Good Morning! Today’s fantasy hockey injury report feels much more like a “COVID report”. I touch on 18 players, and I believe that 16 of them are folks who were placed into protocols. I touch on each teams situation, identify who will replace the injured party and their possible fantasy impact.
Forwards: Auston Matthews, Sam Reinhart, Alex Iafallo, Jordan Greenway, Chris Tierney, Kyle Okposo, Alex Wennberg, Derek Grant, Zach Sanford, Nicolas Deslauriers, Mason Marchment, Alex Turcotte, Jackson Cates
Defense: Zach Werenski, Nicolas Hague, Sean Durzi, Nick Seeler
Goalie: Elvis Merzlikins
Anaheim Ducks: Derek Grant (C/L)/Nicolas Deslauriers (L) - Although the Ducks are currently still on schedule to play the Flyers tonight, they are down multiple skaters, with only eight healthy forwards. The squad could recall Vinni Lettieri, Buddy Robinson and Benoit-Olivier Grouxl to fill out the lineup along with Bryce Kindopp from the taxi squad. I believe Sam Carrick will play C1 between Silfverberg/Rakell, currently with 10 points in 27 games. Out of the possible recalls, Lettieri is the best of them with four points in 9 games.
Buffalo Sabres: Kyle Okposo (R)/Casey Fitzgerald (D) - As multiple players return from COVID protocol for the Sabres, Okposo and Fitzgerald go to the list. Mark Jankowski has been placed in Okposo’s place alongside Krebs/Olofsson. Jankowski has one assist in four games this season since his recall. Oskari Laaksonen may be the next recall from the minors to play defense, as he was given a day on taxi squad last week when things became thin. Oskari has 15 points in 25 games this season in the AHL.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Zach Werenski (D)/Elvis Merzlikins (G) - The star defenseman was placed into COVID protocol yesterday, and is likely on the outside looking in for tonight’s game against Tampa. If he continues to test positive, I expect Andrew Peeke to be given another shot in the lineup alongside Jake Bean. Peeke has seven points in 30 games this season. The Latvian netminder was injured during practice yesterday and left the session. Columbus will have to go with Joonas Korpisalo and J-F Berube for the time being. Korpisalo has a .891 SV% this season in nine games played. Berube hasn’t played in the NHL since 17-18, and has 34 career games under his belt at the highest level.
Florida Panthers: Sam Reinhart (R)/Mason Marchment (R/L) - Both forwards were placed into COVID protocol yesterday. Eetu Luostarinen is going to play C3 between Vatrano/Tippett in the place of Reinhart. Eetu has 12 points in 28 games this season, moving all around the lineup. Joe Thornton is centering L4 for Marchment, going between Lomberg/Hornqvist. The future hall of famer has five points in 18 games.
Los Angeles Kings: Alex Iafallo (L)/Sean Durzi (D)/Alex Turcotte (C) - The pair of Alex’s were placed into COVID protocol yesterday, and Durzi was kept away from the team due to an undetermined illness. The squad has plenty of options to pick from when it comes to the minors and filling out the lineup. Lias Andersson is slated to play C3 between Grundstrom/Kupari, sitting on one assist through 11 games this year. The Kings could recall Vlad Tkachev to play with Kopitar/Kempe given his offensive prowess. He is over a point per game in the minors at the moment. Austin Strand is the only defender in the minors who has been recalled at some point this season, indicating that he may be the one to replace Durzi if necessary. Strand is pointless through two tilts, and has one assist in 15 over his career.
Minnesota Wild: Jordan Greenway (L) - The bulky winger was placed into COVID protocol yesterday after returning from injury in the Winter Classic. Connor Dewar is in the spot held by Greenway at the moment on L3 with Duhaime/Sturm. Connor has played four games this season with no points, but has put up 11 in 12 in the minors.
Ottawa Senators: Chris Tierney (C)/Zach Sanford (L) - In addition to Chabot yesterday, both Tierney and Sanford entered COVID protocol. Logan Shaw was pushed up to L1 with Batherson/Tkachuk, with three points in 17 games this season as he’s played in the bottom six. When it comes to the bottom six, it’s a mix/match of players who were on the taxi squad as the COVID outbreak in Ottawa knocks out several forwards.
Philadelphia Flyers: Jackson Cates (C)/Nick Seeler (D) - The depth options for the Flyers were placed into COVID protocol yesterday. Scott Laughton is expected to take the place of Cates in the bottom six, currently with nine points in 29 games this season. Cam York is the extra defenseman for Philly with Seeler out, the 20-year-old 1st rounder has achieved eight points through 21 games in the minors.
Seattle Kraken: Alex Wennberg (C) - The set-up man was another player that ended up in COVID protocol yesterday, lengthening the list around the NHL. Alex True is rejoining the team within the bottom six, skating alongside McCormick/Sheahan. The Dane has no points through six games this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Mathews (C) - The star goal scorer for the Leafs tested positive for COVID yesterday and was placed into protocol. The team was attempting to give him further testing to get him off of the list afterwards. If he were to be ruled out for their next game, I wouldn’t be surprised if Alex Kerfoot was pushed up to L1 between Marner/Bunting. Kerfoot has shown the ability to set up folks around him this season with 15 assists. This would allow an easy reintroduction for Nick Ritchie to the top six. Ritchie is a physical player and can give Tavares/Nylander a different type of linemate.
Vegas Golden Knights: Nicolas Hague (D) - At first glance, folks believed that Hague may have been kept out of the gameday lineup due to a coach's decision. It was revealed recently that he is actually dealing with a wrist injury. In that case, the team will need to recall a 7th defender for emergency purposes. Daniil Miromanov is likely that player as he’s already played four games this season with one assist, and 18 for 21 in the minors.