Fantasy hockey injury update: January 25

Several key players for fantasy hockey are dealing with current injuries heading into the week of January 25. 

With the NHL All-Star Game coming up at the end of the week it will bring some welcomed time off to several players dealing with injuries. Hockey is obviously a contact sport and injuries are a common occurrence. Also a common occurrence is little to no information being released about injured players.

Some players who’ve been on the injury report the last few weeks are no longer listed, but unfortunately, new players have been added. Below you will find an up-to-date list of injuries that will be relevant to fantasy hockey during the upcoming week.

Rick Nash- New York Rangers (W): Nash took a shot off his knee during Friday’s game. He was able to return and finish the game but the injury acted up over the weekend and he was unavailable for New York’s game on Sunday. It doesn’t sound like a serious injury and Nash could be available as early as Monday. Check his status before New York’s game on Monday night.

Chris Kunitz- Pittsburgh Penguins (W): Kunitz seems to be dealing with a minor back or neck injury. It was expected that he would play in Pittsburgh’s game with Vancouver on Saturday and he participated in the pre-game skate. However, he ended up being held out of the game. The injury doesn’t sound major, and Kunitz shouldn’t be out long. His next chance to return will be Tuesday night.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins- Edmonton Oilers (C): Nugent-Hopkins was hurt during a game on January 18 and it was announced at the time that the injury was a long-term injury to his hand. He had surgery this past week and will remain on injured reserve. The initial report has him missing six-to-eight weeks. At any rate, Nugent-Hopkins will miss a significant amount of time.

Henrik Sedin- Vancouver Canucks (C): Sedin was hurt in a game on January 17 after being hit into the boards. He hasn’t played since then but Vancouver has not disclosed what type of injury he’s dealing with. It is apparently a shoulder or chest injury, but it’s not known for sure. There is no report as to when he’ll be back on the ice.

Milan Michalek- Ottawa Senators (W): Michalek suffered a broken finger during the game on Friday and missed Sunday’s game with the Rangers. There’s no official word yet on how long he’ll be out but it’s hard to hold a hockey stick with a broken finger, meaning that Michalek will likely be out a few weeks.

Kyle Turris- Ottawa Senators (C): Turris is dealing with an ankle injury that has caused him to miss three games at this point. He first missed practice on January 20 and has yet to get back on the ice. The initial report said he suffered a lower-body issue and it has since been confirmed that it’s an ankle. Ottawa’s next game is Tuesday, so check his status prior to that.

Sean Couturier- Philadelphia Flyers (C): Couturier missed Philadelphia’s last game on Thursday with an upper-body injury. The Flyers were supposed to play on Saturday in New York but the game was called due to Winter Storm Jonas. He didn’t participate in any of the weekend practices and seems unlikely to play in Philadelphia’s next game on Monday.

Sam Reinhart- Buffalo Sabres (W): Buffalo has enjoyed a solid season from its rookie winger Sam Reinhart. Unfortunately, he will be out for a few games with an injury. He left a game on Wednesday after a collision and never returned. He then missed Friday’s game. Reports out of Buffalo are that he will miss “about a week.” There’s no word on what the actual injury is other than being labeled an upper-body issue.

Cam Ward- Carolina Hurricanes (G): Carolina’s top netminder hasn’t played since January 15. He is dealing with a concussion, but there’s no information on how he suffered the injury. He’s currently on injured reserve and there has been no word as to how long he’ll be off the ice. Concussions are tricky, particularly in hockey, so Carolina could be missing Ward for a while.

Sergei Bobrovsky- Columbus Blue Jackets (G): Bobrovsky can’t catch a break this year. He’s been dealing with a groin injury for the last month or so but finally made his return to the ice on January 19. He got the start again on January 21 but unfortunately had to leave after aggregating his groin. That’s now three times that he’s been out with the same groin injury this season. Bobrovsky has once again been placed on IR. It’s an unfortunate situation for the Blue Jackets and their top goalie. There is no word on a potential return this time around.

James van Riemsdyk- Toronto Maple Leafs (W): James Van Riemsdyk remains out with a broken foot. The original diagnosis wasn’t good, as his timetable to return was set at six-to-eight weeks. He seems to still be on that, putting his return somewhere around the beginning of March.

David Savard- Columbus Blue Jackets (D):  Savard has been out since he left a game on January 13. There wasn’t any clarification on the upper-body injury last week but it has been revealed now that he’s dealing with an oblique strain. Columbus placed him on injured reserve on January 22 and there’s no timetable on a return at this point.

Johnny Boychuk- New York Islanders (D): Boychuk has been out since the beginning of January with an upper-body injury. He’s currently on inured reserve and was given an original timetable of four-to-six weeks. There hasn’t bene an update on his status other than to say that he will not be returning before the All-Start break. Perhaps a return in

Niklas Kronwall-Detroit Red Wings (D): The veteran defenseman played in a game on January 17 but then had to have his knee scoped on January 19. The word from the Red Wings is that he will be out about a month but he’s currently listed as out for two-to-four weeks. Check on his status in a few weeks.

Connor McDavid- Edmonton Oilers (C): The Edmonton Oilers have a unique schedule that will keep them off the ice until after the All-Star break. When the Oilers do take the ice on February 2, Connor McDavid could be in the lineup. The star rookie has been out since early November with a broken clavicle. It sounds like McDavid will be safe to use in fantasy hockey very soon.

John Carlson-Washington Capitals (D): Carlson has been out of the lineup since late December with a lower-body injury. He’s currently on injured reserve but has been skating with the team. It’s been rumored for the last week or so that he was ready to return, but that hasn’t happened yet. Washington had two games canceled this weekend due to weather, but it doesn’t seem like the Capitals were expecting Carlson to play, at least not on Friday. It now seems likely that Washington will hold him out until after the break to allow him extra time to recover.

Jake Allen- St. Louis Blues (G): The is still no news on Jake Allen’s knee injury. The latest to come out of St. Louis has him listed as out on a week-to-week basis. For now he remains on injured reserve.

Tyler Ennis- Buffalo Sabres (W): Ennis has been out since December 30 with an upper-body injury. He is currently on injured reserve and there is no clear timetable. He is still considered week-to-week. Buffalo is being really secretive with Ennis, not even disclosing what the specific injury is.

Curtis McElhinney- Columbus Blue Jackets (G):  The only update on McElhinney’s ankle injury is that he won’t return before the All-Star break, which takes place this upcoming weekend. Columbus has been devastated with injuries this season, particularly at the goalie position. Expect an update on McElhinney after the break.

Mike Smith- Arizona Coyotes (G): Out since December after having core muscle surgery, Smith is starting to make progress in his rehab. He has been skating and has started taking shots. It seems that he’s on schedule and there are no indications that he’ll be ready early. The original projection of mid-February for a return still seems likely.

Ondrej Pavelec- Winnipeg Jets (G): Pavelec has been skating and doing some light workouts, but he’s still not ready to return to game action. His return could come soon, likely after the All-star break, but there’s been no word of when a return will come.

Carey Price- Montreal Canadiens (G): According to hockey journalist Richard Labbe, the Canadiens could opt to shut Price down for the season if they are not in playoff contention in a few weeks. That’s big news, as Montreal was in first place in the Eastern Conference before the injury to the star goalie. Price is dealing with a leg injury and has already been out longer than first expected.