The 2024-25 NHL season continues to move along. With the season in full swing, a few star players are dealing with significant injuries.
One of the players no longer on that list includes Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin, who missed 16 games with a broken fibula. On Saturday, Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said Ovechkin will return to the lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, marking his first game since Nov. 18.
Prior to his injury, Ovechkin was red hot and on track to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record by the end of the season. Ovechkin now needs 27 goals in Washington’s final 48 games, which would be an 82-game pace of 46 goals. The good news for fans hoping to see him pass “The Great One” is that he’s hit that mark 11 times throughout his career.
While Ovechkin will be making his return against Toronto, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews remains out with an upper-body injury that has bothered him all season. Matthews missed almost the entire month of November but was able to return on Nov. 30. He re-aggravated the injury in a game against the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 20, and he hasn’t played since.
The injury has limited Matthews to 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 games, but the Maple Leafs have still managed to take over first place in the Atlantic Division.
Here is a list of many of the marquee players that are currently sidelined due to injury.
Anaheim Ducks
Trevor Zegras (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/4/24
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
Buffalo Sabres
Jordan Greenway (LW)
Type of Injury: Undisclosed
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/15/24
Jesper Fast (RW)
Type of Injury: Neck
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 4/16/24
Chicago Blackhawks
Craig Smith (C)
Type of Injury: Back
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/12/24
Alec Martinez (D)
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/7/24
Gabriel Landeskog
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 6/26/22
Miles Wood (LW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Month-to-month
Last Played: 11/27/24
Jonathan Drouin (LW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 11/23/24
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
Justin Danforth (RW)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/10/24
Yegor Chinakhov (RW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/27/24
Dallas Stars
Tyler Seguin (C)
Type of Injury: Hip
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 4-6 months
Last Played: 12/1/24
Matt Dumba (D)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/8/24
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
Trevor Lewis (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/30/24
Minnesota Wild
Joel Eriksson Ek (C)
Type of Injury: Hand
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/12/14
Joel Eriksson Ek (C)
Type of Injury: Undisclosed
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/3/24
Nashville Predators
Cole Smith (LW)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/21/24
Mike Reilly (D)
Type of injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 11/1/24
Semyon Varlamov (G)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/29/24
New York Rangers
K’Andre Miller (D)
Type of injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/11/24
Ottawa Senators
Artem Zub (D)
Type of Injury: Foot
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/23/24
Anton Forsberg (G)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Lower-body
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/8/24
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
Vitek Vanecek (G)
Type of Injury: Head
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/14/24
Jordan Eberle (RW)
Type of Injury: Pelvic surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: February 2025
Last Played: 11/14/24
Torey Krug (D)
Type of Injury: Ankle surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 2025-26 season
Last Played: 4/10/24
Nick Leddy (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 10/15/24
Tampa Bay Lightning
J.J. Moser (D)
Type of Injury: Undisclosed
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 8-10 weeks
Last Played: 12/12/24
Anthony Stolarz (G)
Type of Injury: Knee surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: February 2025
Last Played: 12/12/24
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: Day-to-day
Last Played: 12/20/24
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
Connor Ingram (G)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/18/24
Vancouver Canucks
Filip Hronek (D)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: January 2025
Last Played: 11/27/24
Vegas Golden Knights
Nicolas Roy (C)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/15/24
Ivan Barbashev (LW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 12/15/24
Washington Capitals
Lars Eller (C)
Type of Injury: Illness
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/17/24
Sonny Milano (LW)
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 11/6/24
Winnipeg Jets
Dylan Samberg (D)
Type of Injury: Foot
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 11/23/24
The 2024-25 NHL season has been filled with ups and downs for many teams, especially when it comes to injuries. One of the most anticipated returns this season was that of Alex Ovechkin for the Washington Capitals. Ovechkin, who has been a dominant force in the league for years, made his return to the ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing several games due to a lower-body injury.
Ovechkin’s return was a welcome sight for Capitals fans, as the team had been struggling in his absence. His presence on the ice immediately made an impact, as he scored a goal in his first game back and helped lead the Capitals to a much-needed victory.
On the other side of the injury spectrum is Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matthews has been sidelined for several games with an upper-body injury, leaving a significant void in the Leafs’ lineup. The team has struggled in his absence, as Matthews is one of their top scorers and a key player on both ends of the ice.
There is still no definitive timeline for Matthews’ return, but the Leafs are hopeful that he will be back in action soon. In the meantime, they will have to rely on their depth to fill the void left by Matthews’ absence.
Injuries are an unfortunate reality in professional sports, and they can have a major impact on a team’s performance. As the season progresses, teams will have to adjust to the loss of key players and find ways to stay competitive despite the setbacks. Fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on the status of injured players like Ovechkin and Matthews, hoping for a speedy recovery and a return to form on the ice.
