There are some weeks that are relatively quiet on the injury front. This last one wasn’t one of them as several key players are dealing with long-term injuries and highlight the top stories of the week.
Shoulder Surgery For Tarasenko: Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko has had shoulder troubles in the past and those have crept up again. The team announced that that he has undergone successful shoulder surgery but it’s one that will keep him out long-term as he’ll be re-evaluated in five months. That puts his availability for the remainder of the season in question. Losing Tarasenko, their top scoring threat, is a huge blow for the defending champions. They will have the ability to go into LTIR to replace him but if they believe that he’ll return this season, that replacement will likely just be limited to recalled players over a pricier trade acquisition.
Perlini To Detroit: After sitting in all but one game, winger Brendan Perlini had made it known that he had asked for a trade. The Blackhawks obliged, sending him to the Red Wings in exchange for blueline prospect Alec Regula. Perlini has scored at least 14 goals in each of his first three NHL seasons but consistency had been an issue for him with both Arizona and Chicago. He’ll look to get back on track with Detroit where he has already played twice. Meanwhile, Regula is playing with London of the OHL and will need to be signed by June 1st or the Blackhawks will lose his rights. He’s averaging over a point-per-game through 11 contests with the Knights so far this season.
Nashville Extensions: There was some surprise when a long-term extension for Predators captain Roman Josi wasn’t in place shortly after the beginning of free agency in July when his window for a new deal opened. However, while it took longer than anticipated, the two sides agreed to an eight-year extension that carries a $9.059MM AAV. The deal is front-loaded with signing bonuses and also contains a full no-move clause, something that Nashville rarely gives out. Josi has been one of the biggest bargains in the league on his current seven-year, $28MM pact as he established himself as a legitimate number one defenseman in the league. He’ll now have the third-highest AAV among all rearguards starting next season. Meanwhile, the Predators also signed winger Austin Watson to a three-year extension that will carry a $1.5MM cap hit. The deal represents a small raise on his current $1.1MM price tag and certainly appears to be good value for someone that can hold down a regular spot on the third line.
Byfuglien Surgery: The Dustin Byfuglien saga in Winnipeg has taken another strange turn. Without consulting the team, the blueliner has undergone ankle surgery and is expected to miss multiple months. He’s currently under suspension without pay for leaving the team early in training camp but if it’s determined that this was a hockey-related injury sustained while playing last season for them, the Jets may have to add Byfuglien back onto their books (where he’d be transferred to LTIR). This is something that’s likely heading for an arbitration hearing to determine whether or not he’s entitled to his $8MM salary and further calls into question whether or not he’ll eventually return to Winnipeg when he’s fully healed.
Landeskog Out Indefinitely: Colorado is already without winger Mikko Rantanen and now they are without another member of their top line as well as captain Gabriel Landeskog is out with a lower-body injury. While the timeframe for his return hasn’t been specified, head coach Jared Bednar indicated that the issue will keep him out “longer than week-to-week”. Colorado is off to a strong start to their season as they sit in second place in the Central Division but the pressure on Nathan MacKinnon is going to be much higher for the foreseeable future as the last one standing from that trio.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.