Fantasy Hockey Injury Updates: Will Smith, Brandon Hagel, Brandon Montour and More

Hey folks. Today, we're back with another fantasy hockey injury update, and this one spans the league, from young guns to veteran defensemen. 

There is also a potential Olympic appearance that is now very much up in the air. Let's dive right into this next round of injury updates, and the fantasy impact these players have for your league.

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Will Smith - San Jose Sharks

Smith has quickly established himself as the number two dynamo in San Jose's lineup, becoming an integral part of the Sharks' success this season. Stapled to franchise cornerstone Macklin Celebrini, Smith has benefited from consistent deployment in a top line role, and top unit powerplay usage.

From a fantasy perspective, that attachment alone has elevated Smith's floor. His chemistry with Celebrini has translated into reliable point production, strong peripheral involvement for a young forward, and the kind of role security managers crave when investing in a developing player on a rebuilding team. When the Sharks generate offense, Smith is almost always involved.

Smith was placed on IR, with an undisclosed injury but may be back before Christmas, that's the good news. The bad news is how any missed time could disrupt that momentum. Even a short absence would force San Jose to shuffle its top-six, potentially breaking up one of the team's most productive combinations.

Fantasy managers should monitor his status closely – if Smith is active, he remains a viable lineup option thanks to role and usage alone, but any extended absence would ripple through the Sharks' forward group and lower the ceiling of those around him.

Smith has 12 goals, 17 assists, and eight powerplay points in 33 games played as a forward. He also has 80 shots on goal, seven hits, and seven blocked shots.

Brandon Hagel - Tampa Bay Lightning

Hagel is dealing with a lower-body injury, creating immediate questions for a Lightning lineup that's already had its share of production challenges this season. His offense has been productive, stepping up on a team that's been hampered at times by injuries and uneven scoring. Losing him now is a setback just as defenseman Victor Hedman returned from absence, only to find himself sidelined again.

For fantasy managers, Hagel's absence could create ripples across Tampa Bay's secondary scoring, and any missed time would reduce opportunities for top-six forwards already playing significant minutes. If he's out for more than a short stint, managers will need to look elsewhere for stable production while keeping an eye on his potential return. So far, no timeline has been given by the organization, so we'll keep an eye on this and report back with any significant absence news.

Hagel has 18 goals, 13 assists, and four powerplay points in 32 games as a forward. He also has 95 shots on goal, 25 hits, and 18 blocked shots.

Brandon Montour - Seattle Kraken

Montour sustained an undisclosed injury during a third period scrum against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. No update or timeline has been provided by the team, and he remains out for now.

Offensively, Montour has struggled of late, recording just three shots on goal over his last three games – a notable drop from his hot start to the season. As a high-impact defenseman, his absence creates a significant void for fantasy managers. Replacing his production, particularly in the long term, will be a challenge, given his combination of ice time, powerplay usage, and peripheral stats that few Kraken blueliners can match.

Montour has six goals, 10 assists, and four powerplay points in 27 games as a defenseman. He also has 68 shots on goal, 34 hits, 35 blocked shots.

Connor Bedard - Chicago Blackhawks

We have some further updates on the Blackhawks' franchise player, who has taken the NHL by storm this year by proving all the doubters wrong. Bedard has sustained a shoulder injury and will be out for at least the rest of 2025. His absence not only sidelines Chicago's top offensive centerpiece but now also casts serious doubt over his spot in the Olympics – if he isn't back healthy in time, he could miss the opportunity to represent Team Canada on the international stage.

From a fantasy perspective, this is a huge blow. Bedard drives shot volume, powerplay production, and overall offensive tempo, meaning his absence severely limits the ceiling for teammates and reduces Chicago's overall scoring output. While other forwards may temporarily see an uptick in ice time, the broader fantasy environment in Chicago takes a major hit without the franchise player leading the way.

Managers should monitor his status closely, but any time missed forces a pivot to alternative options. Once Bedard returns, he's expected to resume a heavy usage role immediately, but until then, fantasy lineups must adjust to the void left by one of the league's premier young talents.

Bedard has 19 goals, 25 assists, and 13 powerplay points in 31 games played as a forward. He also has 103 shots on goal, nine hits, and 15 blocked shots.

Shea Theodore - Vegas Golden Knights

Theodore is dealing with an upper-body injury and is currently considered day to day, with updates still pending from the team. He's had a strong season offensively, but has noticeably reduced his physical play, recording just one hit so far. 

While he's still sacrificing his body to block shots, this combination of limited physicality and ongoing injury history is something fantasy managers need to weigh carefully. Theodore has never played a full NHL season.

For managers who own him, even short-term absences could disrupt powerplay pairing and top-four defensive deployment, limiting points and peripheral stats. When active, he remains a valuable asset, but prudence is required given his day-to-day status and history of missed time. Monitoring his updates closely is critical for fantasy lineups, particularly in leagues that value blocks and shots from the backend.

Theodore has four goals, 16 assists, and four powerplay points in 31 games played as a defenseman. He also has 74 shots on goal, one hit, and 48 blocked shots.