Good Morning! Today’s fantasy hockey injury report is light given the small slate of games. I cover 7 players, their replacements and how to view each situation from a fantasy perspective.
Forwards: Mike Hoffman, Drake Batherson, Maxime Comtois, Curtis Lazar, Sammy Blais, Tyler Pitlick
Goalie: Mackenzie Blackwood
Anaheim Ducks: Max Comtois (C/L) - The young forward has struggled mightily to start the season with only one assist through 13 games played. He was held out of the lineup yesterday against Vancouver with an upper body injury, but it is hard to imagine that it couldn’t be play related as well. Jakob Silfverberg returned to action on L3 with Lundestrom/MacTavish in the place of Comtois. Silfverberg has nine points in 10 games this season, off to one of the better starts in his career.
Boston Bruins: Curtis Lazar (C) - Another player who has given little impact to his club to start the year, Lazar has been skating around on L4 with only two assists this season. He was held out of the game yesterday against the Canadiens with an undisclosed injury. Oskar Steen played in his second game this season on L3 with DeBrusk/Nosek and had an assist. The Swede has started the year with 10 points in seven games for their AHL affiliate.
Calgary Flames: Tyler Pitlick (R/L) - A late scratch on Sunday, Pitlick was held out of the game against the Senators with a lower body injury. Walker Duehr made his NHL debut in Pitlick’s place, the young forward has only 10 games of AHL experience to go with his first NHL action. Pitlick had been on a line with Richardson/Lucic.
Montreal Canadiens: Mike Hoffman (R/L) - The scoring winger was a late scratch for the tilt against the Bruins on Sunday with an upper body injury. Ryan Poehling, a former 1st round pick, was pushed into the top six for Hoffman on L2 with Dvorak/Gallagher. He has one goal in three games since his recall from the minors, and six points in 31 career NHL tilts. Adam Brooks played C4 between Belzile/Pezzetta. The team changed their PP1 from a 4/1 look to a 3/2 with Ben Chiarot holding Hoffman’s place.
New Jersey Devils: Mackenzie Blackwood (G) - The goaltender of the future in the Devils organization, Blackwood suffered a head injury last night against the Rangers. This came as a result of a collision with Kaapo Kakko. Jonathan Bernier is the backup and the veteran can hold down the fort in necessary, currently sitting on a .910 save percentage in seven NHL games in 2021.
New York Rangers: Sammy Blais (R/L) - The energetic winger was injured in what looked to be a dangerous play by PK Subban on Sunday. Blais would suffer a lower body injury and could not leave under his own power. It will be hard for the team to form a solid top six without Blais, let alone when they had him to begin with. Julien Gauthier could get a promotion to L1 with Zibanejad and Kreider. Greg McKegg could then slot into the bottom six with ease, the veteran minor leaguer has no points in eight NHL games this season.
Ottawa Senators: Drake Batherson (C/R) - It would not be a fantasy hockey injury report this week if there wasn’t a new Senator being placed on COVID protocol. Drake is the next victim to end up on the list. Andrew Agozzino was placed into the bottom six to take Batherson’s slot on the game day roster. Agozzino has been up/down throughout his career similarly to McKegg above. Logan Shaw is now in the top six with Sanford/Paul, Shaw has two points in 14 NHL games.