The NHL injury picture took another turn Friday, with several teams getting updates that range from encouraging to open-ended. The Florida Panthers finally have a rough window for Brad Marchand’s comeback, the Edmonton Oilers may be close to adding Zach Hyman back into the mix, and the Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, and Montreal Canadiens are each dealing with key absences of their own.
For Ottawa, William Eklund’s ankle injury is going to keep him out for a while. Head coach Travis Green said Friday that the 23-year-old is expected to return at some point during the regular season, but there’s no exact timeline yet.
Eklund was hurt in Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers when Flyers defenseman Simon Benoit hit him awkwardly into the boards in the first period. He had trouble putting weight on his left leg as he headed down the tunnel and never came back.
Green also said surgery is not expected to be needed.
Winnipeg is watching Josh Morrissey closely after the defenseman was ruled out Friday and labeled day-to-day by head coach Scott Arniel. The Jets haven’t offered a more specific explanation for the injury or how serious it might be.
Morrissey is a major part of the blue line, so even a short absence matters for a team that has come out hot. If he misses time, Mario Ferraro will be leaned on even more after already handling extra minutes and doing solid work at five-on-five and on the penalty kill.
Florida got the clearest update of the bunch on Marchand. After suffering a lower-body injury against the Los Angeles Kings, he’s expected to miss about six weeks and should be back skating in roughly three weeks, according to Paul Maurice, which points to a possible return in November.
Marchand was hurt late in the second period when a collision with Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke sent him into the net. He needed help off the ice and couldn’t put weight on his left leg.
The injury comes after he had surgery in August and missed a significant stretch late last season. Even so, the expectation right now is that this is not a season-ending issue.
Florida, according to the update, likely won’t pursue the trade market or spend big on unsigned unrestricted free agents.
Montreal will be without Samuel Montembeault for the next 10 to 14 days after he picked up a lower-body injury during Wednesday’s practice. It appeared to happen without contact, and he had trouble putting weight on his right side as he left the ice.
At first it didn’t seem especially serious, with teammates joking he may have taken the puck in a bad spot, but Martin St. Louis said it’s more than that.
The absence opens the door for Jacob Fowler, who has been playing well in the AHL.
Edmonton may be on the verge of getting a boost. Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer reported that Hyman was expected to practice Friday, with a possible return Tuesday against Los Angeles.
Hyman played in the first game of the season, but has not been on the ice since. If he’s back next week, the Oilers will be adding him to a lineup already missing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Colton Dach, Matt Savoie, and Mattias Janmark.
In Other News...
Red Wings Standings Chase Just Got Tougher In The Atlantic
Ottawa is getting healthier at a good time, with defensemen Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub expected back in the lineup within the next few days. Zub has been working his way back from a knee injury that kept him out of camp and preseason, while Sandersons return should give the Senators another boost on the back end as they try to keep pace in a crowded division.
Andr Burakovsky is also close to coming back from an upper-body injury, adding another layer to the Senators near-term picture. The timing matters because Detroit has already started sorting through its own injury list, activating forwards Chase Stillman and Carter Bear and sending them to Grand Rapids, a small but relevant reminder that the Atlantic chase will keep shifting as teams get bodies back and try to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Prospect Watch Took A Frustrating Turn In London
The London Knights had the kind of night that can sting long after the final horn, letting an early two-goal lead slip away before falling 4-3 in a shootout to the Erie Otters. For Ottawa Senators fans keeping tabs on the prospect scene, there was still plenty to note beyond the result: Eloan Le Gallic and Marcus Nordmark chipped in, while the Knights first-period scoring and special teams left them chasing the game far too often.
Aleksei Medvedev did his part for stretches, coming up with several key saves as London tried to steady itself and get to the finish line with two points. Instead, the Knights were left to regroup after another frustrating finish, and the attention now shifts to how they respond to a game that exposed some familiar issues and offered only a partial silver lining for those watching the pipeline. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Must Reshuffle Two Key Forward Spots At A Risky Time
William Eklunds ankle injury has forced Ottawa into an early lineup adjustment at a time when the Senators are already juggling bodies, and the timing is hardly ideal. Even with the shuffling, the club has managed a strong start with three wins in four games, a useful cushion as it waits on more reinforcements and tries to keep the forward group from losing too much rhythm.
Andr Burakovsky is set to make his regular season debut as part of the fix, while Ridly Greig is moving up the depth chart to help fill the void left behind. With Artem Zub and Jake Sanderson also expected back soon, Ottawa is trying to patch together the present while keeping one eye on a healthier version of the roster, but how quickly these new combinations settle in will matter. [Read more 🡒]