Stars To Activate Mavrik Bourque From SOIR
Stars prospect Mavrik Bourque will make his season debut tonight against the Sharks, head coach Peter DeBoer told Brien Rea of Bally Sports Southwest. That indicates he’ll be activated from season-opening injured reserve after missing the past week-plus with an undisclosed injury.
Bourque, 22, is coming off a banner campaign in the minors with AHL Texas. The 30th overall pick of the 2020 draft erupted for 77 points (26 G, 51 A) in 71 games, leading the league in points and taking home First All-Star Team and MVP honors. It was a strong enough performance to warrant a brief NHL call-up, which he received at the end of the year. It resulted in him making his debut against the Blackhawks in early April, recording two shots on goal in under 11 minutes of ice time.
After the Stars lost Joe Pavelski to retirement this offseason, many expected Bourque to fill the vacant spot in their top-nine forward group. That undisclosed injury foiled his chance to do so on opening night, but he’ll get the opportunity now in the second week of the 2024-25 campaign. Per Rea, he’ll enter the lineup instead of veteran Tyler Seguin, who’s being held out with a minor lower-body injury for precautionary reasons.
With Bourque coming off SOIR and the recall of defenseman Alexander Petrovic from AHL Texas earlier today, the Stars now have a full 23-man roster. They can create one quickly if they need an additional spot by moving Mathew Dumba to IR. He was downgraded to week-to-week this morning with his lower-body injury. Bourque counted just $9,314 against the cap while on SOIR, per PuckPedia, so their cumulative cap hit will increase by roughly $885K with his activation instead of his entire $894K cap hit.
Matt Dumba Out Week-To-Week
Oct. 15: Dumba has been downgraded to week-to-week, Stars head coach Peter DeBoer said Tuesday (via the team’s Brien Rea). DeBoer confirmed that he’ll miss an extended period but won’t require surgery for the injury. Alexander Petrovic was recalled from AHL Texas earlier in the day to fill his spot. However, Dumba hasn’t yet been moved to IR, with Dallas having ample roster space for an extra defender without a corresponding transaction.
Oct. 13: Dallas Stars defenseman Matt Dumba is being called day-to-day after suffering a lower-body injury in the first period of last night’s game against the New York Islanders (as per Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News). Dumba was hurt during his second shift of the game when he was tripped by Islanders forward Casey Cizikas, and he fell awkwardly onto his right leg, which was pinned underneath him when he fell.
Dumba left the game briefly but returned to action, played six more shifts, and finished the first period, logging 6:02 in total ice time. The 30-year-old did not come out with the team to start the second period and missed the rest of the game. Dumba was ruled doubtful about returning a short time later.
After the game, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer told the media that the Regina, Saskatchewan native will have scans taken on Monday and is considered day-to-day until they have more information regarding his ailment.
A former seventh overall pick, Dumba signed a two-year deal with Dallas on July 1st for a total of $7.5MM and has bounced around the NHL the past couple of seasons. He is no longer the impactful defender he was earlier in his career, but he remains a serviceable NHL defenseman, and his absence will create a hole on the Stars’ backend that is likely to be filled by Brendan Smith.
Utah’s Sean Durzi May Miss Time With Injury
Utah defenseman Sean Durzi left the team’s game today against the New Jersey Devils and there may be lasting consequences. Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune reported the team didn’t have any updates on Durzi but he was seen leaving the game wearing a sling.
It may take until the weekend to unveil the total extent of Durzi’s injury with the team wrapping up their current road trip against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday of this week. The sling suggests Durzi won’t be available for the team in that game and could already be on a plane home to Salt Lake City.
Durzi was off to a great start with Utah before the injury as the team technically still hasn’t lost a game when he was in the lineup. He tallied two assists in the first three games of the year while putting one puck on the net and blocking two shots before exiting the game today. Depending on the severity of the injury the NHL’s newest franchise might be without one of their top defenseman for the foreseeable future.
Durzi’s absence paves the way for veteran defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to make his regular-season debut with the organization. Bortuzzo signed a one-year, $775K contract with Utah this past offseason after posting zero points between the St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders last offseason while averaging 13:44 of ice time in 27 games.
Ottawa Senators Dealing With Multiple Injuries
The Ottawa Senators may have won a high-scoring contest against the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the afternoon, but they will not come away unscathed. During the game, it had already been reported that defenseman Artem Zub would not return to action, and the team is still waiting for more tests with him. To add insult to injury, TSN’s Bruce Garrioch reported that forward Ridly Greig is expected to miss a week or two with an upper-body injury and a follow-up report indicated goaltender Linus Ullmark would miss a few days due to a strain.
Unfortunately for the Senators the team has a relatively quick turnaround before their next game which comes Thursday against the red-hot New Jersey Devils. The team should announce as quickly as tomorrow whether or not Ullmark and Zub will be available for that contest.
Ottawa has already recalled goaltender Mads Sogaard on an emergency basis to fill in for the injured Ullmark who wasn’t available for today’s contest against the Kings. They utilized depth forward Adam Gaudette in today’s game to fill in for Greig but the team is likely to make a recall in the next few days with Greig potentially out until the end of October.
Greig’s absence shouldn’t put too much strain on the lineup early in the season with the organization opting to shorten his ice time out of the gates compared to last season. Greig managed 13 goals and 26 points in 72 games for the Senators last season while averaging 14:45 of ice time per night but only averaged 14:03 against the Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens while centering the team’s fourth line.
Gaudette appears to be the best option to center the team’s fourth line moving forward with likely call-ups Matthew Highmore, Jan Jenik, and Angus Crookshank typically deployed on the wing throughout their careers. Still, Ottawa now has only 12 healthy forwards on the roster and will likely require an additional option up front especially when they leave for a three-game western road trip next week.
Arguably the most crucial point of the injury report is that Ullmark is not expected to be out long-term. Head coach Travis Green couldn’t confirm if Ullmark would be in the net on Thursday against the Devils but indicated the team’s game on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning should be a reasonable return date.
Injury Notes: Celebrini, LaCombe, Zub
Reigning first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini won’t be joining the San Jose Sharks on their first road trip of the season shares Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News. Celebrini is still nursing a lower-body injury that landed him on injured reserve the morning after his NHL debut. He would be eligible to return before the final game of the road trip – Friday’s matchup against Winnipeg. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky didn’t rule out the possibility of Celebrini joining the team ahead of that matchup, though he added that the team is taking things day by day.
Everything clicked for Celebrini in his NHL debut, with his first goal coming just seven minutes into his career on a spin-o-rama pass deflected in; and his first assist coming just 10 minutes later on a connection with scoring-winger Tyler Toffoli. He’s taken well to the role of San Jose’s top centerman, a familiar statement for anyone who watched Celebrini immediately step into Boston Univeristy’s top center role last year. That season ended in BU pushing into the NCAA Championship Frozen Four semi-finals and Celebrini becoming the youngest Hobey Baker ‘MVP’ Award winner ever. The Sharks are far away from those levels of success in the NHL – but the precedent that Celebrini brings gives all the more reason to handle his first career injury with extra care. He’ll face the task of getting healthy before the week ends, to join the Sharks against the presently-undefeated Winnipeg Jets.
Other injury updates:
- Anaheim Ducks defender Jackson LaCombe missed his second consecutive game with illness on Sunday night, shares Derek Lee of The Hockey News. LaCombe was a late scratch in Anaheim’s season opener – paving way for Olen Zellweger to make his season debut, though Urho Vaakanainen who got the start on Sunday. Neither defender scored in their spot start. They’ll continue battling for ice time while LaCombe returns to form and – pending a breakout performance from Zellweger or Vaakanainen – an everyday lineup role.
- Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub left the team’s Monday game with an upper-body injury after a heavy first-period hit from Los Angeles’ Tanner Jeannot. Zub has taken on the role of third defender for the Senators, averaging 19:38 in ice time through the team’s first two games. He’s yet to find his first point of the season, though Zub has managed four shots, one penalty, and a +1. He faced multiple injuries last season, ultimately limited to 69 games and 25 points. He’ll be a locked-in top option when healthy, while an absence would open space for Tyler Kleven or Nick Jensen to earn more minutes.
East Notes: Tavares, Woll, Lindgren, Aston-Reese, Red Wings
Toronto Maple Leafs centerman John Tavares continued to sit out of the team’s practices on Monday as he recovers from illness, shares TSN’s Mark Masters. Head coach Craig Berube said that Tavares is close to a return, but wasn’t quite fit enough for practice today. Tavares already missed Toronto’s Saturday win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, replaced in the lineup by Bobby McMann and Steven Lorentz.
Tavares is taking on a much different look this season, no longer donning the team’s ‘C’ and taking yet another hit in ice time. He’s averaged roughly 17 minutes through two games on the year, continuing his slip from 18 minutes in each of the last four seasons, and 19 minutes in his first two years with the Leafs. The 2009 first-overall pick is now 34 and entering the sunset years of his career, but that hasn’t meant a lack of scoring, as Tavares continues challenging point-per-game production with 29 goals and 65 points in 80 games last year. He’s now totaled 420 points in 442 games with Toronto, including a career-high 88 points in 2018-19, his first year with the club.
In addition to updates on Tavares, Masters also shared that goaltender Joseph Woll returned to the ice before the team’s formal practice, with Berube saying he could practice tomorrow. Toronto placed Woll on injured reserve with a lower-body injury on October 9th. This marks his first return to skating, and notable progress as he looks to return to the role of starting goalie. In the meantime, Dennis Hildeby and Anthony Stolarz will continue to hold down Toronto’s crease.
Other notes from out East:
- New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren returned to full contact at the team’s Monday practice, shares Vince Mercogliano of USA Today Sports. Mercogliano points out that Lindgren isn’t eligible to return until Thursday because of his IR placement on October 7th. Head coach Peter Laviolette shared that Lindgren’s injury was suffered in a fight with Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield, hence his full visor today. Lindgren recorded 17 points in 76 games with the Rangers last season, providing much-needed defensive accumen to the team’s top-four. He’ll get a chance to return to those top minutes when he’s eligible to return on Thursday.
- Columbus Blue Jackets centerman Zach Aston-Reese was spotted at the team’s practice, though not a part of line rushes shares Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. Aston-Reese exited the team’s Saturday game early following a high hit on his first shift of the game. exiting the team’s Saturday game early, He’s gone without a point in two games with Columbus so far, though will certainly appreciate the chance to earn an NHL role after spending all of last season in the AHL, scoring 30 points in 61 games. Portzline points out that, should Aston-Reese sit, it will be Dylan Gambrell filling his role on the Columbus fourth-line.
- Both forward Christian Fischer and defenseman Jeff Petry continue to sit out of Detroit’s practices with injury shares Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. Both players are nursing upper-body, day-to-day ailments and are expected to miss Detroit’s Monday night game. St. James notes that their absence on Monday will allow Austin Watson to join the lineup. Albert Johansson will be the likely favorite for any vacant role on defense. Both Fischer and Petry figure to contribute depth roles when they’re able to return.
Blues Place Alexandre Texier On IR, Activate Brandon Saad
The St. Louis Blues have placed forward Alexandre Texier on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. In a corresponding move, St. Louis has also activated forward Brandon Saad after he missed the start of the year to attend to the birth of his third child. The two forwards will likely swap spots in the lineup as St. Louis prepares for their home opener on October 15th.
Texier was one of many new faces added to the Blues offense this summer, with St. Louis acquiring him via trade from Columbus and signing him to a two-year, $4.2MM contract extension. That figure was likely helped along by Texier’s career-high 12 goals and 30 points from last season, continuing his gradual climb up Columbus’ scoring charts. Texier started his North American career with seven AHL games in 2018-19. He was quickly called up after scoring at a point-per-game pace, but couldn’t do much to carve out a consistent role in the lineup. Texier would appear in just 121 of a possible 220 games for Columbus between 2019 and 2022, despite being on the roster full-time. Still, he showed flashes of scoring upside through the spot starts, scoring 21 goals and 48 points through the three seasons.
Texier finally received a daily role last season and seemed to meet his expectations as a depth scorer, though his daunting 3.3 xGA/60 (expected goals-against per-60 minutes) ranked worst among all Blue Jackets forwards last season, per Evolving Hockey. A change of scenery was meant to be the catalyst for Texier to continue earning a daily role. He’s earned it so far, recording an assist in his Blues debut, but he’ll now have to wait at least a week before continuing to fight for his spot in the lineup.
Texier will also now face the pressure of the veteran Saad, who managed an impressive 26 goals and 42 points from St. Louis’ middle-six last season, while appearing in all 82 games. Saad – once a two-time Stanley Cup winner in Chicago – has become St. Louis’ go-to glue guy over the last three seasons, capable of handling roles from third-line center to net-crasher on the top power-play unit. He’s totaled 128 points in 231 games with the Blues, including goal totals of 24, 19, and 26 respectively through his three seasons. Saad will enter his 14th NHL season when he returns to the Blues lineup, boasting 499 points through 863 career games.
Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk Expected To Miss A Week
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice shared that superstar Matthew Tkachuk is expected to miss about a week with an illness. Maurice said that the team is targeting Florida’s October 22nd matchup against the Minnesota Wild as Tkachuk’s return date. He already missed one game with the ailment, sitting out of Florida’s Saturday loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
Tkachuk joins linemate Aleksander Barkov in Florida’s press box – though, with illness, hopefully not sitting too close – while Barkov nurses a week-to-week, lower-body injury of his own. Maurice shared on Sunday that Barkov is expected to miss two-to-three weeks, targeting a return before November.
Tkachuk has continued his starring role in Florida, recording 2’s across the board so far – with a stat line that reads two games played, two assists, two penalty minutes, and a +2. He was a pivotal in Florida’s run to their first Stanley Cup last season, netting 26 goals and 88 points in the regular season and 22 points in 24 postseason games. That wasn’t enough to earn Tkachuk any votes for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last year, though he did receive one vote in 2023 – after netting 24 points in 20 games of Florida’s other run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Regardless of award voting, Tkachuk has proven the premier scorer on Florida’s lineup, stamped by a career-high 109 points in his first season with the team. His role will be daunting to replace, and likely force Florida to lean much more on secondary scorer Sam Reinhart. Rookie Mackie Samoskevich could also get a boost, though three scoreless games to start this season now have him up to 10 NHL games without his first career point. If not Samoskevich, then next up would be fellow rookie Patrick Giles.
Capitals’ Matt Roy Out Day-To-Day
Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Roy missed the team’s Monday practice with a lower-body injury and has been designated as day-to-day shares Bailey Johnson of the Washington Post. Roy left the team’s Saturday game just a few minutes into the second period, though he didn’t seem limited in any way on his final shift. No further information about the injury has been revealed.
Roy recorded no scoring and a -2 in Washington’s season opener. The performance continued his scoreless stat-line from three preseason games, where Roy’s only recorded metrics were one blocked shot and four hits. Roy has struggled to bring his stout, defensive presence in his action with Washington, despite thriving in the role with Los Angeles for the last six seasons.
Roy was a true success story for the Kings, getting drafted in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Draft and clawing his way up to the NHL lineup through two impactful seasons in the AHL. He made his NHL debut in the 2018-19 season and quickly continued his climb, stepping into the league on LA’s third-pairing but earning routine top-pair ice time as quickly as the 2020-21 season. By 2021-22, Roy was the de facto partner for Kings star Drew Doughty, averaging close to 21 minutes every game. His role was keenly focused on the defensive side of the puck, but Roy still managed a stout 21, 26, and 25 points through three seasons on the Kings’ top line.
Strong performances in Los Angeles earned Roy a hefty payday on July 1st when Washington signed him to a seven-year, $34.5MM contract. The deal carries Roy through his age-36 season and makes him a notable fixture of a Capitals blue-line that’s been completely refurbished. Roy was paired with Martin Fehervary on the second-pair for Washington’s season opener. Should he miss time, Roy will likely be replaced by a mix of Trevor van Riemsdyk and Dylan McIlrath. Van Riemsdyk saw the immediate boost from Roy’s injury, recording 19 minutes of ice time in the season opener – his heaviest utilization since December of 2023.
Wild Announce Roster Moves With Joel Eriksson Ek, Jared Spurgeon Out
3:30 PM : Minnesota has issued an injury update, adding that team captain Jared Spurgeon will also miss Sunday’s game with a lower-body injury. He’s been designated as day-to-day. Spurgeon has recorded one assist, four hits, and six blocks through the first two games, while averaging 19:35 in ice time.
3:00 PM : The Minnesota Wild will be without Joel Eriksson Ek in their Sunday matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, as the centerman bears through a head injury, shares Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The team specified that the injury is a broken nose. Eriksson Ek left Minnesota’s Saturday matchup midway through the second period after taking an elbow to the face from Seattle defender Adam Larsson.
Minnesota has utilized an emergency recall on forward Travis Boyd, and sent goaltender Jesper Wallstedt to the minor leagues, in response to Eriksson Ek’s absence.
Eriksson Ek has served in a pivotal role for Minnesota in the early going, recording 20 minutes of ice time and a goal in the team’s season opener, and adding just shy of 12 minutes of ice time before leaving on Saturday. He’s been the Wild’s clear top centerman, deployed alongside the team’s leading scorer Matt Boldy. That’ll be a tough role for Minnesota to fill for even one game, though top youngster Marco Rossi could be in a prime position to step up. He’s recorded two assists on the season while operating in the middle-six, and seems to have added a strong layer to his game this summer. Rossi will compete with Ryan Hartman for the ice time opened by Eriksson Ek.
Meanwhile, Boyd will look for space in the bottom-six after recording two points in the AHL Iowa Wild’s season opener. He scored eight points in 16 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season but had his season in December by a torn pectoral muscle. Boyd had managed a pair of strong seasons with Arizona in 2021-22 and 2022-23, scoring 35 and 34 points respectively. This recall will provide his first chance to work back to that stout scoring since going down with injury.