Here's the latest injury news from across the NHL! If you're looking for information about a specific player and don't see their name in this article, there probably haven't been any significant updates about their progress since last week's article. If you ever need injury updates for a specific player, shoot me a message on Twitter @BrennanDeSouza.

Craig Anderson – The Sabres netminder is reportedly dealing with head/neck issues after taking a hard hit in a game against San Jose back in early November. On Friday, the team announced that he was week-to-week with an upper-body injury. He's been Buffalo's best goalie this year, sporting a 4-2-0 record alongside a 2.50 GAA and .921 save percentage.

Casey Mittelstadt – Skated with his teammates on Wednesday. While he wasn't taking any contact, Mittelstadt said it was a huge step forward, both mentally and physically. There's no official timetable for his return, but he'll need a few more practices before getting back in the lineup.

Bowen Byram – Was in concussion protocol after taking an elbow to head last Thursday against Vancouver. Byram has been skating with his teammates recently, but hasn't been taking any contact. There's a chance he'll be cleared to play in Friday's game against the Stars.

Nathan MacKinnon – Has been skating recently – an encouraging step in his recovery from a lower-body injury. MacKinnon is expected to return at some point during Colorado's five-game road trip through the East, which begins on December 1^st.

Pavel Francouz – Was a full participant in Sunday's practice, facing shots for the first time since spraining his ankle during preseason action. While he won't play against the Stars on Friday, he's nearing a return. If your fantasy team is in need of a netminder, you may be wise to pick up Francouz before his return is officially announced. 

Braden Holtby – The Stars netminder is day-to-day with a lower-body injury that has lingered since training camp. Holtby participated in Monday's practice but saw limited action because Dallas' other three goalies were also on the ice. He felt fine after practice, but the team will want to increase his workload to ensure he's feeling 100-percent before returning. With both Jake Oettinger and Anton Khudobin healthy, and with Oettinger playing particularly well, the Stars have no reason to rush Holtby back into the lineup.

Mike Smith – On Friday, coach Dave Tippett revealed that Smith's official status was week-to-week at best. Reports from Monday indicate that the Oilers' netminder is expected to be back in early-mid December. Apparently, he's dealing with a nagging lower-body injury that only bothers him in certain positions. At this point, surgery is not part of the plan.

Darnell Nurse – The Oilers announced on Friday that Nurse would be sidelined for two to three weeks with a broken finger. He's off to a strong start this season with 11 points, 66 hits and 53 shots through 16 outings. Philip Broberg enters the lineup in his place and could provide some fantasy value until Nurse returns. 

Aleksander Barkov – Left last Tuesday's game against the Islanders after a knee-on-knee hit fromScott Mayfield.He's officially week-to-week with a lower-body injury that won't require surgery, but will require some time to rehab. While his official status hasn't changed, he's taken part in some intense skating sessions recently and is feeling good. It sounds like he's still at least a week or two away from returning.

Drew Doughty – On Friday, the Kings defenseman skated with his teammates for the first time since suffering a knee contusion on October 22^nd. The team had announced on October 27^th that Doughty would need about six weeks to start skating again and eight weeks before he could return to play. It's been just four weeks since that announcement, so it seems that Doughty is currently ahead of schedule in his recovery. We'll have to see how he responds to more intense practices over this next week or so.  

Jared Spurgeon – Minnesota's captain is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Mike Hoffman – The Canadiens forward will be sidelined for at least another week with an upper-body injury. He has been skating recently but we'll need to see him take part in a full contact practice before we start anticipating a return.

Jake Allen – Will start against the Capitals on Wednesday night, returning from a concussion that kept him out since November 13^th.

Joel Edmundson – Is travelling with the team on their current three-game road trip for the purpose of practicing, but isn't expected to play. The hope is he'll be able to return at some point next week.

Carey Price – The Canadiens netminder hasn't skated since last Monday but is working on his off-ice conditioning in the gym and continues to receive treatment for his knee (which was surgically repaired in the offseason).

Filip Forsberg – On Tuesday, General Manager David Poile said that Forsberg was very close to a return. At this point, it sounds like the Swedish winger just needs to work on his conditioning a little bit, since he's been out of action for a few weeks. Coach John Hynes said on Monday that Forsberg could possibly play this week, so perhaps we see him back in the lineup on Friday against the Devils or on Saturday against the Avalanche?

Jack Hughes – After Hughes dislocated his shoulder, the Devils announced that Hughes would he'd be re-evaluated in five weeks. This past Monday – about three and a half weeks after that announcement – Hughes was present for practice. He didn't take any contact and only played a limited role for about 15 minutes, but it's still an encouraging step in his recovery.

Brock Nelson – The 30-year-old center will be sidelined for two to four weeks with a lower-body injury. Nelson was off to a hot start this year with nine goals in 15 outings. His goal-scoring abilities will be missed as the Islanders have struggled offensively this year, posting just 31 goals through 15 games. In other words, Nelson has been responsible for 29% of the team's goals so far this season. 

Ryan Pulock – Last Wednesday, the Islanders announced that Pulock would miss four to six weeks with a lower-body injury. In Pulock's absence, Robin Salo has stepped into the lineup and seen significant power-play minutes through two appearances.

Drake Batherson – Is not travelling with the team on their current three-game road trip through California. It sounds like he should be back in the lineup when the Sens return home to host the Canucks on December 1^st.

Derick Brassard – Left Tuesday's game against the Lightning with a lower-body injury. Morgan Frost has joined the team in Florida ahead of Wednesday's clash with the Flyers. That would  suggest that he's taking Brassard's place in the lineup on Wednesday night. Early indications suggest Brassard's injury isn't too serious.

Kevin Hayes – The Flyers center is week-to-week after reinjuring his surgically repaired abdominal muscles on November 16^th. He had core muscle surgery in May and abdominal surgery in September, delaying his season debut by about a month. Hayes only got to play two games before reaggravating the injury. I expect the Flyers will be even more cautious with the recovery process this time around.

Ryan Ellis – Last Friday, the Flyers announced that Ellis would be sidelined for four to six weeks with a lower-body injury – the same one that's been bothering him all season. As of right now, Ellis does not need surgery and will be taking the rehab route instead.

Evgeni Malkin – Coach Mike Sullivan is really encouraged with the progress Malkin has made in his recovery from offseason knee surgery. There's still no concrete timetable for his return, but it's encouraging to hear that he's looking strong on the ice. We'll know he's getting close once he starts practicing with his teammates.

Jonathan Dahlen – The Sharks forward is officially day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He won't be in the lineup on Wednesday night against the Senators, but the hope is for him to return on Friday against the Leafs. Dahlen sits fifth in rookie scoring with nine points in 16 games this season.

Brayden Schenn – Has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since November 4^th. He's been practicing with the team and working through a variety of puck-handling, shooting and skating drills at high intensity. Coach Craig Berube said there's a really good chance Schenn returns to the lineup on Wednesday against the Red Wings.

Erik Cernak – Has been sidelined with an upper-body injury for the past couple of weeks. He skated with the team on Tuesday but wasn't taking any contact. Coach Jon Cooper said that Cernak could be ready to return on Friday, when Tampa hosts the Kraken.

Brayden Point – Tampa Bay's star center is expected to miss four to six weeks with an upper-body injury. Anthony Cirelli seems to be seeing a more prominent power-play role with Point sidelined and could be a valuable asset until Point returns.

Petr Mrazek – On Tuesday, Mrazek participated in his first practice since sustaining a groin injury in early-November. He has another two weeks left in the original recovery timetable, but this is certainly an encouraging step in the right direction.

Max Pacioretty – Was a full participant in Saturday morning's skate, which suggests the lower-body fracture he's been dealing with has now healed. He's travelling with the team and could return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Predators.

T.J. Oshie – Suffered a lower-body injury late in Saturday's game against the Sharks and was recently placed on injured reserve (IR). This is unrelated to the foot injury that kept him sidelined recently. Being on IR means Oshie has to miss a week of action, so the earliest he can return is Sunday against the Hurricanes.

Nicklas Backstrom – On Wednesday, Backstrom skated with his teammates for the first time since beginning rehab for his hip injury. He wasn't taking any contact, but that'll be the next big milestone before he eventually returns.

Paul Stastny – The Jets forward is dealing with a foot injury. Stastny has been skating recently but it doesn't sound like he'll be available for Wednesday's clash with Columbus.

NHL's COVID-19 Protocol List

Below is a list of fantasy-relevant players that are currently sidelined due to COVID protocols. 

Players can end up on this list for a number of different reasons, including an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed and subject to confirmatory testing, mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals, required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol, isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol (Source: NHL.com).

Ethan Bear – The Hurricanes defenseman tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. Based on what I've seen, players have to quarantine for about 10 days once a positive test has been confirmed. As such, Bear should be sidelined for at least another eight days.

Josh Bailey – Is in COVID protocol. He's currently isolating in Florida but should be able to return this weekend.

Anders Lee – Was placed in COVID protocol on November 19^th. It sounds like he's experiencing minor cold-like symptoms.

Adam Pelech – Was placed in COVID protocol on Saturday, following a positive test on Friday.  

Jonathan Marchessault – Was placed in COVID protocol on November 16^th. We haven't heard anything recently, but he should be out of isolation within the next few days if he's on the same 10-day timeline that most players seem to go through.

Lars Eller – Has been quarantining in Anaheim as part of COVID protocol but is expected to return to D.C. in the next few days.