Fantasy Hockey News

Mika Zibanejad was unable to suit up for Team Sweden's 4-Nations finale Monday against the United States due to a bout with the flu. (Source: Elliotte Friedman)

Fantasy Impact: The flu has apparently run roughshod through the Swedish locker room, and it claimed Zibanejad and Pittsburgh's Rickard Rakell for the final round-robin game. Zibanejad will have until Saturday afternoon to get better, as his Rangers travel to Buffalo to tangle with the Sabres as NHL play resumes. If he can make it through that game without any setbacks, get him back in the active fantasy lineup immediately.

Rickard Rakell was unable to play in Monday's 4-Nations game for Team Sweden against the United States, as he is battling the flu. (Source: Elliotte Friedman)

Fantasy Impact: The flu apparently is running rampant through the Team Sweden locker room, which is cause for concern for fantasy managers of all participants for Tre Kronor. Rakell will have until Saturday afternoon to get well before the Washington Capitals visit PPG Paints Arena to face his Penguins as NHL play resumes.

Shea Theodore suffered an upper-body injury playing for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-off Tournament against Sweden, and he was sent home due to what is being called a week-to-week injury. (Source: Vegas Golden Knights)

Fantasy Impact: Specifically, his injury is believed to be to his arm. It's unfortunate for fantasy managers seeing a valuable rearguard go down to a longer-term injury, especially when that ailment was suffered in a non-NHL game. It appears Kaedon Korczak will have a much larger short-term role, while Nicolas Hague, Ben Hutton and Zach Whitecloud should also scoot up the depth chart.

Alex Ovechkin (leg) returns to the lineup for the Washington Capitals against the Toronto Maple Leafa according to Elliotte Friedman. (Source: Elliotte Friedman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Ovechkin will take the ice after missing the last 16 games due to a broken leg, providing a boost to a Washington lineup that continues to surprise, The veteran superstar has posted 25 points (15 goals, 10 assists) and 44 hits in 18 games so far this season.

Seth Jones (foot) has been activated from injured reserve by the Chicago Blackhawks according to Charlie Roumeliotis. (Source: Charlie Roumeliotis on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Jones returns after being sidelined for the last 16 games with the foot injury, rejoining the Chicago blueline group while also moving back into his primary role on the top power-play unit for the Blackhawks ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Calgary Flames.

Tyler Seguin (hip) will undergo surgery and is expected to miss four-to-six months for the Dallas Stars according to general manager Jim Nill. (Source: Brien Rea on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Seguin will now miss a majority of the remainder of the regular season while recovering, with Dallas hoping the talented center will be fully healthy in time for the beginning of the postseason for a one of the top squad’s in the Western Conference currently. Seguin posted a 1.05 point per game average (nine goals, 11 assists) in 19 games this season.

Matthew Knies (head) has been activated from injured reserve and will return to the lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday. (Source: Toronto Maple Leafs PR on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Knies returns after missing the last two games for the Maple Leafs, providing a physical boost to a talented Toronto forward group. The feisty winger has registered 44 hits while also posting 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 20 games so far this season.

Connor McDavid (lower body) is out for the remainder of Monday night’s contest between the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets. (Source: Edmonton Oilers on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: McDavid suffered the lower body injury on his first shift of the night and will remain sidelined for the remainder of the contest. Fantasy managers will need to monitor the superstar ahead of Edmonton’s next scheduled contest.

Macklin Celebrini (lower body) has been placed on injured reserve by the San Jose Sharks according to Elliotte Friedman. (Source: Elliotte Friedman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Celebrini will be sidelined until at least Thursday after suffering the lower-body injury in San Jose’s season opener. The talented forward recorded a goal and an assist in his debut for the Sharks and will be counted on heavily in the offensive zone for a young squad throughout this season.

Juuse Saros (lower body) will start between the pipes for the Nashville Predators against the Detroit Red Wings Saturday. (Source: Max Herz on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Saros returns after missing Nashville’s season opening contest due to the lower body injury suffered in the team’s preseason finale. The netminder should be tested early and often by a Detroit offensive attack looking to find the back of the net on a more consistent basis Saturday night.

Patrik Laine exited Saturday’s preseason contest between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs with an apparent left knee injury according to Darren Dreger. (Source: Darren Dreger on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Laine suffered the injury after an open ice collision with Toronto center Cedric Pare. The enigmatic forward’s status will be updated after he undergoes further tests for the Canadiens.

Travis Koncecny (upper body) has been ruled out for the Philadelphia Flyers and will not play against the New York Rangers Saturday. (Source: Kevin Kurz on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Konecny will miss Saturday afternoon’s contest for the Flyers after suffering the upper body injury in Friday’s practice. Tyson Foerster will take Konecny’s spot in the lineup for head coach John Tortorella against the Rangers.

John Tavares (undisclosed) is out of the lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of a home matchup against the Anaheim Ducks Saturday night. (Source: Elliotte Friedman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Tavares will sit out Saturday night’s contest with an undisclosed minor injury according to Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe. Max Domi will fill in at center on Toronto’s second forward line against the Ducks Saturday night.

Bryan Rust (upper-body) has been activated from long-term injured reserve Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Source: Wes Crosby on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Rust returns to the Pittsburgh lineup for head coach Mike Sullivan ahead of Tuesday night’s contest against the Washington Capitals and should return to his second-line duties as well as his role on the second power-play unit against Washington netminder Darcy Kuemper.

Kirill Kaprizov (upper-body) is considered week-to-week by the Minnesota Wild according to the club. (Source: Minnesota Wild PR on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Kaprizov suffered the injury in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The club will exercise caution with their star sniper, who has tallied 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 34 games so far this season. Marcus Johansson will likely fill Kaprizov’s role on Minnesota’s top forward line until he is able to return.

Filip Gustavsson (lower body) has been placed on injured reserve by the Minnesota Wild according to the club. (Source: Minnesota Wild PR on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Gustavsson will undergo an MRI Tuesday and is currently considered week-to-week according to the club. In the netminder’s absence, fantasy managers can expect Marc-Andre Fleury to receive the majority of starts between the pipes, with Zane McIntyre serving as the team’s backup. Gustavsson currently carries a .903 save percentage and 2.95 GAA in 22 appearances (10-9-2) in the crease this season for the Wild.

Thomas Novak (upper body) has been placed on injured reserve by the Nashville Predators according to the organization. (Source: Nashville Predators on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Novak will miss four-to-six weeks while recovering from the upper body injury. The center was off to another strong start for the Predators, tallying 12 points (six goals, six assists) including six power-play points in 14 contests so far this season. Michael McCarron should see an increased role for head coach Andrew Brunette until Novak returns.

Sean Couturier (lower body) has been ruled out by the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of Saturday night’s contest against the Los Angeles Kings. (Source: Charlie O’Connor on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Couturier will sit out for a second consecutive contest for the Flyers, with forward Scott Laughton to likely once again see increased ice time Saturday night against the Kings.

Jake Guentzel (ankle) will play for the Pittsburgh Penguins in their season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday night. (Source: Wes Crosby on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Guentzel was originally slated to be sidelined throughout October for the Penguins, but the left wing was able to pass through multiple tests on the ice Tuesday morning for head coach Mike Sullivan. Expect Guentzel to reclaim his spot on the top forward line while also slotting onto the No. 1 power play unit against the Blackhawks Tuesday night.

Alex Killorn (finger) will miss four-to-six weeks the Anaheim Ducks announced Saturday. (Source: Frank Seravalli on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Killorn suffered the fractured finger during Wednesday night’s preseason contest, and will now miss extended time after signing a four-year deal with the Ducks in the offseason. Frank Vatrano will likely see an increase in playing time while Killorn remains out.