On Wednesday, it was reported that Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook’s absence from the lineup was due to him being a healthy scratch. It turns out that this may not have been the case. The team announced (Twitter link) that the blueliner wasn’t on the road trip for their game tonight in Winnipeg and is “undergoing further medical evaluation”. To say this season has been a trying one for the 34-year-old would be a big understatement. He has just four points in 32 games while logging a career-low 18:09 per night. Considering his diminished role, it makes sense for Chicago to shut him down if Seabrook is indeed playing through some sort of issue but the way things have been trending for him, there may not be a lineup spot to return to when he’s cleared.
More injury news from around the league:
- The Islanders announced (via Twitter) that winger Tom Kuhnhackl has been activated off LTIR. He has been limited to just six NHL games this season due to a lower-body injury that he suffered in late-October although he did get into four games on a conditioning stint before returning to the IR earlier this week. As New York was carrying only 22 players, there is no corresponding move required to bring him back onto the active roster.
- Pittsburgh has dealt with significant injury issues this season and their list has grown. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters, including Mike DeFabo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that defenseman Justin Schultz is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury that he suffered back on Tuesday in his first shift against Calgary. It’s the second time in the last month that Schultz has had a lower-body issue but it appears this one may keep him out longer than a week and a half like the first one did.
- Just prior to puck drop tonight, the Sabres announced (Twitter link) that star center Jack Eichel was being scratched due to an upper-body injury; TSN’s Darren Dreger adds (via Twitter) that it’s likely the flu. Eichel is in the midst of a 17-game point streak but that has now come to an end.
I was surprised to see Tom Kuhnhackl back so soon. When you saw his injury happen it looked like he wouldn’t return until the New Year at the earliest. He will be a decent addition considering Michael Dal Colle is injured and Komarov is also returning from an injury. I was a little surprised though they put him in last night’s game against Boston, a fast physical team. I would have thought a home game against Anaheim on Saturday would have been a better break in.