Welcome to another edition of the Fantasy Hockey Injury Report. Every week, we will break down some key injuries around the league and how they may affect your fantasy hockey team.  It’s never easy to deal with the injury bug, but it doesn’t have to be the demise of your fantasy hockey team. Let’s take a look at who’s dealing with what this week!

 

 

 

NHL Injury Report: Week 1

Nick Schmaltz, Arizona Coyotes - Upper Body

Arizona forward Nick Schmaltz will be out six-to-eight weeks due to an upper-body injury. He finished with 59-points last season, and now he’s going to miss close to two months. The Coyotes are an awful team and this loss will hurt their offence even more. If you can stash him on injured reserve, do so. If you can’t don’t feel the pressure to keep him.

 

Patrik Laine, Columbus Blue Jackets - Elbow

Blue Jackets’ winger Patrik Laine will be out of the lineup for three-to-four weeks due to an elbow injury. He suffered the injury in the first game of the season, playing just shy of eight minutes. He did manage to score a goal, but fantasy owners will now have to deal with this early loss by looking for a short-term solution on the waiver wire.


Tyler Bertuzzi, Detroit Red Wings - Hand

Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi is expected to be out of the lineup for four-to-six weeks due to an upper-body injury. He suffered the injury against the Devils when he appeared to block a shot with his right hand. Hand injuries are tough for any player to deal with, especially for those who can score goals. Hopefully, he can make a return to the lineup soon and regain his place on Detroit’s top line.

 

 


Matt Murray, Toronto Maple Leafs - Groin

Toronto goalie Matt Murray is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks due to a groin injury. He made his Maple Leafs debut against the Montreal Canadiens and didn’t look that great. The veteran netminder had missed some time last season in Ottawa and he’s off to more of the same this year. Fantasy owners should have never drafted him in the first place because even when he does come back, he won’t be very good.


Evgeni Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals - Undisclosed

Capitals center Evgeni Kuznetsov is a game-time decision for Monday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks due to an undisclosed injury. He played over 20-minutes in the first two games of the season, so losing him for any time would be a huge blow to a team already without Nick Backstrom. Washington may elect to play it extra safe with their second talented Russian player and make sure he comes back fully recovered. 

 

 

 

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