In the thrilling, high-stakes realm of the NHL, where every shift and check can redefine a team's destiny, injuries strike like unexpected storms—keeping fans on the edge of their seats. This week's status report dives deep into the latest lineup updates and health hiccups across the league, showing how quickly fortunes can shift. But here's where it gets controversial: some of these incidents raise eyebrows about player safety and the rough-and-tumble nature of the game. Stick around as we break it all down, and you'll see why these reports aren't just updates—they're windows into the unpredictable drama of professional hockey.
NHL Status Report: Bedard Sidelines Blackhawks in Clash with Red Wings
Hellebuyck Poised for Jets Return; McCann Faces Three-Week Absence for Kraken
© Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
By NHL.com
December 13, 2025
Hey there, hockey enthusiasts! Welcome to our weekly NHL Status Report, your go-to source for all the buzz on player availabilities and health setbacks around the league. Let's jump right into the details, keeping things straightforward so even newcomers to the game can follow along.
Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard, the dynamic center, won't be lacing up for the Blackhawks as they welcome the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday evening (8 p.m. ET, broadcast on FDSNDET and CHSN). The injury occurred right at the buzzer during their 3-2 defeat to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night. Picture this: with just one second left on the clock, Bedard was engaged in a face-off against St. Louis veteran Brayden Schenn. Schenn executed a stick lift, accidentally colliding with Bedard, who tumbled backward onto the ice as the final horn sounded. Clutching his right shoulder, Bedard skated off the rink and headed straight down the tunnel. Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill described it as an unfortunate fluke and noted that more details should emerge by Monday. Despite the setback, Bedard shone on Friday with two assists, and he's currently the team's leading scorer, boasting 44 points (19 goals and 25 assists) across 31 games this season. For beginners wondering about the impact, injuries like this can derail a young star's momentum, potentially affecting team chemistry and playoff aspirations—it's a stark reminder of how fragile even elite athletes are.
Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck, the reliable goaltender, hasn't been definitively ruled out and might even start for the Jets when they face off against the Washington Capitals on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, on SNW and MNMT). As Jets coach Scott Arniel shared on Friday, 'We're getting nearer to his return.' He praised Hellebuyck's performance in a solid practice session filled with contact and screens, explaining that the team evaluates him daily based on how he feels after workouts and upon waking. Hellebuyck underwent knee surgery on November 22, initially facing a 4-6 week recovery period, but he bounced back to practice by Wednesday. This season, he's posted an 8-6-0 record, a 2.51 goals-against average, and a .913 save percentage in 14 appearances. And this is the part most people miss: goalies like Hellebuyck are the backbone of defense, and their quick recoveries can inspire teams to rally. As an example, think of how a star netminder's return often boosts morale and win streaks in sports like hockey.
Seattle Kraken
Jared McCann, the speedy forward, is sidelined for the next three weeks due to a lower-body issue. The injury happened during the Kraken's 3-2 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. With just 39 seconds left in the third period, McCann tangled with Kings netminder Anton Forsberg near the crease and had to be assisted off the ice. This isn't his first rodeo with this type of ailment; he already sat out 17 games earlier in the year for a similar problem. McCann has chipped in eight points (five goals and three assists) in just 11 games this season. Seattle's coach Lane Lambert lamented the blow to their offense before a 5-3 setback to the Utah Mammoth on Friday, calling McCann 'almost a point-per-game player for us' and noting the scarcity of his playing time. Injuries are part of the game, but when a key contributor like McCann is out, it forces teams to adapt—perhaps by leaning on rookies or shifting lines, which can sometimes lead to unexpected breakthroughs in team performance.
Utah Mammoth
Logan Cooley, the 21-year-old forward, is looking at a minimum eight-week absence due to a lower-body injury, as announced by Utah's general manager Bill Armstrong on Thursday. He hasn't suited up since the Mammoth's 4-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks on December 5. The incident unfolded at 15:21 in the third period: Cooley drove hard toward the net on a partial breakaway, held up by Quinn Hughes—who drew a minor penalty for interference—before colliding with goaltender Kevin Lankinen. Cooley went down but managed to skate off under his own steam, grabbing at his left knee as medical staff attended. Interestingly, he even returned to the ice before the power play ended. Currently, Cooley tops the Mammoth's scoring with 14 goals and ranks fifth overall with 23 points in 29 games. For those new to hockey, a 'partial breakaway' means a player has a clear path to the goal with defenders trailing, making collisions like this a hot topic. But here's where it gets controversial: was Hughes' penalty enough, or should there be stricter rules to prevent such impacts? It sparks debate on whether the league prioritizes flow over safety.
Anaheim Ducks
Lukas Dostal, the goalie, has been cleared from injured reserve on Friday and might suit up against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday (12:30 p.m. ET, available on Victory+, NHLN, KCOP-13, MSG, and SN). He'd been sidelined for nine games with an upper-body ailment since his last action in a 4-3 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights on November 22. This season, Dostal boasts an 11-5-1 record, a 2.81 goals-against average, and a .904 save percentage in 17 starts. Additionally, the Ducks have reassigned netminder Vyacheslav Buteyets to Tulsa, their ECHL affiliate team. Injured reserve, for context, is a special designation where players are out but not counted against roster limits, allowing teams to call up replacements—it's a strategic tool in hockey management.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Rickard Rakell, the versatile forward, is back in action for the Penguins as they take on the San Jose Sharks on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, on SN-PIT, NBCSCA, SN1, and SN). Reactivated from injured reserve on Friday, he'd missed the previous 20 games after undergoing hand surgery on October 26. Rakell shared his excitement on Friday: 'I feel great. It's awesome to reunite with my teammates and hit the ice again. It's been too long, but I'm pumped to compete in real games... My hand is solid, and I'm not dwelling on it out there—feels fantastic.' He's accumulated eight points (three goals and six assists) in nine appearances this season. This return highlights the resilience of players post-surgery, and it's a great example of how modern medicine and rehab can get stars back quicker than ever.
New York Islanders
Jonathan Drouin, the skillful forward, is set to return for the Islanders when they battle the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, on The Spot and MSGSN). He'd sat out five games due to a back issue, starting as a late warmup scratch before a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on December 4. Drouin has racked up 15 points (three goals and 12 assists) in 26 games. On the flip side, Bo Horvat won't play Saturday and is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He exited at 6:52 in the second period of a 5-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, when his right skate got entangled with Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson's right skate, awkwardly twisting his left knee. These moments underscore the physical toll of the sport, where even routine plays can lead to setbacks—prompting questions about protective gear or rule changes.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the steady defenseman, might be available for the Maple Leafs in their matchup against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, on CBC, SNO, and SNP). He left the ice at 3:21 in the third period during Toronto's 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, after bumping into Adam Gaudette, with his left ankle seemingly trapped beneath the San Jose forward as he fell. Ekman-Larsson has contributed 20 points (four goals and 16 assists) in 30 games. Meanwhile, Joseph Woll, the goalie dealing with a lower-body injury, participated in practice on Friday but won't play Saturday, though he could be back by Tuesday for the game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Woll has been out for the last three contests and was placed on injured reserve retroactively to December 4, missing the third period of a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Additionally, Chris Tanev skated again on Friday following Wednesday's imaging; he's seeking a second opinion on his upper-body injury that has kept him sidelined for 18 games. For beginners, injured reserve helps manage long-term absences without roster penalties, but it often means teams scramble for depth—raising debates on whether more support for injured players could reduce gaps.
Minnesota Wild
Jonas Brodin, the defenseman with an undisclosed issue, is uncertain for the Wild's game against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday (2 p.m. ET, on FDSNWI, FDSNNO, TSN5, and TVAS). He briefly exited in the first period but came back to play 20:59 in a 5-2 triumph over the Dallas Stars on Thursday. Brodin has notched nine points (three goals and six assists) in 30 games. To prepare, the Wild recalled defenseman David Jiricek from Iowa, their American Hockey League affiliate. Recalls like this demonstrate the farm system's role in filling voids, potentially giving young talent a shot to prove themselves.
Washington Capitals
Charlie Lindgren, the goalie, practiced on Friday and will accompany the Capitals on their upcoming road trip, starting with the Jets on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, on SNW and MNMT). He hasn't seen action since December 3 due to an upper-body injury. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery commented on Friday: 'We'll check tomorrow, but things are heading positively. He'll travel, but we won't reactivate him until we're absolutely certain.' On another note, Ryan Leonard, the forward, faces a 3-4 week hiatus with a shoulder injury. He got hurt during a 4-3 shootout defeat at the Anaheim Ducks on December 5, exiting in the first period after a check from Jacob Trouba. Leonard has 18 points (seven goals and 11 assists) in 29 games. And this is the part most people miss: hits like the one on Leonard can border on aggressive, sparking discussions about whether the NHL's crackdown on dangerous plays is enough to protect stars.
New Jersey Devils
Arseny Gritsyuk, the forward, is sidelined with an upper-body injury and will skip the next two games, including Saturday's tilt against the Anaheim Ducks (12:30 p.m. ET, on Victory+, NHLN, KCOP-13, MSG, and SN). He played 19:44 in an 8-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. Gritsyuk has 16 points (seven goals and nine assists) in 31 games. Timo Meier, who has stepped away from the team on a leave of absence, will also be absent this weekend. He's third on the Devils with 23 points (11 goals and 12 assists) in 30 games. Furthermore, defenseman Simon Nemec suffered an undisclosed injury during Friday's practice and will be out for a while, as per coach Sheldon Keefe. Leaves of absence can be personal matters, often related to mental health or family, and they highlight the human side of athletes beyond the rink.
Ottawa Senators
Lars Eller, the forward, will sit out at least the next two games due to a lower-body injury, as stated by Senators coach Travis Green on Friday. He didn't finish the third period after blocking a shot in a 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. Eller has tallied six points (two goals and four assists) in 28 games. The Senators face the Minnesota Wild on Saturday (2 p.m. ET, on FDSNWI, FDSNNO, TSN5, and TVAS). Blocking shots is a heroic yet risky play, often leading to injuries—do you think players should be rewarded more for such sacrifices, or is it just part of the job?
New York Rangers
Matt Rempe, the forward, is nearing a comeback from an upper-body injury sustained nearly two months ago but won't play against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, on MSG, SNE, CITY, and TVAS). The injury stemmed from a scuffle with San Jose Sharks forward Ryan Reaves at 5:55 in the first period of a 6-5 loss to San Jose on October 23. Rempe has scored one goal in nine games this season. Fights in hockey are a tradition, but incidents like this fuel debate: are they entertaining or outdated, risking long-term harm?
Carolina Hurricanes
Joel Nystrom, the 23-year-old defenseman, inked a four-year deal worth $4.9 million with the Hurricanes on Friday, averaging $1.125 million annually, effective next season. He's recorded four assists in 23 games this year. Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky praised him: 'Joel integrated into our squad early and has shown he's NHL-ready. He meshes with our style perfectly, and we're eager to see his growth here.' Signings like this stabilize rosters, but what if Nystrom's development stalls—does the league overpay young prospects too soon?
Whew, what a whirlwind of updates! From freak accidents to promising comebacks, the NHL never ceases to amaze. But let's get real: incidents like Bedard's shoulder tweak or Gritsyuk's practices raise questions about whether the game is too physical. Is it time for more padded gear, or does the grit make hockey special? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you agree with stricter safety measures, or is the current balance just right? We'd love to hear your takes and keep the conversation going!
