Avalanche Recall Mackenzie Blackwood From Conditioning Loan
Oct. 17: Blackwood’s conditioning stint is over, the team announced. He didn’t get into game action with the Eagles; instead, he was only there to face shots in practice with a more consistent schedule there this week than in Colorado. Blackwood was never on IR, so the recall suggests he should be available for tomorrow’s game against the Bruins.
Oct. 13: The Colorado Avalanche should be getting a big reinforcement between the pipes in a few days. The team announced that they’ve loaned netminder Mackenzie Blackwood to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on a conditioning stint. Additionally, the team has activated defenseman Sean Behrens from the season-opening injured reserve and reassigned him to AHL Colorado.
Colorado’s reasoning behind the conditioning stint this early in the campaign is fairly simple. Blackwood is continuing to recover from a procedure performed in May and didn’t participate in any preseason games for the Avalanche or any training camp activities. Since Colorado can leave Blackwood on the conditioning stint for up to 14 days, it’ll be treated as a pseudo training camp to prepare him for the regular season.
Blackwood was phenomenal for the Avalanche last year. After being acquired from the San Jose Sharks, Blackwood took on a heavy workload, managing a 22-12-3 record in 37 games with a .913 SV% and 2.33 GAA. Unfortunately, he couldn’t help Colorado avoid another first-round exit in last year’s playoffs, registering a 3-4-0 record in seven contests with a .892 SV%.
Still, despite being without Blackwood, the Avalanche have gotten stellar goaltending out of the gates this season. Their backup, Scott Wedgewood, has a 2-0-1 record through Colorado’s first three games with a .925 SV% and 1.95 GAA. Even though it’s a small sample size, Wedgewood has already played the most minutes of any netminder this year.
Meanwhile, Behrens will return to competitive hockey for the first time in two years. After winning the National Championship with the University of Denver in 2024, Behrens signed with the Avalanche, skating in one game with the Eagles to finish the year, with one additional appearance in the postseason.
Unfortunately, a knee injury suffered during last year’s training camp cost Behrens the entire 2024-25 season. He appeared in a few games for the Avalanche’s rookie tournament, though his upcoming time with the Eagles will mark his true return to professional hockey.
Brady Tkachuk Out 6-7 Weeks Following Hand Surgery
Oct. 16: Tkachuk underwent surgery to repair a ligament issue in his right hand in New York today, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports. The procedure extends his return timeline to six to seven weeks and, with the clock resetting to today, won’t be back in the lineup until Thanksgiving at the earliest. That’s a 20-game minimum absence, including last night’s loss to the Sabres.
Oct. 14: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will miss at least four weeks due to the right wrist injury he sustained in yesterday’s game against the Predators, head coach Travis Green said (via Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia). They’ve yet to decide on whether surgery is required. If so, his return timeline will be extended.
Tkachuk sustained the injury early in the game. While on the power play, he took a cross-check from Nashville captain Roman Josi near the goal line that carried enough force to cause Tkachuk to fall forward into the boards, bending his right wrist awkwardly in the process. He didn’t immediately leave the game but ended up taking his last shift midway through the third period. Green said immediately after the match that Tkachuk was going for evaluation and that his absence wasn’t precautionary.
This will stand as Tkachuk’s largest absence to date. While he’s missed games due to injury in four of his seven full NHL seasons, none of them were serious enough to warrant lengthy recovery times. The most time he ever missed was nine games due to a leg injury early in his rookie season. His four-week minimum means his earliest return is Nov. 11 against the Stars, meaning at least a 13-game absence for the star winger.
Thankfully for Ottawa, they have a relatively easy stretch of games ahead. Only three of those 13 contests are against teams that made the playoffs last season. They’ve gotten off to a tough start, though, especially defensively. They’re 1-2-0 through their first three contests and have yet to give up fewer than four goals, averaging a 4.67 GA/GP mark that ranks 31st in the league. While their 26.0 shots against per game figure is sixth-best in the NHL, their 64.3% success rate on the penalty kill – fifth-worst in the league – hasn’t helped matters. Linus Ullmark has also allowed a league-worst 5.4 goals above expected in his three starts, per MoneyPuck. Tkachuk doesn’t factor in shorthanded, so in that sense, his absence won’t mean much as Ottawa looks to address its biggest early-season weaknesses.
His missing offense and intangibles will, though. Tkachuk had three assists and a +1 rating through his first three outings and, although his 29-26–55 scoring line in 72 games last year was underwhelming by his standards, he received Hart Trophy consideration for the first time as he captained Ottawa to its first playoff berth since 2017. Despite missing a good portion of yesterday’s contest, he still ranks third on the team so far with 10 hits, is tied for the team lead with 21 shot attempts, and has controlled possession well with a 56.5 CF% at even strength.
Now, it’ll be mid-November until he’s consistently in the mix this season. The Senators can place him on injured reserve whenever they need a roster spot. That will likely come in conjunction with activating Drake Batherson, who is expected to come off IR before tomorrow’s game, according to Garrioch. Tkachuk is eligible for long-term injured reserve as well and can yield up to $3.82MM in cap relief, but with the Sens already banking over $2.45MM in space, that won’t be necessary, at least for now.
Luckily for the Sens, they don’t have any mounting injuries behind their leader. They have all available options, including Batherson, to elevate into top-line duties alongside Tim Stützle and Fabian Zetterlund in his absence.
Flyers Reinstate Cam York From Injured Reserve
Oct. 16: York has been reinstated ahead of tonight’s game against the Jets, the team announced. Emil Andrae was returned to AHL Lehigh Valley yesterday to open a roster spot.
Oct. 14: Although it’s not a complete guarantee, the Philadelphia Flyers are expected to welcome back one of their better defenseman tomorrow for practice, and potentially for their game on Thursday evening against the Winnipeg Jets. According to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, blueliner Cam York says there is a good chance he will return for Philadelphia’s next game.
The University of Michigan alumnus has been dealing with a lower-body injury since the preseason. Despite being on a day-to-day recovery timeline, York has already missed the Flyers’ first three games of the 2025-26 regular season. He’s currently on the team’s injured reserve and was eligible for activation yesterday.
York’s return couldn’t come at a better time. Philadelphia has started relatively slow out of the gates, earning a 1-1-1 record through their first three matchups with a +1 differential. Struggling to arrange consistent goaltending last year, it has actually been the team’s defensive pairings that have struggled the most to start the campaign.
According to MoneyPuck, Philadelphia has used four different defensive pairings to start the year, for those who have played more than 10 minutes of action. The combination of Jamie Drysdale and Adam Ginning has been the best to start, averaging an xGoals% of 50%, which is statistically neutral. Each of the other three has managed negative xGoals% to start the year, meaning that the rest of the defensemen are failing to provide any positive value.
Last season, the combination of Travis Sanheim and York yielded a 54.8% xGoals% across more than 870 minutes of ice time. Although he doesn’t offer much on the offensive side of the puck, York routinely blocks shots and has averaged a positive Expected +/- for the last three years. Head coach Rick Tocchet, who’s been largely disappointed by Philadelphia’s defensive core since the beginning of preseason, will have much more to work with when York returns.
Injury Notes: Klingberg, Liljegren, Lindholm
A trio of Swedish defensemen have been banged up, but are not expected to miss much time. First, out of San Jose, Sheng Peng of NBC Sports California updated earlier today that John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren are out day-to-day, and are questionable for Friday, when the Sharks go to Utah. Both players were hurt last night, as San Jose was drubbed by Carolina, although each played high minutes. Liljegren is considered upper-body, which aligns with when he appeared shaken up after going down hard in an attempt to pin a Hurricane along the boards.
Peng also added a key note, that fortunately, given that it was listed as lower-body, Klingberg’s ailment is not related to his ongoing hip trouble. For now, the Sharks could turn to Vincent Desharnais to make his season debut, along with the more intriguing young Shakir Mukhamadullin, who posted two assists in his only game this season.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Bruins Head Coach Marco Sturm recently told Belle Fraser, Multimedia Producer of the team, that Hampus Lindholm is also day-to-day, but is expected to resume skating tomorrow. The veteran enjoyed a major career resurgence in Boston in 2022-23, but unfortunately has been chasing it since, especially with an injury riddled 2024-25. Thankfully, Lindholm has managed to skate in two games for Boston so far, as he looks to get back on track and hope to help lead the team back to the playoffs come spring.
Canucks Place Derek Forbort On Injured Reserve
The Vancouver Canucks will be without some defensive depth for at least the first two games of their upcoming road trip. The team announced that they’ve placed Derek Forbort on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, retroactive to October 11th.
Forbort’s placement on the IR gives context to youngster Victor Mancini‘s inclusion in the lineup for Monday’s loss against the St. Louis Blues. Mancini went scoreless across 15:24 of action, while the pairing of him and Marcus Pettersson combined for an xGoals% of 38.5% according to MoneyPuck.
Although Forbort is eligible to return for the Canucks game on October 19th against the Washington Capitals, there’s no guarantee he’ll do so. He was particularly ineffective in his first two games before the injury.
Even with little responsibility as a bottom-pairing option, Forbort went without a point to start the year, averaging 13:56 of ice time. He’s already in last place among Vancouver defensemen in CorsiFor% at even strength (29.2%) and helped muster a brutal 15.4% xGoals% alongside Elias Pettersson.
Regardless, the Canucks will likely have him on the roster until the trade deadline, unless they’re willing to expose him on the waiver wire. Although he’s coming off a relatively disappointing campaign in which he scored two goals and 11 points in 54 games with a -7 rating, Vancouver signed Forbort to a one-year, $2MM extension in early June. Assuming Mancini continues producing better than Forbort, albeit in a small sample size, it’s unlikely the Canucks will put him back in the lineup over their road trip.
Jacob Markström Out “A Couple Of Weeks”
The Devils announced that goaltender Jacob Markström will be sidelined for “a couple of weeks” after sustaining an injury in Monday’s win over the Blue Jackets. It’s a lower-body concern, per the team’s Amanda Stein. The starting netminder appeared banged up after being caught in a pileup during a Columbus goal with 21 seconds left in the contest. He stayed in the game, which backup Jake Allen started but left after the second period due to cramping, but was visibly ginger while leaving the ice.
Markström was not present at this morning’s practice. The team already recalled Nico Daws from AHL Utica this morning to serve as Allen’s backup while the veteran takes over the starter’s crease for the time being. The latter was a full participant today and looks clear to play against the Panthers tomorrow despite his early departure from Monday’s game.
Markström, a one-time All-Star and Vezina Trophy finalist, made 49 starts last season en route to a 26-16-6 record, .900 SV%, 2.50 GAA, and four shutouts. He hadn’t been out to as strong a start this year. While he’s been the goalie of record in all three games for New Jersey’s 2-1-0 start, allowing that goal in his relief performance brought his individual numbers down to a .845 SV% and 3.89 GAA, allowing nine goals on 58 shots faced. The injury comes in a contract year for Markström, who was reported to be in extension talks with the Devils earlier this month.
In the interim, the Devils shouldn’t be too uncomfortable with an Allen-Daws tandem, providing the former can stay healthy. The 24-year-old Daws was exceptional when called upon in similar situations last year, posting a 3-1-0 record and .939 SV% with a 1.60 GAA in six appearances. With that in mind, it might behoove the Devils to give them a split workload for the time being instead of overrelying on the 35-year-old Allen, ensuring they don’t lose both of their top two goaltending options to injuries.
Behind Daws, New Jersey doesn’t have a ton of available depth and would need to make a trade, signing, or waiver claim if someone else gets hurt. Their first recall option would be 23-year-old Jakub Málek, a 2021 fourth-round pick in his first season in North America. Behind him on the depth chart is 22-year-old Tyler Brennan, a 2022 fourth-rounder who’s starting his season down with ECHL Adirondack and has zero games of AHL experience through two pro seasons.
Blue Jackets’ Miles Wood Out At Least One Week
The Blue Jackets announced that winger Miles Wood will miss at least a week with an apparent eye injury, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Wood sustained the injury on Monday. He left their loss to the Devils after taking a high stick from New Jersey defender Dougie Hamilton while attempting to cross in front of the Devils’ crease (video via B/R Open Ice). Injury troubles are nothing new for Wood, who missed over 30 games due to an upper-body issue while he was with the Avalanche last year. He had just eight points in 37 games when healthy, causing Colorado to part ways with him two years into a six-year, $15MM contract and trade him to Columbus in the Charlie Coyle deal to clear some cap space.
The Jackets don’t need to place Wood on IR unless they need his roster spot for a corresponding recall, which they haven’t made yet. Even so, they only had 22 players on their active roster and could make a recall without removing Wood from the roster. He’s eligible for a placement with his return timeline being at least seven days.
In fact, a recall is destined to come before they take on Wood’s former team tomorrow. With defenseman Erik Gudbranson also sidelined day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Wood’s injury means Columbus is down to the bare minimum of 18 healthy skaters. Making his season debut in Wood’s place will be Yegor Chinakhov, Portzline reports. The 2020 first-round pick will be slotting directly into Wood’s vacant spot on the fourth line alongside Isac Lundeström and Zach Aston-Reese. Chinakhov was a healthy scratch for the first three games of the season after making a formal trade request over the summer following a dispute with head coach Dean Evason. He said at the beginning of camp that he was open to staying with Columbus, but his preseason usage was limited, and he changed his representation last month as a result.
Wood averaged just 7:58 through his first three appearances as a Jacket, although that’s dragged down by his leaving Monday’s game early. He’s managed a +1 rating and two hits and scored his first goal in a Columbus jersey last weekend in their only win of the season to date, a 7-4 victory over the Wild.
Devils Place Zack MacEwen On Injured Reserve, Recall Nico Daws
The Devils announced they’ve placed winger Zack MacEwen on injured reserve with the previously reported undisclosed injury that has him out indefinitely. New Jersey recalled goaltender Nico Daws from AHL Utica in a corresponding move.
MacEwen is a new addition to the organization, having been acquired from the Senators nearly two weeks ago in exchange for Kurtis MacDermid. He landed on waivers the following day and was not on the Devils’ opening roster submission, but was recalled anyway before their first game of the season. He was scratched for that contest but entered the lineup on Oct. 11 against the Lightning in place of Evgenii Dadonov, who’s now on long-term injured reserve after sustaining a hand injury in the opener. MacEwen skated 7:12 against Tampa, recording a block, a hit, and a pair of shots, until his undisclosed injury forced him out of the game in the third period.
While there’s no firm timeline, head coach Sheldon Keefe‘s implication was that MacEwen will miss more than the seven days mandated for an IR placement. His placement is backdated to the date of the injury, so he could be technically eligible to return on Saturday against the Oilers, but he’s likely looking at a multi-week absence. With Dadonov and Stefan Noesen already on LTIR and IR and Juho Lammikko still dealing with an undisclosed injury despite being on the active roster, MacEwen’s injury only further stresses New Jersey’s forward depth. Brian Halonen, who made his season debut on the fourth line against the Blue Jackets on Monday after being the corresponding recall for Dadonov’s LTIR placement, will now continue to fill that role for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, there’s no surprise in seeing New Jersey add a goalie to the roster ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Panthers. They’re dealing with question marks for both backup Jake Allen, who started against Columbus but left after two periods due to cramping, and No. 1 option Jacob Markström, who entered in relief for the win but showed signs of discomfort after being collided with late in the game. There’s no final determination on either’s status for tomorrow yet, but giving Daws a start and letting the veterans rest would be a prudent move, even if only a precautionary one.
There was speculation that New Jersey may carry the 24-year-old Daws on the opening night roster to avoid placing him on waivers, but he ended up clearing them without incident early last week. The up-and-coming Canadian is in the back half of a two-year, $1.625MM deal and makes a one-way salary of $850K this season. A 2020 third-round pick, he’s firmly entrenched as the Devils’ third-stringer for now. He made four starts and two relief appearances last year, going 3-1-0 with a .939 SV% and 1.60 GAA for his best stretch of play yet. That makes him one of the more intriguing call-up options around the league despite dwindling minor-league numbers over the past few seasons.
Daws also carries far more experience than his age-group comparables. Injuries to New Jersey’s crease forced him into extended action, recording 20-plus starts in each of the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons. He has a 22-23-1 career record with a 2.98 GAA and .898 SV%, just a few ticks below league average. He’s made one start for Utica this season, recording a 1.03 GAA and .963 SV% in a loss.
Adin Hill Leaves Game Due To Injury
A rough sequence from tonight’s game in Calgary has dealt a blow to the Golden Knights. Vegas’ starting goaltender Adin Hill left after the first period due to a lower body injury, as noted by Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
First, Hill appeared shaken up due to a shot that knocked his mask off, but in the following scrum, the 29-year-old seemed bothered by a lower body ailment as well. Akira Schmid took the crease to start the second period for the Golden Knights.
As mentioned by Granger, Carter Hart will become eligible to sign with a team tomorrow, but will not be able to play until December. The Knights have been speculated as a possible fit in the past, and while the hope is certainly that Hill will not be sidelined for long, it will be interesting to follow what comes next.
Evening Notes: Brunicke, Crozier, Hurricanes
The Penguins announced tonight that young defenseman Harrison Brunicke will not play tonight versus Anaheim. Brunicke has looked the part in his first three NHL games, notching a goal, but at just 19-years-old, the Penguins are taking it easy with their key prospect. Although fans may be disappointed, the silver lining is that Kris Letang could return. New Head Coach Dan Muse emphasized the need to put Brunicke along with fellow youngster Ben Kindel in positions to succeed, and given his strong pedigree coaching across junior, collegiate, and professional hockey, it seems the Penguins have the right eyes on their young prospects, as they face a fascinating crossroads which will play out this season.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The Lightning have announced mid-game that defenseman Max Crozier will not return due to injury. The 25-year-old more unassuming player, who has spent most of his professional career in the AHL after being drafted 120th overall in 2019, has been off to a great start for Tampa Bay this season with three assists in as many games. Further details on the severity of the injury are unknown at this time.
- On today’s episode of Bleacher Report’s Insider Notebook, Insider Frank Seravalli said that the Carolina Hurricanes are watching the waiver wire closely for goalies, and that it would be no surprise if the team made some sort of move for one. Thankfully for the team, Frederik Andersen has won both games so far, but given his injury history, along with Pyotr Kochetkov’s inconsistency and current injury, the Canes could be looking for more stability. Carolina claimed Brandon Bussi on waivers earlier this month, but as a 27-year-old yet to debut in the NHL, and with AHL numbers which don’t necessarily jump off the page, GM Eric Tulsky could have another trick up his sleeve soon; especially if the team wants to reach new heights come spring.