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.
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Maple Leafs Get Encouraging OEL Update But One Wait Remains
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For Winnipeg, the broader lesson is familiar: availability can shape the entire conversation around a team, whether it is a veteran defenseman easing back into practice or Connor Hellebuyck still sitting out and leaving fans watching the situation closely. The Jets keep waiting for clarity on his status, and one supporter has even turned that wait into a running online tally, a sign of just how much the uncertainty around their star goaltender has taken hold. [Read more 🡒]