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
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
Colorado Avalanche
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
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 10/15/24
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
Type of Injury: Hip, hernia surgeries
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: February 2025
Last Played: 6/10/24
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
Type of injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 4/18/24
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
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
Toronto Maple Leafs
Anthony Stolarz (G)
Type of Injury: Knee surgery
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: February 2025
Last Played: 12/12/24
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
Type of Injury: Upper-body
Injured Reserve: Yes
Approximate Return Date: Unknown
Last Played: 4/15/24
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 Capitals’ star forward Alex Ovechkin made his long-awaited return to the lineup in a game against the Maple Leafs. Ovechkin, who had been sidelined with a lower-body injury for the past few weeks, wasted no time making an impact, scoring a goal in his first game back on the ice. His presence was sorely missed by the Capitals, and his return is a welcome sight for fans and teammates alike.
On the other side of the ice, the Maple Leafs are still without their own superstar forward, Auston Matthews. Matthews has been dealing with an upper-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for several games now. Despite the team’s best efforts to manage his recovery, Matthews has yet to return to full health. His absence is a significant blow to the Maple Leafs, who rely heavily on his scoring prowess to drive their offense.
As the season progresses, both teams will be hoping for a clean bill of health for their star players. Injuries can be a major factor in determining a team’s success, and having key players sidelined can significantly impact a team’s chances of making a deep playoff run. We will continue to monitor the injury status of players around the league and provide updates as they become available. Stay tuned for more injury news and updates on the 2024-25 NHL injury tracker.
Tags:
NHL injury tracker, Alex Ovechkin injury update, Capitals vs Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews injury status, NHL injury report 2024-25, NHL injury updates, Alex Ovechkin return, Auston Matthews sidelined, NHL injury news
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