As the 2024-25 NHL season kicks off, teams are grappling with a myriad of injuries affecting their rosters. High-profile players across the league are sidelined, impacting team strategies and fan expectations.
Key Absences from the Ice
Florida Panthers’ star Aleksander Barkov suffered a lower-body injury during an October 9 match against the Ottawa Senators. The unfortunate incident occurred while he was in the midst of defending an empty-net goal. Panthers coach Paul Maurice shared his insights on Barkov's recovery: “(Paul Maurice) estimated that Barkov would be sidelined two to three weeks, with a chance to return to the ice by the team's early November NHL Global Series match in Finland if not sooner.”
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks face challenges of their own with Macklin Celebrini on the injured reserve list following an incident during training camp. Celebrini is expected to miss at least the upcoming two games, further testing the team's depth early in the season.
Over in Vancouver, Thatcher Demko's knee injury, sustained during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs in Game 1 against the Nashville Predators, has left a void in the Canucks' lineup. The timeline for Demko’s return is projected to be three to four weeks, as the team navigates the opening weeks without their key goaltender.
Long-term Recoveries and Comebacks
Colorado Avalanche’s Gabriel Landeskog continues his long recovery journey. After missing the entire 2022-23 season due to arthroscopic knee surgery, Landeskog is set to miss the 2023-24 season as well, following a cartilage transplant surgery. Artturi Lehkonen, also from the Avalanche, is on injured reserve following shoulder surgery, further compounding the team’s challenges.
The Anaheim Ducks are similarly impacted, with John Gibson out of action after appendectomy surgery. Fortunately, Gibson is expected to make his comeback in early November, potentially restoring some stability to the Ducks' goaltending situation.
Other notable injuries include Calgary Flames’ Yegor Sharangovich, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury, and Edmonton Oilers’ Evander Kane, whose recovery from hip and hernia surgeries is keeping him off the ice until February 2025. The Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty is also facing an undefined hiatus following ankle surgery, with no specific timeframe for return being reported.
Devils’ Injury Woes
The New Jersey Devils are contending with a significant number of injuries as well. Luke Hughes is managing a shoulder injury, with an optimistic early November timeline suggested for his return. Brett Pesce suffered a fractured fibula, adding pressure to the Devils' defense ahead of his anticipated October return.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins’ front, Bryan Rust is battling a lower-body injury, impacting the team’s offensive dynamics, while Torey Krug of the St. Louis Blues has been ruled out for the entire 2025-26 season due to an ankle surgery.
Hopeful Returns
As October progresses, several players are on the verge of making their comebacks. Calle Jarnkrok of the Toronto Maple Leafs is looking at a late October return following a lower-body injury. Utah Hockey Club's duo, Nick Bjugstad and John Marino, are both working towards returns—Bjugstad from an upper-body injury anticipated in early November, and Marino likely by mid-October.
For the Vancouver Canucks, Dakota Joshua's return will be a poignant one, as he recovers from testicular cancer, aiming for a late October comeback. The Vegas Golden Knights remain hopeful about William Karlsson’s October return despite an undisclosed injury, an optimistic outlook amid a sea of injury challenges league-wide.
These injuries underscore the unpredictable nature of hockey and the toll it takes on players. As teams adapt and strategize around these absences, fans eagerly await the return of their favorite players, each return anticipated like a new beginning on the ice.