NHL Weekly Injury Impact Report
John Carlson (Washington Capitals) skating with the puck vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets, Feb. 8, 2022. Photo by All-Pro Reels, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Written by Gina Anton
1. Montreal Canadiens
Kirby Dach is out 4–6 weeks with a broken foot.
Impact: Dach has been a valuable piece of Montreal’s forward core when healthy. His absence will hurt their secondary scoring and could force younger forwards to play bigger roles.
(Previously reported) Alex Newhook and Kaiden Guhle remain significant concerns: Newhook’s recovery from ankle surgery, and Guhle’s post-surgery rehab, limit Montreal’s forward and defensive options.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews has been placed on injured reserve (retroactive to Nov. 11) with a lower-body injury.
Impact: Matthews is obviously a cornerstone for Toronto’s offense. Losing him for even a week changes line combinations, power play structure, and puts more burden on the rest of the top forwards to produce.
3. New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes is out with a non-hockey hand injury; he’s reportedly had surgery, with a projected absence of ~8 weeks.
Impact: Hughes is one of New Jersey’s top players. An 8-week absence is a big deal since it disrupts their top-line center depth and could slow their offensive momentum. It also raises broader concerns given his injury history.
4. Dallas Stars
Thomas Harley, a young defenseman, is “week-to-week” due to a lower-body injury.
Impact: While not a long-term absence, Harley’s injury could affect Dallas’ defensive rotations. Depending on how long he’s out, it may force shifts in pairings or increased minutes for depth defenders.
5. Washington Capitals
John Carlson is dealing with an upper-body injury and missed recent action.
Impact: Carlson is a veteran key on Washington’s blue line. His absence could weaken their defensive structure, especially in power-play or late-game situations where his experience matters.
Pierre-Luc Dubois is out 3–4 months following surgery for abdominal/adductor injuries.
Impact: This is a major blow. Dubois is a top-line forward and two-way presence. Losing him for months affects their center depth, playoff window, and potentially forces younger forwards into bigger roles.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
Jalen Chatfield is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
Impact: Chatfield’s absence reduces Carolina’s defensive depth. Depending on how long he’s out, the Hurricanes may need to rely more on call-ups or adjust their defensive pairings.
7. Minnesota Wild
Marco Rossi is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Impact: Rossi has been a promising piece in Minnesota’s middle 6. His absence could be a short-term hit for their forward depth, potentially giving others a chance to step up but also hurting their consistency.
