NHL injury updates on Yakupov, Price, Maatta, Demers, Palat and more…

Ajay Da Costa (@AjayDaCosta)

Hey everyone, I’m trying out a new format  to help you get the more relevant info quickly. Sound off in the comments and at my twitter handle (@AjayDaCosta) to let me know how you like it!

The Big Guns (>80% owned in Yahoo Leagues)

Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid – The McClavicle is looking better by the week. GM Peter Chiarelli has revealed that there’s a lack of “soft tissue injuries” around the affected area. His return date is mid-to-late January.

Minnesota Wild: Zach Parise – Parise made his return Friday night from a lower-body issue, but took a couple of games to get going, only posting one point and six shots in three games so far.

Montreal Canadiens: Carey Price – Price returned, but aggravated his knee injury when he stepped on a puck. He is slated to miss at least six more weeks and the Winter Classic with it. With Montreal rolling, Mike Condon makes for a good pickup in his absence.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Tyler Johnson – Head coach Jon Cooper said he thinks Johnson will suit up sometime during their west coast road trip.

San Jose Sharks: Logan Couture – Out since October 13^th, Couture is on the final steps of recovery. He’s participated in a full practice.

The Second Liners (50%-80% owned in Yahoo Leagues)

Arizona Coyotes: Mike Smith – Smith returned from a lower-body injury on Wednesday, November 25^th, and has since posted a 0.927 save percentage.

Buffalo Sabres: Evander Kane – To the shelf and back! Once again recovered from his injury, Kane has put up a respectable five points in four games and an even more impressive 4.25 SOG per game!

Montreal Canadiens: Brendan Gallagher – After blocking a shot, Gallagher left the ice for an appointment with the Injured Reserve. He’s out indefinitely with two fractured fingers.

Philadelphia Flyers: Mark Streit – Streit is out with aid lower body ailment. He still has about four weeks to go in his recovery time.

St. Louis Blues: Jaden Schwartz – After injuring his ankle on October 20^th, Schwartz has yet to leave the injured reserve list.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Ondrej Palat – A lower-body injury will keep Palat out of the lineup for 3-5 weeks more.

The Depth Guys (20%-50% owned in Yahoo Leagues)

Boston Bruins: David Pastrnak – The Bruins’ forward will not accompany his team on their 3-game road trip. He was placed on injured reserve earlier this month.

Buffalo Sabres: Tyler Ennis – Mr. T. Ennis was diagnosed with an upper-body issue and has not played since November 23^rd. He’s out indefinitely.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Brandon Dubinsky – Dubinsky returned to the lineup only to try and pay his injury woes forward onto Penguins star Sidney Crosby. Dubinsky missed a game against St. Louis due to suspension but is otherwise doing fine. And it’s not like the Penguins are going to do anything about Dubi manhandling their captain, so why would he ever stop?

Dallas Stars: Jason Demers – Demers is out with an upper-body injury and left Tuesday night’s game versus Calgary.

Edmonton oilers: Nail Yakupov – After a freak accident where a referee dragged Yak down and twisted his knee, the Oilers’ young, speedy, first overall pick’s prognosis is 1-3 weeks. Well… their third young, speedy, first overall pick.

Florida Panthers: Nick Bjugstad – Bjugstad, one of Florida’s top performers this season, was sidelined on Tuesday with an upper-body injury. No word on when he’ll return.

New York Rangers: Derek Stepan – The blueshirts’ top centerman will miss 4-6 weeks with a pair of broken ribs.

Ottawa Senators: Andrew Hammond – The Hamburglar is continuing to miss games with a concussion, like we suspected last week.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Olli Maatta – The Penguins’ young defenseman is still out after a nasty fall into the open boards, but is skating with the team and seems well on his way to returning.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Jonathan Drouin – The young winger has an undisclosed injury and it’s possible that he makes a return on the upcoming road trip through the West.

The Mr. Irrelevants (<20% owned in Yahoo Leagues)

Anaheim Ducks: Jiri Sekac – Sekac is still on the IR from an ankle sprain suffered on November 1^st when the Predators’ Gabriel Bourque hit him. He just returned to skating though, so he could return before too long.

Anaheim Ducks: Simon Despres – Status quo for the young defenseman. He’s out indefinitely with a concussion.

Buffalo Sabres: Zemgus Girgensons – Girgensons suffered an upper-body injury on November 14^th versus the Sharks and made his return on November 25^th. He’s off to a bad start so far, without points in four of his five games played.

Carolina Hurricanes: Ryan Murphy – Murphy recently suffered a concussion and has not had his status updated beyond the hopes and dreams of his coach.

Colorado Avalanche: Alex Tanguay – The Avalanche sniper has been out of action since November 6^th. However, he resumed skating recently and might make his return soon.

Detroit Red Wings: Kyle Quincey – Quincey is still 7-10 weeks away from returning from ankle surgery.

Edmonton Oilers: Justin Schultz – Schultz has re-joined the team, but the Oilers put together another remarkably lackluster performance against the Leafs. Schultz himself only has one point this season.

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