubnyk did not travel with the team this pat weekend, but the fact that he’s practicing means he could be back defending the net this week.
Carey Price – Montreal Canadiens (G): There’s no update on Price this week as he’s still recovering from a knee injury. It seems that he will be on the shelf for at least another month. There should be an update on his status in the coming weeks.
Ondrej Pavelec – Winnipeg Jets (G): There have not been any updates for Pavelec. He’s been out since November 21 with a knee sprain and isn’t expected back until late january or early November.
Robin Lehner- Buffalo Sabres (G): Lehner has been out since getting injured in the first game of the season. Things were thought to be going good with his rehab from a high ankle sprain, as he’s had the boot removed. However, Lehner has yet to practice, so it looks like Buffalo will be without its top netminder for a while longer.
Derek Stepan – New York Rangers (C): Stepan is still out with broken ribs and there’s been no update on his situation.
Tyler Ennis – Buffalo Sabres (C): Ennis is still week-to-week thanks to an upper body problem. There is still not a timetable for his return, but he was able to skate on his own Sunday, meaning that a return could be near.
Martin Hanzal- Arizona Coyotes (C): The Arizona center had been listed as day-to-day earlier in the week after suffering a lower body injury. He missed games on Tuesday and Friday and has now been officially placed on injured reserve.
Joffrey Lupul – Toronto Maple Leafs (W): Lupul was placed on IR last week with a lower body issue but has been practicing and seems very close to a return. Toronto plays on Tuesday and Lupul seems to have a good chance to make his return then.
Mike Fisher- Nashville Predators (C): Fisher was injured in the game on November 30 and has been out with the lower body ailment ever since. He had a chance to return to action Saturday but did not participate in the pregame skate. For now Fisher stays on IR.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – San Jose Sharks (D): Vlasic returned to action on Saturday and is no longer dealing with the lower body issue that kept him out of three games.
Shane Doan – Arizona Coyotes (W): Doan missed nine games with a lower body injury but made his return to the ice Saturday. He looks good to go moving forward.