Good morning, good afternoon, good evening everyone. Welcome to the Injury Ward. My name is Logan Clarkson and every Wednesday I will be chauffeuring you through injury news and updates from around the NHL. I'll do my best to offer useful analysis and opinion as it relates to fantasy throughout. As always, I’d like to thank every single one of you for reading. Now, on to the bad (and some good) news.

Sidney Crosby / PIT – Crosby (upper body) did not practice on Wednesday morning and is being evaluated for an injury he sustained last night by being sandwiched awkwardly between two Devils players. It looked like a shoulder or arm injury the way it played out. Crosby returned to the game to finish it, out but looks like he should have sat. Good old NHL get-it-done attitude at the detriment of long-term health. Hopefully this does not affect his availability for the Four Nations as Canada's captain.

Tage Thompson / BUF – Thompson, (upper body) the NHL's second star of last week, was absent from the Sabres lineup Tuesday after taking a high swipe from the devil Stefan Noesen in the third period of their clash on Sunday. Thompson skated with the Sabres on Wednesday but is still day to day. He will reportedly need to clear the NHL’s concussion protocol before he can return to action, which could come as soon as Saturday. Hopefully it does, as Thompson has turned back into vintage elite Tage over the last month. The only thing down about Tage this year is his penalty kill TOI. Thompson posted 19 points in his last 15 games before injury. His shooting percentage is a few points high but otherwise his on-ice numbers look pretty sustainable.

Mitch Marner / TOR – Marner (lower body) was tabbed to be a game-time decision on Tuesday and ended up deciding that he was not fit to play that evening. Marner, in a contract year, has gone supernova with dreams of a pool of cash. With 70 points through 55 games which currently matches his career high from 2020-21 at 1.35 ppg. Not to mention his shooting percentage is about 2 percent lower from his career average. Another perfectly timed contract year heist!

Kirill Marchenko / CBJ – Marchenko (broken jaw) will miss significant time after taking a puck to the jaw while sitting on the bench. Kirill has been a giant boon for the Blue Jackets this year. Amongst players who have played 300 minutes or more in all situations, Marchenko leads the league in GF% and GF. I can't say I saw this type of breakout coming, but I do recall watching him in Rogers Place against the Oilers in his rookie year and having the thought that this guy can do some damage with that frame and doggedness when he comes around to the North American game. And has he ever. Cole Sillinger took his spot on the top line pushing Adam Fantilli to the wing and in their first game together they came out looking about even in chances. Another note on Columbus is that Kent Johnson is currently riding an eight-game point streak to bring him to 35 points in 40 games.

Zach Werenski / CBJ – Werenski (upper body) was held out of the lineup for Tuesday’s matchup versus Buffalo after leaving Columbus' game on Sunday in the second period after twisting his arm. A huge loss for Columbus and fantasy managers alike since Werenski has been putting together one of the highest value seasons relating to average draft position possibly… ever. Zach is labeled as day to day with no timeline, so hopefully he can return soon.

Miro Heiskanen / DAL – Heiskanen (knee) has had successful surgery on his knee and is now month to month as per head coach Pete DeBoer. Unlucky for Miro, who has already been struggling a bit this year posting 25 points in 50 games so far this season. Thomas Harley has assumed Heiskanen's duties on the top power play and looks like he’s fitting in there fairly well so far. Harley is worth a pick up if you're rostering any non-power play one defenseman.

Kirill Kaprizov / MIN – Kaprizov (lower body) had surgery on his lower body and will be out for at least a month. The never-ending carousel of injuries continues for Minnesota. Kaprizov's talent allows him to speak for himself. The value of every player on the Wild is hurt by this injury.

Mathew Barzal / NYI – Barzal (lower body) is out indefinitely after taking a shot from Darren Raddysh to the leg. He left the game and did not return. Barzal has had a tough year already missing 21 games earlier on. Islanders continue to take big hits in the injury department, already missing Noah Dobson.

Noah Dobson / NYI – Dobson (lower body) fell awkwardly after colliding with Cole Sillinger last week and is listed as week-to-week. The Islanders sure could use him at the moment.

Josh Norris / OTT – Norris (mid body) is week to week. He didn't travel with the Senators on their four-game road trip and is expected to miss a few weeks. Norris left a game where he was later credited with the game winner. This game winner tied him with Erik Karlsson at 18 GWG, for fifth on the Senator's all-time list.

Quinn Hughes / VAN – Hughes (lower body) has been day-to-day since last Friday after being held out of Vancouver's last two games. Hughes being injured is a huge issue for Vancouver. They recently lost JT Miller, and sent away the first rounder they acquired for some pieces from Pittsburgh. Marcus Pettersson joins at the right time for a big role. Filip Hronek has taken over PP1 duties in Quinn's absence and received 7:15 on the power-play on Tuesday.

Anthony Stolarz / TOR – Stolarz (lower body) has missed significant time this season and that time on the shelf looks to be coming to an end. He is slated to return to the lineup either Thursday against Seattle or Saturday against Vancouver. I really hope he does because I gambled on one of my lineup's minimum goalie starts and it's reliant on him getting one of those games. Fingers crossed for the 6-6 fella.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen / BUF – Luukkonen (undisclosed) is pegged as day to day, expected to return to the lineup on any given day, and is now slated to practice with the team Friday. He could return on Saturday.

Valeri Nichushkin / COL – Nichushkin (lower body) has suffered a setback on his original timeline of day to day a month ago. This recovery has not gone smoothly for Nuke and it's not an uncommon theme. It's unfortunate Valeri has been unable to put together a consistent run of games this year considering how valuable he is to make that lineup hum throughout. No real timeline on a comeback for him yet, but I have a hard time believing we will be seeing him in the lineup before the Four Nations.

Logan Cooley / UTA – Cooley (lower body) has been ruled out indefinitely. A huge loss for Utah as the sophomore was so close to matching his 82-game point total from last year in just 50 games this year. With Dylan Guenther's adjacent coming-out party in his first full season of NHL play the two were clipping away all season providing fantasy managers found money. Guenther, who I feel a brotherhood with since we both played for Team Brick Alberta (I was cut in tryouts and never sniffed elite hockey again in my life), returned to the lineup suddenly last night and casually sniped two from between the circles including the game winning buzzer beater in OT. Dylan also added an assist and six shots for good measure.

Thanks again for reading, and please give me a follow, you can find me here on Twitter/X @LOGoalz for any questions, concerns, or abuse you may want to shower me with. Have a great week people!