Fantasy hockey injury update: February 8

A look at the injuries around the NHL that will affect fantasy hockey lineups during the week of February 8. 

The NHL season is back in full swing as teams try to position themselves for the post season. Even with the extra rest from last week’s All-Star game, there are still plenty of player who are nursing some injuries.

Below you’ll find a list of the most significant injuries that will affect fantasy rosters for the upcoming week. As with all injuries, be sure to check the status of a player before using him, as sometimes availability isn’t decided until pregame warmups.

Evgeni Malkin- Pittsburgh Penguins (C): Pittsburgh to0k a big blow this past week when Evgeni Malkin didn’t make the weekend trip to Florida because he was dealing with a nagging injury. Malkin missed the game in Tampa on Friday and against the Panthers on Saturday. The issue doesn’t sound real serious, so Malkin could return as early as Pittsburgh’s next game, which is Monday. Just check his status prior to using him in a lineup.

Jason Spezza-Dallas Stars (C): Spezza took a hard hit into the boards on Thursday night and received an upper-body injury. There are no specifics on the injury, but he has been placed on injured reserve, meaning he’ll be out at least a week. An official timetable for his return has not been announced yet.

Marcus Johansson- Washington Capitals (W): Johansson is dealing with an upper-body injury and didn’t play in any of Washington’s games this past week. It’s not clear when he will return, but the word is that he might travel with the team this week on the upcoming four-game road trip. He could be taking the ice this week, just be sure to check his status before using him in a lineup.

Rick Nash- New York Rangers (W): Nash hasn’t appeared in a game since January 22. There wasn’t a known injury until he missed the game on January 24. It’s was expected that he would return last week after the All-Star Game, but that didn’t happen. In fact, he hasn’t yet skated, although it was projected that he’d be able to on Friday. The official diagnosis is that he’s dealing with a bone bruise and there’s no expected return date for Nash just yet.

Eric Fehr- Pittsburgh Penguins (W): Fehr got hurt in a game on February 2 and is expected to miss about a month with a lower-body injury. He’s currently on injured reserve, so an update on his status likely won’t come for about a week or two.

Ryan McDonagh- New York Rangers (D): McDonagh suffered an upper-body injury during Saturday’s game with Philadelphia and did not return. There’s no update or any official word on a return. The Rangers next play on Monday, so check his status prior to that game.

Tyler Bozak- Toronto Maple Leafs (C): Bozak took an elbow on the chin in Saturday’s tilt with Ottawa and had to immediately leave the ice. There’s no official word on what the injury is, but it seems like Bozak could be dealing with a concussion. If that’s the case, then he’ll likely be out at least this upcoming week. Check back next week for an update on his status.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins- Edmonton Oilers (C): There has been no update on Nugent-Hopkins, and there likely won’t be one until he starts skating or practicing again. He’s currently on injured reserve after having surgery on his had. He suffered the injury on January 18 and the initial report had him out six-to-eight weeks. Either way you look at it, Nugent-Hopkins still won’t be back for a while yet.

Michal Neuvirth- Philadelphia Flyers (G): Philadelphia just got it’s starting netminder back this pas week in Steve Mason, but then lost its backup goalie in Michal Neuvirth. He is dealing with an a lower-body injury and is officially listed as out for seven to 10 days. Check back on his status next week.

Mike Cammalleri-New Jersey Devils (W): Cammalleri has battled injuries this season and was put back on injured reserve on February 1 with a hand injury. However, the issue doesn’t sound like it’s too serious and he could be back as early as Monday this week.

Daniel Carr- Montreal Canadiens (W): Carr is out for at least three months with a knee injury that he sustained on January 25.  There have been no updates out of Montreal, meaning that the initial report of three months is likely still accurate.

Sean Couturier- Philadelphia Flyers (C): Word came out on Friday that Couturier’s lower-body ailment will keep him out for at least another four weeks. He already hasn’t been in a game since January 19. For now he’s placed on injured reserve.

Sergei Bobrovsky- Columbus Blue Jackets (G): Bobrovsky is still on injured reserve with a groin injury and it doesn’t seem like he’s anywhere close to returning. After injuring the groin multiple times this season and spending several stints on IR, it seems likely that Columbus won’t try to rush him back. Check back next week for an update on his status.

James van Riemsdyk- Toronto Maple Leafs (W): There is not any recent news on Van Riemsdyk other than the fact that he still figures to be out for an extended period of time with a broken bone in his foot. He’s on injured reserve currently and could be out until at least the middle of March.

Niklas Kronwall-Detroit Red Wings (D): Kronwall seems to be recovering well from his knee injury. He is eligible to come off the injured list on February 14 and and it sounds as if a return to the ice will follow soon after them. He will still be out all this week, but check back next week for an update on his status.

Jake Allen- St. Louis Blues (G): The latest word on Allen is that he skated with his teammates at the end of practice this past Friday. Thats’ a positive update, as there hasn’t been much news on him lately. He’s still recovering from a knee injury and is officially on IR. However, it sounds as if a return to action could be in the cards soon for Allen.

Tyler Ennis- Buffalo Sabres (W): Ennis has yet to start practicing since suffering a knee injury on December 30. However, word out of Buffalo is that he was able to start skating on his on on Friday. He’s still listed as week-to-week on the injury report and likely won’t back during the upcoming week.

Curtis McElhinney- Columbus Blue Jackets (G): McElhinney traveled with the team all of this past week and even spent some time skating on the ice, but he has yet to return to game action. He’s been out since the beginning of January with an ankle injury, but seems to be nearing a return.

Mike Smith- Arizona Coyotes (G): Smith is working his way back from core muscle surgery and seems likely to return near the end of February according to the team. He’s already been on the ice and taking shots, so expect to see him increasing his work over the next few weeks.

Ondrej Pavelec- Winnipeg Jets (G): Pavelec seems to be nearing a return from the knee injury that has kept him out since November. The latest report says that Winnipeg now considers him day-to-day and he could be called into action at any time now. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Pavelec get some game action this week.

Carey Price- Montreal Canadiens (G): Price skated again this past week on his own but has yet to skate with any goalie equipment on. He hasn’t participated in any practices and is still trying to return from a knee injury. He’s been out since late November and doesn’t seem to be ready to return anytime soon. Price definitely won’t be available for fantasy lineups during the upcoming week.