Off-Season Injury News (Sep 7)

The Nashville Predators announced on Thursday that the recovery for defenseman Ryan Ellis, from off-season knee surgery, has not gone very well and he could be out of the lineup for upwards of six more months.  Ellis went for surgery shortly after the Stanley Cup Finals and it was thought that it would only need the summer for a recovery, but that doesn't appear to be the case, as the diagnosis was showing that he's out for the next 4-to-6 month, which will limit him to coming back in the New Year.

The Predators also said that they won't be pushing forward Nick Bonino in the preseason, after he suffered a broken leg in the playoffs as well.  Bonino isn't expected to play in the preseason, but there is an expectation that he will be ready for the start of the regular season.

Ellis' projections obviously will take a hit with this news, where I had him lifting up to the 40-point range, I now have him out of the conversation at 15 points, when he returns.  I can see increases on Matt Irwin and Alexei Emelin in Ellis' absence, so I would be inclined to bump them up a 5-point bracket or so.

Bonino might not have the same downward trend, but I think not playing in any preseason games may hinder his start, so I am taking his projections down a peg to 30 points.