The 2024-25 NHL season is officially underway with a few games in the books. While the season has barely begun, there’s a large amount of players that are already on the injured list.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko is one of the biggest names 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.
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog also is continuing to work his way back from injury. It’s been a long road for Landeskog, who hasn’t played since the 2022 postseason. Landeskog underwent arthroscopic knee surgery after the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022. It was initially announced that Landeskog would miss the opening 12 weeks of the 2022-23 season, but he eventually ended up missing the entire campaign.
After revealing that the Colorado captain wouldn’t take part in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the team announced he needed cartilage transplant surgery and would miss the entire 2023-24 season. Landeskog continues to rehabilitate his knee, but it’s unclear when he could return to the ice.
Here is a list of many of the marquee players that are currently sidelined due to injury.
John Gibson (G)
Type of Injury: Appendectomy surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Early November 2024
Last Played: 4/12/2024
Yegor Sharangovich (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 10/4/2024
Colorado Avalanche
Gabriel Landeskog
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 6/26/222
Artturi Lehkonen
Type of Injury: Shoulder surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 5/17/24
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
Luke Hughes (D)
Type of Injury: Shoulder
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Early November 2024
Last Played: 4/15/24
Brett Pesce (D)
Type of Injury: Fractured fibula
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: October 2024
Last Played: 4/22/24
Bryan Rust (RW)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: October 2024
Last Played: 10/1/24
Torey Krug (D)
Type of Injury: Ankle surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 4/10/24
Calle Jarnkrok (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Late October 2024
Last Played: 9/22/24
Nick Bjugstad (C)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Early November 2024
Last Played: 4/7/24
John Marino (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Mid-October 2024
Last Played: 4/15/24
Vancouver Canucks
Thatcher Demko (G)
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Late October 2024
Last Played: 4/21/24
Dakota Joshua (C)
Type of Injury: Recovery from testicular cancer
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Late October 2024
Last Played: 5/20/24
William Karlsson (C)
Type of Injury: Undisclosed
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: October 2024
Last Played: 5/5/24
The 2024-25 NHL season has gotten off to a rocky start for some key players, with injuries sidelining top talent like Thatcher Demko and Gabriel Landeskog. Both players are crucial to their respective teams, and their absence has been felt on the ice.
Thatcher Demko, the star goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks, suffered a lower-body injury in the season opener against the Edmonton Oilers. The injury occurred in the third period when Demko made a sprawling save to keep the Canucks in the game. He was helped off the ice and did not return to the game. The team has since announced that Demko will be out for at least four weeks as he recovers from the injury.
Demko’s absence has been a blow to the Canucks, who were counting on him to be a stabilizing force in net this season. Backup goaltender Jaroslav Halak has stepped in to fill the void, but he has struggled at times, leading to some tough losses for the team.
On the other hand, Gabriel Landeskog, the captain of the Colorado Avalanche, suffered a shoulder injury in a collision with an opposing player during a game against the St. Louis Blues. Landeskog left the game immediately and did not return. The team has announced that he will be out indefinitely as he undergoes further evaluation and treatment for the injury.
Landeskog’s absence has been felt both on and off the ice for the Avalanche. As one of the team’s top scorers and leaders, his presence is sorely missed. The team has had to shuffle lines and make adjustments to compensate for his absence, but they are hopeful that he will be able to return soon.
Injuries are an unfortunate part of sports, but they are especially tough when they happen to key players like Demko and Landeskog. Both players are working hard to recover and get back on the ice as soon as possible. In the meantime, their teams are doing their best to adjust and keep pushing forward in their absence. Fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on their progress and hoping for a speedy recovery for both players.
