ANGELZ
10-07-2005, 12:50 PM
Alexei Zhamnov, Boston Bruins - Zhamnov did not make the trip to Buffalo for Friday's game against the Sabres, reports the Boston Globe. He is nursing a shoulder injury and remains day-to-day. Daily leaguers should bench him until further notice and unless he plays over the weekend, those in weekly fantasy leagues will want to keep him reserved too.
Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers - Kovalchuk made his intentions clear yesterday saying that he is ready to play a full season in Russia if a deal with the Thrashers is not reached by Sunday. The team is offering the superstar about $5.5 million per season for five years while Kovalchuk is seeking in the neighborhood of about $7 million for the same length of term. Technically, the unofficial deadline is Wednesday as that is the first game for Kovalchuk's Russian team. If he plays in that, the Thrashers wouldn't try to bring him back this season as he'd have to clear NHL waivers.
Gary Roberts, Florida Panthers - Roberts missed practice due to a groin injury and his status for Friday's game against the Lightning is uncertain, reports the Florida Sun-Sentinel. You'll probably want to play it safe and bench him tonight.
Olli Jokinen, Florida Panthers - Jokinen, also suffering from a groin injury, missed practice as well, reports the Florida Sun-Sentinel. However, coach Jacques Martin indicated that he expects Jokinen to play.
Keith Primeau, Philadelphia Flyers - Primeau will have a limited offensive role this season, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer. He only played eight minutes in the season opener and is not scheduled to receive much power-play time this season as coach Ken Hitchcock wants to use him as a penalty killer and checking specialist. This news probably makes Primeau not worthy of a roster spot except in the deepest of fantasy leagues.
Ray Whitney, Carolina Hurricanes - Whitney was placed on injured reserve yesterday due to a groin injury, reports the Raleigh News-Observer. The injury hasn't gotten worse since yesterday but the Hurricanes needed to make this move so they could call up a goalie to backup Cam Ward. As for Whitney, the talent is there for him to score 60 points again, but he's often injured and production ultimately depends on how much you play.
Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs - Sundin will be out indefinitely due to a broken bone in his eye socket, reports the Toronto Star. Depending on whether surgery is needed or not, Sundin could be out around six weeks but thankfully for Sundin and the Leafs, he has no damage in the eye itself and is expected to make a full recovery.
Tuomo Ruutu, Chicago Blackhawks - Ruutu missed practice on Thursday due to a sore back that has been bothering him for a week, reports the Chicago Tribune. He is considered questionable for Friday's game against the Sharks. Even though he plays on one of the worst offensive teams in the NHL, big things are in store for Ruutu and he could approach 70 points this season.
Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche - After undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last month, Hejduk will be on the ice for the first time today, reports the Denver Post. Since he'll only be testing the knee to see how it responds, it appears that Hejduk is still at least a couple weeks away from returning.
Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings - Yzerman participated during yesterday's morning skate and said his groin still felt a bit sore, reports the Detroit News. As a result, he did not play in last night's game against the Blues but will instead skate again on Saturday before deciding whether to play Sunday. By the sounds of it, Yzerman probably won't return until next week at the earliest as the Wings can afford to give him as much time as he needs to recover.
Petr Nedved, Phoenix Coyotes - Nedved was placed on injured reserve due to a groin injury, reports the Arizona Republic. He isn't expected to play until next Thursday at the earliest.
Derek Morris, Phoenix Coyotes - Morris missed last night's contest against the Kings due...you guessed it...a sore groin, reports the Arizona Republic. Groin injuries are running rampant all over the NHL early in the season as players get back into the swing of things.
Ladislav Nagy, Phoenix Coyotes - Nagy is expected to return for Saturday's home opener, reports the Arizona Republic. He missed the first two games of the season due to a minor shoulder injury.
Fredrik Sjostrom, Phoenix Coyotes - Sjostrom played five minutes in yesterday's game against the Kings before being told that he was ineligible to play, reports the Arizona Republic. Rookie coach Wayne Gretzky signed off on a lineup sheet that had Sjostrom listed as a healthy scratch and the injured Petr Nedved as an active player. Kings coach Andy Murray decided to keep quiet about it unless Sjostrom was on the ice for a goal, but the Kings stats crew noticed the error and pointed it out to referees who disqualified Sjostrom.
Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis Blues - Tkachuk missed Thursday's game against the Red Wings after suffering a groin injury the night before, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He may also not suit up on Saturday but you had to expect this after Tkachuk showed up at camp overweight and consequently missed a chunk of training camp/preseason.
Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers - Kovalchuk made his intentions clear yesterday saying that he is ready to play a full season in Russia if a deal with the Thrashers is not reached by Sunday. The team is offering the superstar about $5.5 million per season for five years while Kovalchuk is seeking in the neighborhood of about $7 million for the same length of term. Technically, the unofficial deadline is Wednesday as that is the first game for Kovalchuk's Russian team. If he plays in that, the Thrashers wouldn't try to bring him back this season as he'd have to clear NHL waivers.
Gary Roberts, Florida Panthers - Roberts missed practice due to a groin injury and his status for Friday's game against the Lightning is uncertain, reports the Florida Sun-Sentinel. You'll probably want to play it safe and bench him tonight.
Olli Jokinen, Florida Panthers - Jokinen, also suffering from a groin injury, missed practice as well, reports the Florida Sun-Sentinel. However, coach Jacques Martin indicated that he expects Jokinen to play.
Keith Primeau, Philadelphia Flyers - Primeau will have a limited offensive role this season, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer. He only played eight minutes in the season opener and is not scheduled to receive much power-play time this season as coach Ken Hitchcock wants to use him as a penalty killer and checking specialist. This news probably makes Primeau not worthy of a roster spot except in the deepest of fantasy leagues.
Ray Whitney, Carolina Hurricanes - Whitney was placed on injured reserve yesterday due to a groin injury, reports the Raleigh News-Observer. The injury hasn't gotten worse since yesterday but the Hurricanes needed to make this move so they could call up a goalie to backup Cam Ward. As for Whitney, the talent is there for him to score 60 points again, but he's often injured and production ultimately depends on how much you play.
Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs - Sundin will be out indefinitely due to a broken bone in his eye socket, reports the Toronto Star. Depending on whether surgery is needed or not, Sundin could be out around six weeks but thankfully for Sundin and the Leafs, he has no damage in the eye itself and is expected to make a full recovery.
Tuomo Ruutu, Chicago Blackhawks - Ruutu missed practice on Thursday due to a sore back that has been bothering him for a week, reports the Chicago Tribune. He is considered questionable for Friday's game against the Sharks. Even though he plays on one of the worst offensive teams in the NHL, big things are in store for Ruutu and he could approach 70 points this season.
Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche - After undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last month, Hejduk will be on the ice for the first time today, reports the Denver Post. Since he'll only be testing the knee to see how it responds, it appears that Hejduk is still at least a couple weeks away from returning.
Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings - Yzerman participated during yesterday's morning skate and said his groin still felt a bit sore, reports the Detroit News. As a result, he did not play in last night's game against the Blues but will instead skate again on Saturday before deciding whether to play Sunday. By the sounds of it, Yzerman probably won't return until next week at the earliest as the Wings can afford to give him as much time as he needs to recover.
Petr Nedved, Phoenix Coyotes - Nedved was placed on injured reserve due to a groin injury, reports the Arizona Republic. He isn't expected to play until next Thursday at the earliest.
Derek Morris, Phoenix Coyotes - Morris missed last night's contest against the Kings due...you guessed it...a sore groin, reports the Arizona Republic. Groin injuries are running rampant all over the NHL early in the season as players get back into the swing of things.
Ladislav Nagy, Phoenix Coyotes - Nagy is expected to return for Saturday's home opener, reports the Arizona Republic. He missed the first two games of the season due to a minor shoulder injury.
Fredrik Sjostrom, Phoenix Coyotes - Sjostrom played five minutes in yesterday's game against the Kings before being told that he was ineligible to play, reports the Arizona Republic. Rookie coach Wayne Gretzky signed off on a lineup sheet that had Sjostrom listed as a healthy scratch and the injured Petr Nedved as an active player. Kings coach Andy Murray decided to keep quiet about it unless Sjostrom was on the ice for a goal, but the Kings stats crew noticed the error and pointed it out to referees who disqualified Sjostrom.
Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis Blues - Tkachuk missed Thursday's game against the Red Wings after suffering a groin injury the night before, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He may also not suit up on Saturday but you had to expect this after Tkachuk showed up at camp overweight and consequently missed a chunk of training camp/preseason.