Injury Updates (Sep 27)

The Boston Bruins are preparing to play the Winnipeg Jets in Saskatoon tonight and in the pregame skate, centre David Krejci left due to some back spasms and may be ruled out of the game.  If Krejci cannot go, he will be listed as out day-to-day and will likely be given ample rest before the team's opening game of the regular season, Thursday night, home to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Krejci is Clayton's 3rd round pick in the draft, taken 66th overall, so he is poised to figure as a top end forward for his team this year.  It sounds like a minor problem, so no cause for concern here, just getting a mention.

Another minor injury concern for the Calgary Flames, as Sven Baertschi has been held out of practice on Friday, thanks to a lower-body knock. This is the first day he's been off the ice in training camp and it could very well be among the list of precautionary rest days throughout the league, as the regular season nears its opening.  No real cause for concern, but certainly worth mentioning.

Wyllie chose Baertschi this season, taking him in the 11th round, 245th overall, expecting some big things from the young Swiss sniper.  In the 11th round, he could very well be a bargain pick and could possibly end up being one of the better picks in the round.

A brief update to those who are injured... we have three Hurricanes on the list as injured through camp: Tuomo Ruutu, Alex Semin and Jeff Skinner. None of the three have been skating this week, not on the ice on Friday, likely getting treatment for their lower-body injuries. With their opening game on Friday next week, home to the Red Wings, they'll likely get all the rest they need to be ready to go.  They do have a week until opening night, which should be plenty of time for players who are day-to-day.

An injury we're keeping an eye on is Dustin Brown's hamstring issue. Brown has not been able to play in much of the Kings' preseason action, especially since he had only returned to practice yesterday with the team. Reports that I have seen suggest that he should be ready to go for the team's opening game, Thursday night in Minnesota.  The Kings won't likely push the issue with Brown, who would want to see him on opening night.

Brown was taken by the draft's duo, Kristy & Don, in the 7th round (165th overall).  I have Brown projected at around 55 points this year, so he'll be a strong player for their pool team, assuming he can get back into the line-up and play at 100%.

The word out of New York Rangers camp is that their captain, Ryan Callahan, has now been cleared for contact from his off-season shoulder surgery, but he has not been given the green light for the team's opening game on Thursday night in Phoenix.  Callahan will be listed as out day-to-day, which is good news for the Rangers.  It doesn't sound like he's too far away from making his return to the ice.

Callahan was Cindy's 8th round pick, 184th overall, which isn't a bad place to get him, especially if Callahan can play 75 to 80 games this year.  Last season, Callahan finished 106th in pool scoring, so he could end up being quite a good bargain.

Keeping an eye on the Washington Capitals' Brooks Laich, as he is recovering from a hip flexor injury.  A report on Friday said that he was able to skate with the team during their morning skate, but there is no plan for him to get into any more preseason action in the near future.  The Capitals will open their season on Tuesday in Chicago, which leaves little time for recovery, but knowing that he's on the ice is at least a step in the right direction.

Laich was drafted to Allan's team in the 11th round (242nd overall), taken as his sixth forward.  Allan will be looking for a bounce back year from Laich, who only had 1 goal and 4 points last season.