Monday’s NHL injury board brought several blue-line updates, a handful of possible returns and a few clubs stretching their depth before a busy midweek slate. Ottawa could get Jake Sanderson back against Florida, Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin is nearing a return, and Winnipeg has formally moved Josh Morrissey to injured reserve.
Atlantic Division
William Nylander missed Toronto’s morning skate because of illness but was in the Maple Leafs lineup against the San Jose Sharks on Monday. Nylander has five goals and seven assists through nine games for Toronto, which entered play at 3-4-2. The Maple Leafs remain without John Tavares, who is considered week to week with a lower-body injury.
Sanderson practiced Monday and is expected to rejoin the Ottawa Senators when they face the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. The defenseman has missed eight games since suffering a lower-body injury in the Oct. 3 season opener.
- Sanderson was injured in Ottawa’s opening game on Oct. 3.
- He sat out the next eight games while the Senators moved to 6-3-0.
- He returned to practice Monday and said he was eager to get back after a frustrating absence, adding that Ottawa’s strong play had helped make the wait more manageable.
Sanderson led Ottawa defensemen last season with 14 goals, 40 assists, 54 points and an average ice time of 24:50 per game. The Senators will still be missing Thomas Chabot for an estimated one to two weeks because of an upper-body injury. Chabot did not play in the third period of Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Buffalo could have two significant additions when it hosts Philadelphia on Wednesday. Dahlin took part in practice after missing three games with an upper-body injury sustained during the second period of the Sabres’ 5-3 victory against Florida on Oct. 12. Jason Zucker, recovering from sports hernia surgery, also practiced and could make his season debut. Buffalo is 4-3-2.
Metropolitan Division
Philadelphia’s injury list grew again Monday. Tyson Foerster was unavailable against Colorado after taking a Drake Batherson shot off the right hand or wrist area Saturday. Foerster left late in the first period of the Flyers’ 3-1 win over Ottawa, though he returned for the second.
The Flyers recalled forwards Alex Bump and Cole Knuble from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. Owen Tippett missed a second consecutive game with an upper-body issue, while Travis Konecny is out with a lower-body injury. Defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York, both sidelined by upper-body injuries, remain on injured reserve. Coach Rick Tocchet said Philadelphia is currently working through a difficult run of injuries.
The New York Rangers added veteran depth by signing Luke Glendening to a professional tryout Monday. The 37-year-old center had four assists in 52 games with the New Jersey Devils last season before recording two goals and three assists over 18 games with Philadelphia.
Glendening has played 934 regular-season games for the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Devils and Flyers, producing 85 goals and 90 assists. He also owns seven goals and four assists in 60 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Washington defenseman Matt Roy was a full participant in Monday’s practice and could return against Los Angeles on Tuesday after missing six games with a lower-body injury. The Capitals, 5-3-0, host the Kings at 7 p.m. ET.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois practiced in a noncontact jersey after an illness and is likely to miss a fifth straight game.
- Justin Sourdif did not practice because of illness and will not play Tuesday, following his absence from Washington’s 4-2 win against New Jersey on Saturday.
New Jersey expects Luke Evangelista to return Tuesday against Colorado after the forward missed three games with an illness. Anthony Mantha was questionable after missing Monday’s practice. Connor Brown, who has not yet played this season because of a lower-body injury, practiced but remains out.
Jesper Bratt and Cody Glass did not participate in the Devils’ full practice, but both are expected to play. Glass has an issue that benefits from additional rest, while Bratt has been managing a lingering ailment and skated on his own before practice.
The New York Islanders will be without Calum Ritchie for four to six weeks and Matias Maccelli for two to four weeks. Both forwards suffered lower-body injuries during the first period of Saturday’s 4-1 win in Toronto.
- Maccelli exits with two goals and four assists in eight games during his first Islanders season.
- Ritchie had one goal and one assist in eight games before getting hurt.
- The Islanders recalled Mitchell Chaffee from Hamilton of the AHL, where he has four goals and two assists in six games.
- New York, 4-3-1, hosts Anaheim on Tuesday and Los Angeles on Thursday before opening a three-game trip Sunday in Dallas.
Western Conference notebook
Los Angeles forward Mats Zuccarello could return Tuesday at Washington after sitting out three games with an undisclosed injury. Zuccarello, who signed a one-year deal with the Kings on July 1, practiced Monday alongside Quinton Byfield and Trevor Moore. Coach Peter Laviolette indicated the winger was moving toward a return. Zuccarello has one assist in three games.
Pittsburgh welcomed Egor Chinakhov back Monday against the Utah Mammoth. The forward had missed two games with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Samuel Girard remained out after leaving Saturday’s 6-2 loss at Vegas during the second period with an undisclosed problem.
Winnipeg placed Morrissey on injured reserve Monday, retroactive to Oct. 7, and called up forward Brayden Yager from Manitoba of the AHL. Morrissey, who has three assists in four games, will not require surgery.
- Morrissey was hurt after a hit involving Colorado forward T.J. Hughes in the first period of Winnipeg’s 3-2 win on Oct. 7.
- He took one shift early in the second period before leaving the game.
- The Jets made the injured-reserve move and elevated Yager, who has five goals and nine points in six AHL games.
- Winnipeg, 4-2-2, visits the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
Colorado is targeting Friday’s home game against Tampa Bay for Logan O’Connor’s season debut. The forward was placed on long-term injured reserve Sept. 28 and had to miss at least 10 games. Friday would be Colorado’s 11th game, following road contests at Philadelphia on Monday and New Jersey on Tuesday.
Avalanche forwards Nicolas Roy and Zachary L’Heureux are both listed week to week. Roy, who missed a third straight game Monday with a lower-body injury, may be closer to returning than L’Heureux, who has missed four in a row with an upper-body injury.
St. Louis forward Alexey Toropchenko practiced as an extra Wednesday, only two weeks after the Blues announced he would be sidelined at least six weeks. Toropchenko was injured behind the Dallas net in the second period of St. Louis’ Oct. 2 opener, a 4-0 road win, when two Stars players drove him into the glass.
Toropchenko posted four goals and seven assists in 65 games last season. The Blues are 3-4-1 and host Winnipeg on Tuesday.
