NHL Season Opens with Challenges as Star Players Face Injuries
The 2024-25 NHL season has kicked off, but enthusiasm is tempered by a wave of injuries affecting several high-profile players. Fans and teams are adjusting to the absence of key performers across the league, impacting both player lineups and team dynamics.
Connor McDavid’s Setback
Edmonton Oilers fans are grasping for optimism as Connor McDavid, one of the league's most electrifying talents, deals with an ankle injury. The injury, sustained during an October 28 matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets, has sidelined McDavid for an expected two to three weeks. This absence could mean five to six missed games for McDavid, a substantial blow for an Oilers team that relies heavily on his offensive prowess.
The Sharks’ Celebrini Injury
In San Jose, the Sharks are navigating the challenges brought on by the loss of Macklin Celebrini. After just one game, Celebrini found himself on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. Team sources suggest a return to action sometime in November, a timeline which leaves a significant gap in their lineup. Celebrini's presence is sorely missed, encouraging the Sharks to explore depth options to fill in until his return.
Canucks and Demko's Knee Woes
The defensive backbone of the Vancouver Canucks, goaltender Thatcher Demko, is out for the coming weeks with a knee injury. Demko's absence for three to four weeks leaves Vancouver in a precarious position, as they balance the pressure of holding fort in the increasingly competitive Pacific Division.
Ongoing Concerns in Colorado
Gabriel Landeskog, captain of the Colorado Avalanche, remains absent following extensive rehabilitation and surgeries on his knee. Landeskog hasn’t skated since the 2022 postseason, undergoing both arthroscopic knee surgery and cartilage transplant surgery. Meanwhile, Artturi Lehkonen is contending with recovery after shoulder surgery, squeezing Colorado’s depth charts further.
Anaheim’s Gibson and Buffalo’s Benson Navigate Recovery
In Anaheim, hopes for a promising season rest partially on John Gibson’s shoulders—figuratively, at least, as he recovers from an appendectomy. Over in Buffalo, young prospect Zach Benson is dealing with a lower-body injury, dropping him temporarily from the Sabres' roster with timetables for a return still uncertain.
St. Louis and Los Angeles Face Injury Challenges
The St. Louis Blues are without duo Torey Krug and Robert Thomas; Krug recently underwent ankle surgery while Thomas is sidelined with a fractured ankle. Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty is similarly recovering after ankle surgery, leaving gaps in their defense strategies.
Injuries Across the League
Erik Gudbranson of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane recovering from hip and hernia surgeries, and New York Islanders’ Anthony Duclair facing his own lower-body injury, all contribute to the long tally of NHL injuries. Each of these absences has thrown teams’ initial playbooks into disarray as they adapt to altered lineups and strategies.
For Seattle, Vince Dunn’s mid-body injury presents additional hurdles, while Toronto’s Calle Jarnkrok manages a lower-body issue. Likewise, Utah Hockey Club has been hit with the loss of John Marino due to an upper-body injury. However, overcoming injuries is not the only narrative. Vancouver Canucks’ Dakota Joshua’s battle and subsequent recovery from testicular cancer serve as a testament to resilience, offering a glimmer of hope and inspiration amidst an otherwise injury-riddled news cycle.
As teams recalibrate to face the challenges of the season with these pivotal players absent, their return narratives are anticipated eagerly. The potential impact of these star players once they rejoin their teams could very well reshape the league's trajectory in the latter stages of the season.