The 2024-25 NHL season is officially underway with a few weeks in the books. With the season now over a month old, a few teams are dealing with significant injuries.
Earlier this month, the Maple Leafs placed Auston Matthews on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury. The move was retroactive to Nov. 3, and the Maple Leafs star is eligible to return at any point, but has yet to return.
On Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes announced star winger Seth Jarvis will be placed on injured reserve. Jarvis hasn’t played since Nov. 9, when he suffered an injury against the Colorado Avalanche. Coach Rod Brind’Amour said Jarvis could return to the lineup as early as next week.
Earlier this month, the Islanders announced a lengthy injury list, and Barzal was the biggest name of the bunch. Barzal is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Defenseman Adam Pelech will also be hitting IR while dealing with an upper-body injury as well. He has the same four-to-six week timetable as Barzal.
Two more Islanders, defensemen Mike Reilly and Alex Romanov, have been listed as day-to-day with minor injuries.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko is also currently out of the lineup. Demko is currently dealing with a knee injury that has hampered him since the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Game 1 of Vancouver’s opening-round series against the Nashville Predators, Demko injured his knee and wasn’t able to return at any point in the postseason. It was recently revealed the Canucks netminder will miss three-to-four weeks, so he could return to the ice in early November.
Here is a list of many of the marquee players that are currently sidelined due to injury.
Mason McTavish (C)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Late November
Last Played: 11/8/24
Hampus Lindholm (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown (expected to miss multiple weeks)
Last Played: 11/12/24
Tage Thompson (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Late November
Last Played: 11/11/24
Frederik Andersen (G)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Mid-November 2024
Last Played: 10/26/24
Seth Jarvis (RW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Late-November
Last Played: 11/9/24
Ross Colton
Type of Injury: Broken foot
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 6-8 weeks
Last Played: 10/28/24
Alexandar Georgiev (G)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/13/24
Gabriel Landeskog
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 6/26/22
Erik Gudbranson (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 10/15/24
Boone Jenner (C)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 3/28/24
Kent Johnson (C)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 10/17/24
Evander Kane (LW)
Type of Injury: Hip, hernia surgeries
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: February 2025
Last Played: 6/10/24
Drew Doughty (D)
Type of Injury: Ankle surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 9/25/24
Darcy Kuemper (G)
Type of Injury: Undisclosed
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/13/24
Mats Zuccarello (RW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 3-4 weeks
Last Played: 11/14/24
Anthony Duclair (LW)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: December 2024
Last Played: 10/19/24
Mat Barzal (C)
Type of injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 4-6 weeks
Last Played: 10/30/24
Adam Pelech (D)
Type of injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 4-6 weeks
Last Played: 11/1/24
Mike Reilly (D)
Type of injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 11/1/24
Alex Romanov (D)
Type of injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 11/1/24
Jamie Drysdale (D)
Type of injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/9/24
Samuel Ersson (G)
Type of injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/11/24
Torey Krug (D)
Type of Injury: Ankle surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 4/10/24
Robert Thomas (C)
Type of Injury: Fractured ankle
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 10/22/24
Marc-Edouard Vlasic (D)
Type of injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 4/18/24
Logan Couture (C)
Type of injury: Groin
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 1/31/24
Vince Dunn (D)
Type of Injury: Mid-body injury
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Mid-November 2024
Last Played: 10/17/24
Calle Jarnkrok (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Late October 2024
Last Played: 9/22/24
Auston Matthews (C)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Mid-November 2024
Last Played: 11/3/24
Max Pacioretty (LW)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/9/24
John Marino (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 4/15/24
Sean Durzi (D)
Type of Injury: Shoulder
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 4-6 months
Last Played: 10/14/24
Vancouver Canucks
Brock Boeser (RW)
Type of injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Out indefinitely
Last Played: 11/7/24
Thatcher Demko (G)
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Late October 2024
Last Played: 4/21/24
Nic Hague (D)
Type of Injury: Undisclosed
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/2/24
As the 2024-25 NHL season continues to unfold, fans are keeping a close eye on the latest updates regarding player injuries. One notable player who remains sidelined is Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matthews, who is widely regarded as one of the top players in the league, has been dealing with a nagging lower-body injury that has kept him out of action for several games.
The Maple Leafs have been cautious with Matthews’ recovery, opting to give him ample time to fully heal before returning to the lineup. While the team has not provided a specific timeline for his return, fans are hopeful that Matthews will be back on the ice soon to help bolster the Maple Leafs’ playoff push.
In addition to Matthews, another key player who has recently been placed on injured reserve is Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes. Jarvis, a promising young forward, suffered an upper-body injury during a recent game and will be sidelined for an undetermined amount of time.
The Hurricanes will undoubtedly miss Jarvis’ offensive contributions during his absence, as he has been a key part of their scoring depth this season. However, the team is confident in their ability to weather the storm and continue to compete at a high level until Jarvis is able to return to action.
Injuries are an unfortunate reality in professional sports, and teams must adapt and adjust their lineups accordingly when key players are sidelined. As the season progresses, fans can expect more updates on the status of injured players like Auston Matthews and Seth Jarvis, as teams look to navigate the challenges of a long and grueling NHL season.
