The 2024-25 NHL season has just kicked off, and already, the league is grappling with a spate of high-profile injuries that could potentially reshape early competition. As teams across the league vie for a strong start, they are faced with the challenge of recalibrating strategies and lineups without some of their star players.
Aleksander Barkov: The Panther's Defensive Anchor
A pivotal moment came on October 9 when Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers sustained a lower-body injury while valiantly defending an empty-net goal against the Ottawa Senators. Known for his defensive prowess and leadership on the ice, Barkov is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. Panthers' head coach Paul Maurice optimistically noted the possibility of Barkov's return aligning with the team's early November NHL Global Series match in Finland.
San Jose's Young Talent and Veteran Issues
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks find themselves missing the promising young talent of Macklin Celebrini, who landed on the injured reserve list following an incident during training camp. While Sharks' management remains hopeful, the earliest projected return for Celebrini doesn’t see him participating in the next two games, causing a re-evaluation of the team's reliance on emerging talent.
Vancouver's Battle with Injuries
The Vancouver Canucks are navigating challenges of their own, with goaltender Thatcher Demko working through the aftermath of a knee injury sustained during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Nashville Predators. Demko's recovery journey, projected at three-to-four weeks, compels the team to lean on its backup goaltenders, testing the depth of their lineup early in the season. Adding to their concerns, Dakota Joshua, courageously fighting his way back from a testicular cancer diagnosis, targets a hopeful return late in October.
The Colorado Avalanche: Cautious Optimism Amid Setbacks
In Colorado, the Avalanche are carefully monitoring Gabriel Landeskog’s absence who remains sidelined since their triumphant 2022 Stanley Cup win. After missing the entire 2022-23 season due to arthroscopic knee surgery, Landeskog's recovery from more recent cartilage transplant surgery means the team's captain is out for the entirety of the 2023-24 season. Also on the injured reserve list is Artturi Lehkonen, recovering from shoulder surgery, further complicating the Avalanche’s plans for a formidable lineup.
Other Key Players Facing the Sidelines
The impact of injuries extends beyond single teams, with prominent players like John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks recovering from appendectomy surgery, eyeing an early November return. For the Calgary Flames, Yegor Sharangovich's lower-body injury places him on the injured reserve list, and the Edmonton Oilers expect to be without Evander Kane until February 2025, following hip and hernia surgeries.
Drew Doughty's rehabilitation from ankle surgery for the Los Angeles Kings remains without a specific timeline, heightening uncertainty for the Kings' defense. Further complicating matters for the New Jersey Devils, Luke Hughes struggles with a shoulder injury, projecting an early November return, shortly after Brett Pesce’s anticipated comeback from a fractured fibula in October 2024.
Future Considerations
The Pittsburgh Penguins are watchful of Bryan Rust's recovery from a lower-body issue, while the St. Louis Blues have confirmed Torey Krug will be absent for the entire 2025-26 season due to ankle surgery. Facing challenges of their own, the Toronto Maple Leafs anticipate Calle Jarnkrok’s return by late October 2024, after dealing with a lower-body injury.
Out west, the Utah Hockey Club is managing without Nick Bjugstad and John Marino; Bjugstad tackles an upper-body injury with a targeted early November return, while Marino is eyeing a mid-October resurgence. The defending Stanley Cup champions Vegas Golden Knights await William Karlsson’s comeback, slated for October 2024, despite the veil of an undisclosed injury.
As the NHL season progresses, each team's adaptation to these losses will undeniably serve as a testament to their depth and resilience. The handling of such key injuries often paves the road for unexpected leadership to emerge and strategic adjustments that could define the 2024-25 season narrative well before teams welcome back their star players from the sidelines.