The Carolina Hurricanes were already dealing with a concussion to young defenseman Haydn Fleury, and will now be without another one of their key players due to a brain injury. Micheal Ferland has been diagnosed with a concussion and is out indefinitely until he is given medical clearance to return.
Ferland, who came over from the Calgary Flames as part of the Elias Lindholm–Noah Hanifin trade, has played exceptionally well for the Hurricanes in the early going. The team’s leading goal scorer through the first quarter of the season, Ferland has been dangerous on both the powerplay and at even-strength and will be sorely missed while he deals with a concussion. The Hurricanes were already missing a true goal-scoring talent to go along with their solid stable of playmakers, and will now need someone else to step up in his absence.
The team recalled Clark Bishop yesterday and after losing Valentin Zykov on waivers and assigning Scott Darling to the minor leagues, now have two available roster spots on the NHL squad even without moving Ferland to injured reserve. That would suggest the team has some recalls planned, though it doesn’t seem like anyone is on their way up before tonight’s game against the Anaheim Ducks. The Hurricanes will leave for a west coast road trip after the game, which will almost certainly require at least two more healthy players just as insurance.