Monday Injury Analysis Dec. 22
By Ray Calder
Goaltenders ;
Anaheim's Jean- Sebastian Giguere is back practicing with the team and should be back in the nets sometime this week . He has missed time recently after the passing of his father .
Atlanta's Kari Lehtonen who hadn't played since October , is back in the crease and is a safe play this week .
The Kings Erik Ersberg is out a minimum of 2 weeks with a groin injury . Jason Labarbera takes over as the starter and the club has Jonathan Quick as his backup currently .
Montreal's Carey Price (knee, flu) returned this weekend . The team has only one game this week so he's not a great option but he is apparently healthy.
The Islanders Rick Dipietro is back skating eith the club according to Newsday . There is still no certain return date but on the broadcast Saturday it was suggested he could play the end of this week.
Pittsburgh's Marc- Andre Fleury has also returned to the crease and seems to be safe to activate .
Tampa Bay's backup Olaf Kolzig is day to day with an upper body injury . The club recalled Karri Ramo to serve as Mike Smith's backup this week .
Toronto's Vesa Toskala has a minor groin injury according to the team's official website . It's not known if he'll miss much if any time but the club did recall prospect Justin Pogge just in case they need a backup if Curtis Joseph is asked to start this week .
Forwards:
Anaheim's Teemu Selanne will miss the next 4-6 weeks with a laceration to his quad muscle suffered Friday against Edmonton . Bobby Ryan is expected to get first crack at filling his role .
Boston's Patrice Bergeron is out indefinitely after suffering another concussion Saturday evening . He spent Saturday night in the hospital and at this point the only thing that's clear is that he is reaching the dangerous area as far as concussions are concerned . Don't look for the team to rush him back and if you have him in any of your leagues it's probably wise to choose a replacement you'll be comfortable with for weeks and not just a game or two .
Marco Sturm of the Bruins returned from an upper body injury this past Thursday and in his first game back "wrenched" his right knee according to the Boston Globe . Sturm has been placed on long term IR which means he will miss at least the next 30 days .
Marek Savtos of the Avs has a back injury that has shelved him for the last 5 games . He's day to day at this time .
Columbus lost rookie Derick Brassard for the season with a severe shoulder injury suffered late last week in a fight against the Stars James Neal . He'll undergo surgery and should be fine for training camp in the fall of 09 .
Florida's Rostislav Olesz will be out indefinitely with a groin injury . According to the team's official website , he'll undergo an MRI on Monday . Don't look for him until sometime early to mid January 2009.
Minnesota's Marian Gaborik returned this week from the groin injury that shelved him from the season's first week until this point . He did have some discomfort the day after his first game back but was able to log 21 minutes in the next one . He's a safe play this week but as always activate him then cross your fingers .
Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson is day to day with an upper body injury . I'd be inclined to sit him this week unless you have no other bench options .
The Blues Paul Kariya is getting closer to a return from his hip injury according to the St Louis Post Dispatch .He's begun skating but there is no targeted date for his first game action . Hold him out this week .
San Jose's Milan Michalek is day to day with what is believed to be a lower body injury . He's a risk to have in your lineup this week .
Washington's Alex Semin is out on a day to day basis with a back injury . He's been snakebit lately with a couple of nagging injuries and I would think he'll miss more time so that when he is ready to go he won't have any more setbacks .
Defensemen;
Boston's Aaron Ward is day to day with an ankle injury but was placed on IR on Sunday according to the Boston Globe .
The Stars Sergei Zubov has elected to have hip surgery and will miss the rest of the regular season and playoffs . Get a long term replacement for him if you're in a Keeper League . In one year leagues it's safe to drop him .
The Islanders Andy Sutton broke his foot Friday against Minnesota and is out indefinitely .
Ottawa's Filip Kuba is day to day with a groin strain .
Pittsburgh's Ryan Whitney is expected back in the lineup Tuesday evening against Montreal according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette . Get ready to get him back in your lineups . He's sure to boost both the fortunes of the Penguins and his roto owners starting this week .
The Blues Eric Brewer underwent back surgery this past week and he could miss the rest of the season . It's been a tough season on the St Louis blueline this season as fellow blueliner Jay McKee broke a finger last Monday and he's out 4-6 weeks.
Vancouver's Sami Salo is out the next 4 weeks with a broken rib . Hardly a surprise that Salo got dinged again . You know the drill - get a decent long term replacement for him since he'll be gone a while before he gets a chance to return and get hurt again .
Washington's Tom Poti is day to day with a groin strain . I'd reserve him this week as this injury only happened Saturday and it's a good bet he'll miss at least some time .