Injury Crisis Strikes NHL Powerhouses: Which Stars Are on the Brink of Missing Crucial Games?

Oh, the rollercoaster that is NHL season openers—always a mix of excitement and, unfortunately, a bit of woe on the injury front. Take Ryan Strome, for instance, the Anaheim Ducks’ forward who won’t be joining the squad on their initial road trip thanks to an upper-body injury—definitely a blow for the Ducks and their fans. Meanwhile, optimism floats in Buffalo with Lindy Ruff’s assurance that defenders Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson should lace up for the Sabres’ kickoff on Thursday. Over in Carolina, some uncertainty swirls around goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, who missed practice after a nagging nick, leaving Coach Rod Brind’Amour cautiously hopeful. And while Edmonton’s Zach Hyman has hit the ice again, his full return remains a ways off, making patience the name of the game for Oilers supporters. Elsewhere, Sam Reinhart’s unfortunate puck-to-face incident—stitches and all—omits him from recent Panthers practice, spotlighting just how quickly fortunes can turn on the ice. These snippets barely scratch the surface of a league on the move, with players like Cal Ritchie skating back, Drake Batherson sidelined but hopeful for a quick comeback, and lineups shifting as teams scramble to find their footing. It’s a vivid reminder—as fans and industry watchers—of the unpredictable dance between health and hustle in hockey’s high-stakes world. LEARN MORE

Anaheim Ducks: Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Strome will miss their opening road trip due to an upper-body injury.

Matthew Fairburn: Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said that defensemen Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson should be ready for their season opener on Thursday.

Ryan Henkel: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov missed practice yesterday. Coach Rod Brind’Amour: “He got nicked up the other day. Got through the game fine and so I’m not sure if it was in practice or what. I’m not sure what his status will be.”

Tony Brar: Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman was back on the ice with teammates yesterday. He is still going to be out for some time.

George Richards: Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart took a puck to the face on Tuesday and didn’t practice yesterday. He needed stitches.

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Andrew Gross: New York Islanders forward Cal Ritchie (lower-body) has resumed skating.

Murray Pam: Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson will miss tonight’s game, but he is hopeful to be ready for Saturday’s game or their home opener on Monday.

Claire Hanna: Senators GM Steve Staois didn’t give a timeline on when Batherson or Tyler Kleven could return. He added “I wouldn’t suspect that they’d be out for long periods of time,” and that Batherson is likely back before Kleven.

Brendan Batchelor: Vancouver Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said they expect forward Teddy Blueger to be out for another week. Defenseman P.O. Joseph won’t play in their opener on Thursday.

Jesse Granger: Vegas Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev was in the lineup last night.

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