As the 2024-25 NHL Season Begins, Injuries Create Challenges Across the League
The 2024-25 NHL season is just getting underway, ushering in a fresh wave of excitement and anticipation. However, as teams are eager to carve out successful campaigns, a slew of high-profile injuries has already begun to shape the narrative of the early season.
A key storyline is Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, who sustained a lower-body injury in a game against the Ottawa Senators on October 9. The injury occurred while Barkov was tenaciously defending an empty-net goal. Panthers’ head coach, Paul Maurice, provided an optimistic yet cautious outlook: “(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.” This potential return would be significant for the Panthers as they look to build on last season's momentum.
Elsewhere, the San Jose Sharks are grappling with the absence of their No. 1 overall pick, Macklin Celebrini. After sustaining an injury during training camp, Celebrini is headed to the injured reserve list and is expected to miss at least the next two games. The injury puts a temporary halt to what many anticipated would be an auspicious start to his NHL career.
In Vancouver, the Canucks are without their star goaltender, Thatcher Demko, who has been dealing with a knee injury that sidelined him during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Demko hurt himself in Game 1 of the series against the Nashville Predators and was unable to return for the remainder of the postseason. His current prognosis suggests a three-to-four week recovery time, with hopes for a comeback in early November.
The Colorado Avalanche are facing the prolonged absence of Gabriel Landeskog, who has been out of action since their 2022 Stanley Cup victory. After undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery post-championship, Landeskog missed all of the 2022-23 season. Unfortunately, the Avalanche have announced that he will also miss the 2023-24 season following a cartilage transplant surgery. Additionally, Artturi Lehkonen is on injured reserve after undergoing shoulder surgery with an indefinite timeline for his return.
John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks is recuperating from appendectomy surgery, with expectations to return in early November. Meanwhile, Yegor Sharangovich of the Calgary Flames is also on the injured reserve list due to a lower-body injury, with an uncertain return date.
The Edmonton Oilers anticipate that Evander Kane, who recently underwent hip and hernia surgeries, will make his return by February 2025. Elsewhere in the league, the Los Angeles Kings’ veteran defenseman Drew Doughty is rehabbing from ankle surgery, with no specific timeframe established for his return.
Rookies and young players are also among those dealing with injuries. Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils has been sidelined with a shoulder injury, projecting an early November return. His teammate, Brett Pesce, sustained a fractured fibula but is expected to make his return in October 2024. The Penguins are monitoring Bryan Rust, who is soon expected to overcome his lower-body injury.
For the St. Louis Blues, the absence of Torey Krug will be felt deeply as he is set to miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season following ankle surgery. The Toronto Maple Leafs eagerly await the return of Calle Jarnkrok, who is expected to be back in late October 2024 after dealing with a lower-body injury.
The Utah Hockey Club reports that Nick Bjugstad, contending with an upper-body injury, is anticipated to return in early November 2024, while John Marino is expected back by mid-October. Notably, Dakota Joshua of the Vancouver Canucks has shown resilience in his recovery from testicular cancer as he aims for a late October return.
Lastly, the Vegas Golden Knights are optimistic about William Karlsson’s October 2024 return despite his undisclosed injury, which adds another dimension to the team’s need for a strong lineup in the season's early stages.
As teams navigate these challenges, the NHL season continues to promise thrilling contests and surprising turns. The constant ebb and flow of the injury reports underscore the resilience and depth every team requires to navigate the intensity of a demanding NHL season.