In the latest edition of Ice Chips, we bring you the most up-to-date injury news and roster updates from around the NHL.
Starting off with the Calgary Flames, forward Nazem Kadri was noticeably absent from the team’s morning skate, as reported by TSN’s Salim Valji. The 33-year-old player suffered a knee-on-knee collision with teammate Blake Coleman during practice on Friday, which forced him to head back to the locker room early. Unfortunately, it looks like Kadri will be sitting out Saturday’s preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks due to the injury. Last season, Kadri showcased his skills by playing in all 82 regular season games and tallying an impressive 29 goals and 46 assists for the Flames.
Moving on to the Toronto Maple Leafs, forward John Tavares was also missing from practice on Saturday morning. TSN’s Mark Masters revealed that Tavares was dealing with a lower-body injury, which stemmed from a hit he took to his knee from Montreal’s Michael Pezzetta during Thursday’s preseason game. Despite attempting to push through the discomfort, Tavares only managed to make two shifts in the third period before head coach Craig Berube decided to pull him from the game. Following a day off the ice on Friday, Berube noted that the 34-year-old centre was feeling “sore” and his status is being labeled as day-to-day.
Shifting our focus to the Montreal Canadiens, defenceman Kaiden Guhle made an appearance at practice on Saturday morning, according to TSN’s Kenzie Lalonde. While Guhle joined his teammates on the ice, he did not participate in line rushes as he continues to recover from appendix surgery he underwent on Sept. 18. Despite returning to skating on his own on Thursday, the Canadiens are taking a cautious approach with Guhle’s recovery, evaluating his progress on a daily basis.
With these injury updates in mind, NHL teams are making necessary adjustments to their lineups as they prepare for the upcoming season. Stay tuned to Ice Chips for more news and updates from around the league.
