Written by Luke Ballard
With the 2026–27 NHL season fully underway, the early-season cautionary guardrails have come off. As physicality ramps up around the league, an increasing number of teams have seen their line charts dwindle.
No Suzuki, No Party
The Montreal Canadiens will be without their captain of four years and third-leading point scorer until late November with a hand injury. Nick Suzuki, previously the youngest captain in NHL history at just 22 years old, had never missed a game in his NHL career, compiling an impressive 546-game streak.
Now, the Canadiens, without their leader and veteran presence, are left with large holes in their game plan. Suzuki, a first-line center for the Habs, was the driving force of the offense while simultaneously serving as a defensive anchor. His injury, which he suffered while blocking a shot with his hand in the Habs’ 4–3 loss to San Jose in late October, has forced younger players such as Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovský to take on greater responsibility.
Suzuki’s absence has been felt in full effect. Last night, the Habs blew a 4–0 lead with four minutes remaining in the third period. Without their captain, Montreal’s young core struggled to close out the game. Not only has Suzuki’s absence been felt by his teammates, but the Bell Centre felt like a funeral home heading into overtime. Fans took to social media to protest the poor performance and retro jerseys, as fans and players alike desperately crave Suzuki’s veteran presence back on the ice.
“Suzuki is a professional; he’s a leader; he’s a guy who wants to be on the ice,” forward Zachary Bolduc said in a press conference on October 31. “You can see that he puts in the effort and wants to return as quickly as possible.”
Suzuki has recently become available for practice, although his participation remains very limited. Habs players could not be more excited for their veteran leader to return, especially as they roster the youngest squad in the NHL this season and remain in need of his guidance.
Trouble in Paradise
The hits keep coming for the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup champions, as Brad Marchand joins Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov on the injury report with a leg injury and a projected late-November return.
Marchand is a huge loss for the Panthers as they scramble to replace the forward while already dealing with depth issues at the position. Down two veteran leaders, the Panthers have lost four of their last 10 matchups. For Marchand, this injury could mean much more than a temporary absence. After missing 30 games last season and undergoing offseason surgery on his hip and lower body, this latest injury raises further questions about how his body will hold up as he enters the later stages of his career.
In only his second game of the season, Marchand went down holding his knee. With the 38-year-old nearing the end of his career, Panthers management may have to consider whether additional depth is needed to replace his production. While his absence may be temporary, the front office must also be prepared for the possibility that injuries could become a more significant factor moving forward.
Although there may be front-office concerns, head coach Paul Maurice believes that Marchand and Barkov are on the right track and should be back soon despite the severity of their injuries.
“Probably three weeks for Brad from the day of injury,” Maurice said in a press conference last Thursday, “but we’re happy with where [Marchand and Barkov] are at.”
Critics, however, have pointed out that rushing the veteran back may not be the best plan of action, as knee injuries can create additional complications if a player returns before he is fully ready.
Yet, the most interesting reaction from fans around the league has been the celebration of Marchand’s recent injury. Many fans claim it was karma catching up to him for the many times Marchand has been on the other end of unfortunate or ill-intentioned plays. It is a reaction worth noting, as it is not often that fans of opposing teams unite against one player.
As Marchand targets a late-November return, the front office will be sure to keep an eye out for any potential developments as he enters the second year of his six-year contract extension.
Has Father Time Come to Collect?
The three-time Stanley Cup winner, two-time Art Ross Trophy winner and Hart Trophy recipient Evgeni Malkin was ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights with an undisclosed injury.
The 40-year-old alternate captain for the Penguins is one of only two remaining active players from the 2004 NHL Entry Draft alongside Alex Ovechkin, as he enters his 22nd year in the league. However, Malkin’s injury raises questions similar to Marchand’s about whether it is time to move on from the veteran and long-time Penguin in the best interest of the franchise.
With one of the older rosters in the NHL, including six players aged 33 or older, Malkin’s injury begs the question of whether it is time to begin moving on from the aging generation. Without a doubt, the Penguins could use a young jolt of talent throughout the organization. Prospects such as Ben Kindel and Hendrix Lapierre have produced points, but perhaps not at the desired level.
Malkin’s injury adds to the impending crisis the Penguins are dealing with, as he is the fifth player to join the injury report this season while the other four remain on the injured reserve list. Sitting at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, the Penguins may not be serious contenders for this year’s postseason. With questions surrounding the team’s future, it may be time to move some of the older players from the roster to make way for the next generation.
Albeit a minor injury, one would think that as Malkin ages, these occurrences could become more frequent and ultimately do more harm than good for Pittsburgh.
