Injury Impact Report: League Stars’ Injuries Threaten Playoff Chances
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby in action against the Seattle Kraken on January 20, 2026. Photo credit: Jenn G.
Written By Josie Dinonsie
As the NHL season enters mid-March, even minor injuries can significantly affect a team’s playoff push. Here are some of the injuries that are packing the most punch for teams currently, including some of the league's star players being out.
Auston Matthews — Toronto Maple Leafs
Status: Matthews out for remainder of the season (lower body)
Impact: The Leafs will be without their captain for the rest of the 2025-26 season after sustaining a torn MCL and quad contusion in a brutal hit from Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas. Matthews exited the game in the second period and did not return. Gudas was later suspended for 5 games.The Leafs sit last in the Atlantic Division, making Matthews’ absence even more difficult as they fight to stay in the playoff race.
Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said he didn’t think Gudas' hit on Matthews was intentional.
"There’s no premeditation. It was a reflex action," Quenneville said.
Sidney Crosby — Pittsburgh Penguins
Status: Injured Reserve (lower body); looks to return soon after practicing with the team.
Impact: On Saturday, the Penguins will play their 10th game without their captain following his grade 2 MCL sprain on Feb. 12 in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The Penguins will need to rely on their bottom-six depth, as alternate captain Evgeni Malkin is also sidelined due to a five-game suspension. They currently sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division. With Crosby hopeful to return soon, the Penguins are in a good spot heading into the playoffs.
Dylan Larkin, Andrew Copp, David Perron — Detroit Red Wings
Status: Larkin is ruled out for at least two weeks following a leg injury on March 6; Copp is out for two weeks (lower body); Perron is expected to be back in a week (lower body).
Impact: The Red Wings will be without their captain and Copp, two valuable offensive players for the team. The Red Wings are also eagerly waiting on forward Perron to make his debut with the team, delayed due to a lower-body injury that has kept him out since before he was traded over from the Senators. Currently holding the top Eastern Conference wild-card spot, the Red Wings will have to rely on offensive depth and defensive domination to preserve their ticket to the playoffs.
Mikko Rantanen, Tyler Seguin — Dallas Stars
Status: Rantanen is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. He has returned to skating but will not return immediately. Seguin is on long-term injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the 2025–26 season.
Impact: The Stars have maintained an excellent position in the league. With 92 points, they are second in the Central Division and the entire league. They have proven themselves to be a top Stanley Cup contender with young talent and veteran leadership. Rantanen returning to the lineup will give them an even bigger boost heading into the playoffs.
Aleksander Barkov, Brad Marchand, Seth Jones, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell — Florida Panthers
Status: Barkov (knee) will be out for at least another month, though he has returned to non-contact practice. Marchand (lower body) is week-to-week with an ongoing injury. Verhaeghe and Lundell are listed day-to-day, while Jones (upper body) is also day-to-day and currently practicing in full contact.
Impact: Captain Barkov, who hasn't played since the 2025 playoffs, and four of the Panthers’ top-10 point scorers are currently sidelined. Three of these players have been key forwards in the Panthers lineup, and Jones is an important asset on the blue line. With the absence of these players, the Panthers sit at the bottom of the Atlantic. If defense and goaltending are at their best, they could still have a chance at a playoff position, though injury returns and performance from other key forwards will be crucial.
