The 2024-25 NHL Season Begins with a String of Injuries
As the puck drops on the 2024-25 NHL season, teams across the league are grappling with a significant number of high-profile injuries affecting key players. The early days of the campaign offer a landscape dotted with uncertainty, as many teams navigate these challenges with eyes firmly set on long-term goals.
One of the most notable absences is Aleksander Barkov, a cornerstone for the Florida Panthers. Barkov suffered a lower-body injury on October 9 in a game against the Ottawa Senators while valiantly defending an empty-net goal. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice provided some clarity on Barkov’s timeline, estimating a two-to-three week recovery period with optimistic projections pointing towards a return during the team's Global Series match in Finland in early November. Maurice noted there might be a chance for Barkov to return to the ice even sooner.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks are also facing their own injury woes. Macklin Celebrini, anticipated to be a crucial asset for the Sharks, incurred an injury during training camp, subsequently landing on the injured reserve list. Celebrini will be unavailable for at least the next two games, leaving the Sharks to make adjustments in his absence.
Additionally, the Vancouver Canucks are managing the aftermath of injuries sustained in last season's playoffs. Thatcher Demko, their stalwart goaltender, is nursing a knee injury from the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, specifically originating in Game 1 against the Nashville Predators. Aiming for a prompt recovery, Demko is expected to be out for three to four weeks.
The Colorado Avalanche face a dual dilemma with significant injuries sideling two of their players. Gabriel Landeskog remains absent since leading the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup victory in 2022. Having undergone an arthroscopic knee surgery, he missed the entire 2022-23 season and will also be out for the entirety of the 2023-24 season following a complex cartilage transplant surgery. The Avalanche are also missing Artturi Lehkonen, who is on injured reserve following shoulder surgery.
Elsewhere, the Anaheim Ducks are awaiting the return of John Gibson. The goaltender recently underwent appendectomy surgery and is expected back on the ice in early November. This places the Ducks in a precarious position early in the season as they adjust their goaltending rotation temporarily.
Another notable injury is that of Yegor Sharangovich of the Calgary Flames, who is currently out due to a lower-body injury. Additionally, the Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane is sidelined following hip and hernia surgeries, with hopes for a return by February 2025.
The Los Angeles Kings are managing Drew Doughty’s absence as he undergoes rehabilitation from ankle surgery, though a specific timeline for his return hasn’t been outlined. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils have two defenders on the recovery path. Luke Hughes is dealing with a shoulder injury with a prospective return in early November. On a brighter note for the Devils, Brett Pesce is anticipated to make a comeback in October 2024 after sustaining a fractured fibula.
In the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust is pushing through a lower-body injury as he aims to rejoin his team. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues' Torey Krug faces a protracted phase on the sidelines, marked to miss the entire 2025-26 season following ankle surgery.
The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to see Calle Jarnkrok back in action by late October 2024 following a lower-body injury. Moving across to the new terrains of the league, Nick Bjugstad of the Utah Hockey Club contends with an upper-body injury, targeting a return in early November 2024, while teammate John Marino is slated to be back by mid-October. Dakota Joshua of the Vancouver Canucks is on the road to recovery from testicular cancer, aspiring for a late October return, an inspiring narrative of resilience that transcends mere sportsmanship.
Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights are hopeful for William Karlsson's early-season return in October 2024, even though specifics around his injury remain undisclosed. The Golden Knights, at the height of their prowess, are planning to blend caution with their competitive ambitions as they gear up for another demanding season.
As team strategies adapt and shift to accommodate these recoveries, the 2024-25 NHL season underscores the relentless nature of professional hockey and the resilience required to overcome unforeseen challenges.