Jordan Oesterle – We haven’t gotten much of an update the entire time regarding Oesterle’s injury which kept him out of the Coyotes last 2 games before the All-Star break but he did skate on Monday. 

Barrett Hayton – There hasn’t been an update on Barrett Hayton since he played with a separated shoulder in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships gold medal game. However, the initial report from January 9 stated that Hayton had a grade 1 AC injury. In plain English, this is the most minor form of a separated shoulder and we often see NHL players return from Grade 1 AC joint sprains in 10-14 days. My assumption is that the Coyotes took the cautious route with their prized rookie and that he will return later this week.

Darcy Kuemper – Kuemper has been sidelined since December 19 due to a lower-body injury which I suspected as a groin strain. The Coyotes recalled Adin Hill on Monday so the assumption is that he will not be playing on Wednesday and with back to back games, safe to assume he will not be able to play on Thursday either. Hopefully, there is a more concrete update soon as he is approaching 6 weeks since his last game.

Tuukka Rask – Rask missed the last 3 Bruins games before the All-Star break due to a concussion, but he was removed from the IR on January 23 after skating twice with the team. The Bruins next game is on January 31 and I would expect him to start that game. 

Kevan Miller – Yet to play this season after breaking his kneecap in game 81 of the 2018/19 season, Miller started skating last week. This still does not mean he will be back soon but it’s a positive sign after having repeat surgery in November due to a setback in recovery. One would assume he will have a conditioning stint in the AHL before returning to the Bruins roster.

Vladimir Sobotka – Originally provided with an indefinite timeline, there is a confirmed report now that Sobotka will be out for the rest of the season. One must wonder if this is potentially it for his NHL career after a lackluster performance for the Sabres this season. 

Dylan Strome – A timeline was never provided for Dylan Strome’s ankle injury but what I have typically seen is a 4-6 week timeline for high ankle sprains. Considering Strome was hurt on January 7, I would expect him to miss the Blackhawks' first game back from the break with February 4th against Minnesota as a more realistic target. 

Ryan Murray – Out since December 14 due to a lower-body injury, Murray has begun skating individually. However, I would expect Murray to skate at least a handful of times with the team before returning to game action. 

Alexandre Texier – Texier was injured on December 31 and was then placed on IR with a lumbar stress fracture. There has not been an update since, but my estimation is that he will be out approximately 6 weeks so anticipate a mid-February return. 

Joonas Korpisalo – Korpisalo underwent surgery on December 30 for a torn meniscus, which carries a 4-6 week timeline for recovery. Korpisalo has now reached the 4-week mark since surgery so expect an update soon but I would expect him to resume skating for at least a couple of days before starting a game. 

Andrew Cogliano – No official report at the time of writing this so my speculative tweet will have to do.

Appears to be a sprained MCL for Andrew Cogliano which carries a timeline of 4-6 weeks typically

Fingers crossed it’s more minor as he did attempt another shift after this #GoStars https://t.co/Dpbe7sOXQR pic.twitter.com/tOh9Wbm5jj

— Dr. Harjas Grewal (@Harjas_Grewal) January 28, 2020

Roope Hintz – ditto for Hintz

Distant view but we commonly see separated shoulders with this type of mechanism

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If that is the case, Roope Hintz will miss at least 1 week and can be even more depending on severity #GoStars https://t.co/y4VwRzrOmr

— Dr. Harjas Grewal (@Harjas_Grewal) January 28, 2020

Matt Benning – After a concussion which has sidelined him since November 19, Matt Benning has been recalled from his AHL conditioning stint. I think its safe to assume he will be playing in the Oilers next game.

Drew Doughty and Derek Forbort –  This is pretty much all we know about them. This is concerning since the Kings have not played since January 18 and they play the Lightning on Wednesday. I would check for updates regularly leading up to that matchup. 

Brendan Gallagher – Gallagher again did not play on Monday night after this bizarre “headache” situation which the Canadiens refused to label as a concussion or post-concussion syndrome. Nonetheless, there is positive news as Julien expects Gallagher back in the “next couple of days”. Kovalchuk has done a great job filling in for Gallagher in the top six so it will be interesting to see what the Canadiens do with the lines moving forward as they get healthy. 

Jonathan Drouin – Drouin was on the ice on Sunday after practice and even though he did not play on Monday, there is some optimism that he may be able to return as early as Thursday. 

Paul Byron – The latest update from Julien on Byron is that he is further out than Drouin and Gallagher. Very non-specific but that would put him at least out for 1 more week and likely more. 

Ryan Ellis – There is still no timeline on Ellis' recovery after he did not skate on Sunday, but he'll likely need at least a few more days as he progresses through the concussion protocol. 

Colton Sissons – Sissons was recalled from the AHL on Sunday after a conditioning stint over the All-Star break. There is no clear statement on his return to the lineup but after another tough loss to Toronto on Monday, one has to think the Predators are looking for anything to be able to spark their team. 

Anders Nilsson – Not much of an update here but have to think he is still a while away as he will need practice time before starting another game. Marcus Hogberg will continue to start while Nilsson is out. 

Justin Schultz – Schultz was taken off the IR as per the NHL media site so there is a chance that he can play on January 31 against the Flyers after practicing in a regular sweater last week. 

Sammy Blais – Blais did not play Monday but optimistic news from Craig Berube makes it seem as if his return is near. Have to think he will go down to AHL for a conditioning stint first before playing in a game for the Blues. It will be interesting what lineup decisions the Blues eventually make when Blais is healthy. 

Kasperi Kapanen – Kapanen left the game on Monday against the Predators after an arm injury. The positive news is that initial x-rays were negative and if he was in fact hurt after missing a check, its entirely possible that he is dealing with a bruise/contusion and will be available for the Leafs next game.