The 2024-25 NHL season is now two months in the books. With the season in full swing, a few teams are dealing with significant injuries.
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is attempting to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, but that pursuit has hit a bit of a snag. Last month against the Utah Hockey Club, Ovechkin collided with Utah forward Jack McBain and left the game. The following day, the Capitals listed Ovechkin as week-to-week with a lower-leg injury.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko is also out of the lineup. Demko is 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. Demko could return in early December as the team returns home following a six-game road trip.
Here is a list of many of the marquee players that are currently sidelined due to injury.
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
Frederik Andersen (G)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Mid-November 2024
Last Played: 10/26/24
Ross Colton
Type of Injury: Broken foot
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: 6-8 weeks
Last Played: 10/28/24
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
Detroit Red Wings
Alex Lyon (G)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/25/24
Cam Talbot (G)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 12/1/24
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
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
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
Jordan Eberle (RW)
Type of Injury: Pelvic surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: February 2025
Last Played: 11/14/24
Max Domi (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 11/16/24
Calle Jarnkrok (C)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Late October 2024
Last Played: 9/22/24
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
Thatcher Demko (G)
Type of Injury: Knee
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Late October 2024
Last Played: 4/21/24
Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin (LW)
Type of Injury: Lower leg
Injured Reserve: No
Approximate Return Date: Week-to-week
Last Played: 11/18/24
Winnipeg Jets
Nikolaj Ehlers (LW)
Type of Injury: Lower-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Day-to-day
Last Played: 11/29/24
As the 2024-25 NHL season continues to unfold, fans and teams alike are closely monitoring the status of key players who have been sidelined due to injuries. Two notable names that have recently made headlines are Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks.
Ovechkin, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history, has been dealing with a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for an extended period of time. The Capitals have announced that Ovechkin is currently listed as week-to-week, meaning that his return to action is still uncertain. This news comes as a blow to both the Capitals and Ovechkin himself, as he was off to a strong start to the season before being sidelined by the injury.
On the other hand, the Vancouver Canucks are eagerly awaiting the return of their starting goaltender, Thatcher Demko. Demko has been out of action with an upper-body injury and his absence has been felt by the Canucks, who have struggled to find consistency in net in his absence. The team has not provided a specific timeline for Demko’s return, but they are hopeful that he will be back in the lineup sooner rather than later.
Injuries are an unfortunate reality in professional sports, and they can have a significant impact on a team’s performance and playoff aspirations. Both the Capitals and Canucks will be hoping for a speedy recovery for Ovechkin and Demko, as they look to get back on track and make a push for the postseason.
As fans continue to follow the progress of these injured players, they will be keeping a close eye on updates from their respective teams and hoping for positive news regarding their return to action. In the meantime, both the Capitals and Canucks will need to rely on their depth and resilience to weather the storm and stay competitive in a challenging NHL season.
