Nathan MacKinnon is Among Fantasy Hockey Stars Out with Injuries

Today, we will discuss several star players who are out, which is a huge negative if they are pillars of your fantasy team roster during playoff finals, but at the same time a massive win for you if they are on your opponent's team. 

The end of the season is a turbulent time for teams resting their stars. If playoffs are clinched or a club is likely to make them, it is common for them to rest their stars in preparation for the postseason. If your remaining games mean nothing, there is no sense putting your impact players in danger of getting hurt, or not letting them rest lingering ailments. For NHL teams, it's playoffs that matter most, however this is the exact opposite of what we hope for as fantasy players.

It's a tricky balance for fantasy leagues. A star may carry your team into the playoffs, and at current, the finals. However, that same star is likely to be unavailable to you in the last week or matchup of your season, so it is definitely something to keep your mind on and consider.

There are lots of star players not playing right now, so let's take a look at the latest news in the NHL that will positively or negatively affect your playoff final matchup!

Nathan MacKinnon Fantasy Outlook

Arguably the best player in any fantasy league format will be out for the rest of the regular season, sitting out the final road game to close out the Avs' season. He is apparently dealing with a lingering undisclosed injury and the team has opted to rest him as they are comfortably one of the top teams in the league.

A huge blow for the team, and Avalanche player owners. MacKinnon drives the majority of the offence on the Avs, along with his physical play and powerful skating ability. A third consecutive season with over 100 points, he is not only a franchise player, but the heart and soul of the team since their captain, Gabriel Landeskog, has been out with injury and has not played a game with the Avs since their Stanley Cup win in 2022.

Landeskog did however start playing with the AHL for conditioning, and may see a playoff return this year. Keep an eye on his ability if he does for next season. If he returns to anything close to his former play, he should be on your radar.

MacKinnon has 32 goals, 84 assists, and 38 powerplay points as a forward in 79 games played. He also has 320 shots on goal, 37 hits, and 58 blocked shots.

Cale Makar Fantasy Outlook

Following the huge blow for the team and Avalanche player owners trend, Makar, the hands down best defenseman in the game is also not on the two-game road trip for the Avs.

On the bright side for keepers and dynasty leagues, this absence is not injury related and is only rest related. It is the first time this season Makar has missed any playtime, and leaves him with a career high 92-point season. He should be a lock for the Norris Trophy this year.

Regardless, Makar is still the top producing, most skilled defender in the league, and in my opinion, it's not even close. Again, this is a player who likely carried you to the finals, only to take rest when it matters for your fantasy league playoff finals! It is what it is.

Makar has 30 goals, 62 assists, and 35 powerplay points as a defenseman in 80 games played. He also has 246 shots on goal, 51 hits, and 128 blocked shots.

Alex Ovechkin Fantasy Outlook

We've had so much Ovi coverage as of late, I don't think I need to go into great detail on the now greatest goal scorer of all time.

Let's not forget that at worst, the Capitals are going to come second in the President's Trophy race, and that Ovi has been playing on a healing broken leg. He does need some rest, to be fair. But again, terrible news for Ovi owners who are in the finals of their fantasy league playoffs.

Ovechkin has 42 goals, 28 assists, and 21 powerplay points as a forward in 62 games played. He also has 227 shots on goal, 106 hits, and 12 blocked shots.

Mattias Ekholm Fantasy Outlook

Poor Ekholm. He returned from injury on Friday night against the San Jose Sharks, and only played 1:52 in the first period before exiting the game. He had previously missed seven games, before an only four-game return for that.

There are a lot of seriously red flags here, and the Oilers cannot afford to do permanent damage to one of their top defenders. Their depth continues to dwindle as we get closer to the NHL playoffs, and this injury could potentially be a serious setback to Ekholm and the Oilers.

Ekholm has nine goals, 24 assists, and seven powerplay points as a defenseman in 65 games played. He also has 143 shots on goal, 41 hits, and 95 blocked shots.

Zach Hyman Fantasy Outlook

Again, another huge blow for the Oilers as they lose their top line grinder. Hyman may have had a painfully slow start to the season, and is far from the 50-goal mark he hit last year, but he is a pivotal part of the engine that drives the forecheck and a staple on the lethal powerplay.

The severity of his injury is unknown, and could be a precautionary absence; Hyman played just over seven minutes before exiting the same game that saw Ekholm leave. The Oilers seriously cannot chance any long-term injuries right now, as their depth is critically low.

Their current list of injuries including both Ekholm and Hyman include: Evander Kane, John Klingberg, Stuart Skinner, Jake Walman, Leon Draisaitl, Trent Frederic, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. That is almost half of their entire team. Considering there is only a few games left for the Oilers, their front office must be in absolute panic mode. 

Hyman has 27 goals, 17 assists, and 12 powerplay points as a forward in 73 games played. He also has 210 shots on goal, 58 hits, and 24 blocked shots.