2017 Fantasy Hockey Injury Report: October 17

Published: Oct 17, 2017
Each week of the National Hockey League regular season, we will take a look at some of the most important injuries that have occurred in the last seven days, as well as key players that have returned from injury and updates on the conditions of other fantasy-relevant players (when applicable). Here is this week's batch:
1. Leon Draisaitl, RW/C, Oilers (concussion/eye injury, IR)
What began as a relatively minor eye injury has now turned into a concussion for the big, German playmaker. Obviously, the Oilers are quite concerned about Draisaitl's situation; they simply cannot afford to lose him for several games. In the meantime, the Oil will give rookie winger Kailer Yamamoto a shot on Connor McDavid's right wing in place of Draisaitl (Patrick Maroon remains on the left side). This injury affects the entire roster.
2. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Golden Knights (concussion, IR)
Speaking of players teams simply cannot afford to be without, the expansion Knights will now have to go without their best player for an indefinite period of time. Fleury was injured recently when he was run over in the crease area by Detroit's Anthony Mantha. Now, Vegas will look to rookie Malcolm Subban to pick up the slack. With Calvin Pickard traded to Toronto, Subban should now see a ton of action. Maxime Lagace is his backup.
3. Antti Raanta, G, Coyotes (lower-body injury, day to day)
The Coyotes are a mess right now, and that has mostly to do with their shaky goaltending situation. Raanta, the team's projected starter this season, has been limited to three games because of a pesky lower-body ailment that he cannot seem to shake. Meanwhile, backup Louis Domingue has struggled badly in the crease area (4 GP, 0-3-0, 4.55 GAA, .862 Sv%). This could open the door for 21-year-old rookie netminder Adin Hill.
4. Charlie Coyle, W/C, Wild (fractured fibula, IR)
Now 25, Coyle has seen his production increase every season since entering the NHL in 2012-13. Therefore, fantasy leaguers were eagerly anticipating Coyle's start to 2017-18. After producing two assists in his first three games, Coyle fractured his right leg against Chicago recently and is now sidelined indefinitely. This is bad news for a Wild forward group that was already missing Zach Parise (back) and Mikael Granlund (groin). Ouch!
5. Mathieu Perreault, LW/C, Jets (lower-body injury, IR)
The steady veteran will be missed in Winnipeg, as Perreault is viewed as somewhat of a 'glue guy' on the Jets: a player who seems to make his linemates better (regardless of whom he plays with). Perreault had been playing on the second line with Bryan Little and Patrik Laine, a job that now belongs to rookie Kyle Connor for the time being. Speedy Connor appeared in 20 NHL games last season and is hoping to stick with the big club this time.
6. Jonathan Marchessault, LW/RW, Golden Knights (lower-body injury, IR)
The former Panthers, Lightning and Blue Jackets forward was off to a slow start with his new team (4 GP, 1-0-1) but was skating on a scoring line with the Golden Knights with Oscar Lindberg and Reilly Smith. His absence will definitely be felt on the expansion squad (who may have to rely even more heavily for goals on veteran winger James Neal). Marchessault's injury will provide rookie Alex Tuch with an opportunity to showcase his skills.
7. Nino Niederreiter, RW/LW, Wild (ankle injury, IR)
If losing Charlie Coyle recently was not bad enough, the Wild compounded their misery with the loss of Niederreiter for at least three weeks due to a high-ankle sprain. It has been so bad in terms of Minnesota injuries that the team had to play without five regular forwards last week: Niederreiter, Coyle, Zach Parise, Mikael Granlund and Marcus Foligno! Veteran Tyler Ennis and rookie Joel Eriksson Ek could benefit the most.
8. Alexander Edler, D, Canucks (sprained knee, out indefinitely)
Now in his 12th pro campaign, all with the Canucks organization, Edler has been quite prone to injury for much of his career. He was limited to 68 games last season and has only one injury-free year (2011-12) to his name. With Edler out, the Canucks will give recent acquisition Derrick Pouliot a chance to showcase his puck-moving skills. A major disappointment with the Penguins organization, Pouliot gets to start over in Vancouver.
9. Matt Niskanen, D, Capitals (upper-body injury, IR)
Washington was already missing three of their top seven defensemen from last season: Karl Alzner (who signed with Montreal as a UFA); Nate Schmidt (who was claimed by Vegas in the expansion draft) and Kevin Shattenkirk (who signed with the Rangers as a free agent, as well). Therefore, losing Niskanen for some time will hurt. Rookies Christian Djoos and Madison Bowey should benefit the most from Niskanen's prolonged absence.
10. Erik Haula, C/LW, Golden Knights (lower-body injury, IR)
The underrated speedster, who was claimed by Vegas from Minnesota in the expansion draft, was playing an important role for his new team (centering the third line). That must now be placed on hold for at least a little while, as Haula has landed on Injured Reserve. The good news for the Golden Knights is Haula's injury provided the team with a get-out-of-jail card for Vadim Shipachyov, who had been banished temporarily to the AHL.
Player News
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Chiefs will pick up CB Trent McDuffie’s fifth-year option.
The move will cost the Chiefs $13.6 million in 2025. It’s a no-brainer considering McDuffie has been among the league’s most reliable corners for the past few years. Pro Football Focus in 2024 graded McDuffie as the NFL’s fifth best cover corner as he had two interceptions and 13 passes defended for the solid Kansas City secondary.
Commanders signed K Matt Gay, formerly of the Colts, to a one-year contract worth $4.25 million.
Gay will kick for his fourth team since entering the NFL in 2019. He was released by the Colts in early April after making 82 percent of his field goal tries over two seasons with Indy. Gay has been a solid kicker for much of his NFL career, though he has struggled from distance, converting just 61 percent of his field goal tries of more than 50 yards over six seasons. Attached to a high-powered Commanders offense, Gay could have fantasy upside in 2025. Washington had the league’s fourth most field goal attempts (42) last season.
Commanders released K Zane Gonzalez.
The move comes less than two months after Washington re-signed Gonzalez following his 2024 late-season heroics. He converted five of his seven field goal attempts during six regular season games for the Commanders. Gonzalez, who has played for five teams since entering the NFL in 2017, will likely catch on with another team this summer.
Willi Castro (oblique) could return to the Twins’ lineup this weekend.
Castro has been sidelined with an oblique injury since April 16th and was finally placed on the IL late last week. He has been swinging the bat right-handed and plans to swing left-handed on Tuesday. If his body responds well to that, the Twins could bring him back for this weekend’s series against Boston, which could cut into the playing time for Brooks Lee or Edouard Julien.
The Charlotte Observer’s Mike Kaye believes WR Tetairoa McMillan will be used across the formation in 2025.
Kaye said he expects McMillan, taken with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, to primarily occupy the outside X spot and be an “immediate fixture” in Dave Canales’ offense. Xavier Legette, according to Kaye, will play the Z position while Adam Thielan occupies the slot. “Despite those immediate roles, the three players will likely get the chance to move around the formation,” Kaye added. That’s likely a positive for McMillan’s 2025 fantasy outlook after he proved one of the nation’s most efficient receivers on slot routes at Arizona in 2024. McMillan was the first wideout selected in the draft after racking up 213 receptions for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns in 37 games at Arizona. Bryce Young reportedly vouched for McMillan before the Panthers used their first rounder on him.
Royce Lewis (hamstring) will play 10 innings in a doubleheader on Tuesday and could return to Minnesota on May 6th.
Lewis will play 10 innings as the team’s designated hitter during a doubleheader for Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday and then play a full game at third base on Wednesday, assuming Tuesday goes well. Even though that could mean Lewis returns this weekend, The Athletic’s Dan Hayes suggests “it’s likelier Lewis will play several more games over the weekend and return when the Twins open a homestand on May 6.”