More Player Notes in the Draft (Sep 29)

There are a couple of updates from Columbus Blue Jackets camp, as defenseman Ryan Murray has been upgraded to practice with a no-contact jersey on, while Boone Jenner has yet to return to the ice from his general tightness injury.  Murray has been skating over the last week or so, trying to return from knee surgery, while Jenner left camp earlier last week with his injury.  Jenner was slated to return to game action on Monday night, but didn't take the morning skate and didn't figure into the line-up.  Both players are still considered day-to-day.

Both players also have another thing in common, as they were both taken in the 10th round on Saturday, Tony taking Jenner 221st and Ryan taking Murray 225th.  They are due for some big years, so hopefully they can get healthy for them.

There was a second Maple Leafs injury from Sunday night's game in Buffalo, as defenseman Cody Franson was felled awkwardly on his knee and had to leave the game. There was no immediate word on the severity of the injury, but this is definitely something to keep an eye on. Franson is one of the team's top defenseman and they will need him healthy for any such long run in the regular season into the playoffs.

Remarkably, Franson lasted until the 10th round in the draft as well, going 229th overall.  With the amount of offensive upside he has, it is somewhat surprising that he lasted as long as he did.  Oh right... pool newcomer Cam took him.  Just a note.

One note from practice on Long Island, veteran defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky left the ice, dealing with back spasms.  This does not sound too serious at the moment, but as back spasms go, they have been known to be rather tricky, especially among aged veterans, much like Visnovsky is now.  He will be listed as out day-to-day, but this might be something that could recur through the year.  Just don't be surprised when it happens.

Visnovsky belongs to our reigning champ, Allan, who took him in the 11th round, 249th overall.  If Visnovsky can stay healthy, he could be in bargain territory.

Things don't appear to be getting any easier for Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin, who is now expected to miss the whole of training camp with his undisclosed injury. This news is going to incite some panic into poolies and possibly some Penguins fans, as the regular season grows closer and closer.  He does remain day-to-day at this point and should his prognosis get worse over the coming weeks, the Penguins would have some work to do to replace that offense.

It would seem awfully unlikely that Leo would want to replace Malkin, his 1st round pick, 11th overall, but since his injury status was day-to-day, an updated injury status into something more long-term would qualify him for preseason waivers.  I don't think it would come to that, but it is worth pointing out.

In another Penguins update, defenseman Olli Maatta is nearing a return, but as of Monday morning, still had not been cleared for contact. He has reportedly been working at full speed in practice, but the team remains cautious with his injury, recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.  I think there is a full expectation that Maatta will be in the line-up on opening night.

I think Maatta turned out to be a pretty good pick for Cam in the 11th round of Saturday's draft, as it appears the pool newbie did well with his defensemen, late on.

An updated list of injuries can be found here.