The Carolina Hurricanes have received a positive update on the injury front. Defenseman Jalen Chatfield should return to the lineup on the team’s upcoming three-game road trip, per a team announcement. Chatfield has missed the last six games after taking an illegal check to the head from Minnesota Wild forward Tyler Pitlick on November 6th. Pitlick received a match penalty for the hit but did not receive any discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety. Chatfield went through concussion protocol and landed on injured reserve.
Chatfield will be a helpful addition as Carolina continues to face an injury to impact defender Jaccob Slavin. Chatfield has stepped into a second-pair role and averaged the third-most ice time on the blue-line this season, usually receiving nearly 20 minutes a game. He has three assists, 10 hits, and 14 blocked shots in 13 games. He’s taken another step forward after a standout year last season, when he scored 18 points and posted 64 blocks and hits in 79 games.
Carolina could opt to place Chatfield on his off-hand when he returns. Their right-side currently consists on K’Andre Miller, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Alexander Nikishin – none of whom seem set for decreased minutes. That could push left-defender Mike Reilly out of the lineup, and land the hard-nosed Chatfield on the third-pair with Nikishin. The two have already spent 50 minutes of ice time together and outscored opponents two-to-one.