Twice a week, we will be providing injury news and updates throughout the season on all of you favorite fantasy hockey players, as well as, the annoyingly injury prone players you painstakingly roster anyway. We're halfway through October and we've got injuries, illnesses, and even some recoveries to report, so let's dive in on the latest. 

Connor Bedard (C) – CHI – healthy – Chicago captain Connor Bedard took to the ice for the first time this season after recovering from shoulder surgery nearly a month ahead of schedule. It didn't take him long to find the scoresheet either, as he picked up the primary assist on Roman Kantserov's power play goal in the first period. Expect plenty more to come for the 21-year-old Bedard.   

Rasmus Dahlin (D) – BUF – day-to-day – Rasmus Dahlin was forced to exit Monday's matinee matchup with the Florida Panthers early and was unable to suit up for Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens, as well. The severity of the injury is currently unknown, so fantasy managers may have to wait for further updates regarding his status before Thurday's road game versus Toronto. Owen Power led the top power play in Dahlin's absence, but Olen Zellwegger, also, benefitted from some extra ice time and notched a pair of goals on four shots.

Jordan Staal (C) – CAR – out indefinitely – Conn Smythe recipient Jordan Staal will miss the next one-to-two months dealing with a torn calf muscle, per Ryan Henkel of the Hockey News. Staal is one of those players who's real life value greatly exceeds his fantasy value, but league's that count face offs will still miss his prowess from the dot on their rosters. 31-year-old Mark Jankowski looks to be moving up to the third line while Staal misses time and it's absolutely worth mentioning that Jankowski has been on a heater lately, having scored a goal in five straight games. Additionally, teammate and winger Taylor Hall was forced to leave Tuesday's contest with an upper-body injury and, per Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer, the injury doesn't look good according to head coach Rod Brind'Amour. 

Pierre-Luc Dubois (C) – WSH – illness – Center Pierre-Luc Dubois did't travel with the team to Carolina due to illness, per Sammie Silber of the Hockey News. The Washington Capitals will be back at home for the second leg of their back-to-back on Wednesday, so it's possible Dubois is back in the lineup versus Montreal. Ilya Protas will look to center the Alex Ovechkin line if Dubois continues to miss time.

Wyatt Johnston (C, RW) – DAL – illness – After accumulating four assists through the first five games of the season, Johnston had to miss Tuesday's Central Division clash with the Colorado Avalanche due to an illness. The Stars are right back in action on Wednesday night (also against the Avs), but Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News reports that Johnston won't travel with the team to Colorado for the grudge match.

Mathew Barzal (C) – NYI – injured reserve – 29-year-old Mathew Barzal (knee) has been skating on his own, but is still without a timeline for returning, according to Andrew Gross of Newsday. It's a positive step for Barzal, who compiled 72 points and 184 shots in 81 games last season. While we still lack a clear return date, fantasy managers should at least start thinking about any roster moves that will need to happen to get him back into their lineups, as well as, pursue any buy-low trade options.

Matt Duchene (C, RW) – DAL – long term injured reserve – The Dallas Stars announced that 35-year-old forward Matt Duchene will miss the next three months after undergoing surgery to repair a core injury. Duchene provided the Stars (and fantasy managers) with 127 points in 139 games over the past two seasons, so his extended absence will surely be felt both in real life and in fantasy circles. Expect the lines to get tinkered with over the coming games and practices, but any of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, and jack-of-all-trades Sam Steel, may see more favorable deployment at even-strength in Duchene's stead. In the meantime, fantasy managers may just have to throw some of these names at the wall and see what sticks. 

Travis Konecny (RW) – PHI – injured reserve – Philadelphia Flyers winger and tone-setter Travis Konecny was placed on injured reserve Sunday for a lower-body injury, the NHL media site reports. Given his move to injured reserve, the next time Konency will be eligible to return will be Saturday's tilt with the Ottawa Senators.  In the interim, Konency owners seeking a replacement should really just look for outside help, rather than grabbing the next man up on the woeful Flyers. Philadelphia has potted just 10 total goals through their first eight games of the season and Konecny's three assists in five games played has him tied for the team lead in points. 

Josh Morrissey (D) – WPG – day-to-day – Defensemen Josh Morrissey missed Tuesday's battle with the Minnesota Wild and is considered day-to-day with a wrist injury, per Kevin Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press. It was the second straight contest that Morrissey had to miss, but the injury is not expected to be long-term. The 31-year-old has picked up three assists in four appearances so far this season and the next opportunity Morrissey has to get back in the lineup and build on those numbers will be Thursday night's game in Chicago.  

That's all for this week, thanks for reading! My name is Garrett Finlay and you can follow me on X @garrett_fi51284 and on Bluesky @garrettfinlay.bsky.social where I am often talking goalies and fantasy hockey. You can also find me Thursday's at Goalie Post trying to breakdown the night's goaltending slate. I'll be back here providing injury news and updates every Wednesday, so until then – Happy Hockeying and good luck out there!