Fantasy Hockey Injury Updates on Celebrini, Bedard and More, Plus Ovechkin to Retire

Hey folks. We are only a few games into the fantasy hockey season, and already some big names are dealing with injuries that could have a major impact on their seasons. Some players are facing extended absences, while others could be back sooner than expected. For fantasy managers, knowing when to hold, when to stash and when to start looking for a replacement can make all the difference.

There is also plenty of uncertainty surrounding these situations, with new updates coming almost daily. One star has already landed on long-term injured reserve, another defensemen is heading back for further testing, while two of the league's biggest young stars are dealing with very different injury situations. Let's take a look at the latest news and figure out what fantasy managers should be doing with each player. Let's dive in and go over some injuries, but first let's touch on the retirement announcement of the greatest goal scorer in NHL history!

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Alex Ovechkin Announces Retirement

Well folks, this one hurts. Ovechkin has officially announced that this will be his final season in the NHL, and it is hard to believe we are actually at this point. The Russian machine will play one final season with the Washington Capitals before calling it a career after 22 seasons, all with the same franchise. Ovechkin has already accomplished just about everything possible, including becoming the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer and bringing the Stanley Cup to Washington in 2018.

I am incredibly glad that Ovechkin was able to break Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record before his career came to an end. For years, that record felt almost impossible to touch, and watching Ovi chase it down and eventually pass Gretzky was one of the coolest things I have ever watched in hockey. There is no question in my mind that Ovi is the greatest goal scorer of all time, and that record is going to be one of the hardest accomplishments for anyone to ever surpass.

I am also really going to miss watching Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby battle it out. Those two came into the league together, became the faces of their respective franchises and spent more than two decades giving us one of the greatest rivalries hockey has ever seen. Now, with Ovechkin announcing his retirement and Crosby still going, we are officially watching the end of an era. The fact that their 22nd season with one franchise will happen at the same time makes it feel even more special. That is such a rare thing nowadays, as there is very little franchise loyalty.

This is going to hurt the Capitals when Ovi finally walks away. He isn't just a player who spent his career in Washington. He helped turn the Capitals into the franchise they are today. He became their captain, their identity and their biggest star, and eventually delivered the organization's first Stanley Cup championship. Washington is going to have a massive hole to fill when “the Great 8” is no longer skating onto the ice.

There is still one season left, though, and I am going to enjoy every second of it. We get one final year of Ovi, one final season of Ovi chasing goals and one final chance to watch one of the greatest players to ever lace up the skates. Time really does fly, and I don't think any of us are ready for the day when Ovechkin is no longer playing hockey.

Injury Updates

Aleksander Barkov - Florida Panthers

This is absolutely brutal news for the Panthers, and honestly, it is terrifying for fantasy managers who just got Barkov back into their lineups. Barkov had already missed the entire season last year after undergoing surgery to repair his right ACL and MCL, and then suffered a new lower-body injury in just his second game back. He has now been placed on long-term injured reserve and will miss at least 10 games and 24 days, but the Panthers still don't have a timeline beyond that.

The good news, if there is any, is that head coach Paul Maurice said this injury is not related to last year's knee injury. Barkov is being evaluated by doctors and the Panthers are waiting for more information before putting a timeline on his return. There have already been reports suggesting he could miss 10-to-12 weeks, but Maurice pushed back on that and made it clear that nobody knows the severity yet.

Fantasy outlook: I'm holding Barkov for now, but this is absolutely a situation I will be watching very closely. We just watched him miss an entire season because of a major knee injury, so fantasy managers have every right to be nervous about another extended absence. If we find out this is a significant injury or somehow involves another ACL or MCL issue, my recommendation could change quickly. For now, though, you don't drop a player like Barkov without knowing what you're dealing with. Keep him stashed and wait for the medical updates before making a decision.

Jake Sanderson - Ottawa Senators

This is a situation I'm keeping a close eye on, but thankfully the early news sounds better than it initially looked. Sanderson left Ottawa's season opener after only a handful of shifts and has now been sent back to Ottawa for further testing. The good news is that coach Travis Green said the injury is not as serious as the Senators originally feared, but Sanderson will miss at least the final two games of the road trip.

The other thing fantasy managers need to watch is what happens with Ottawa's powerplay while he is out. Thomas Chabot is expected to take over the top unit, and he already played more than 27 minutes in the season opener after Sanderson left. If Sanderson is only out for these two games, I don't think this changes much long term, but another setback or an extended absence would make HOTSAM BACHO very interesting as a trade target. He already has a monster start to the year, which healthy or not - hurts Sanderson's value.

Fantasy outlook: I'm holding Sanderson everywhere. The Senators have already indicated this isn't as serious as they first feared, and there is no reason to panic after one game. If you're a Chabot owner, this is obviously a nice temporary boost, but I wouldn't make a major roster move based on a two-game absence. Keep an eye on Thursday's home opener and the next round of testing. If we get good news, Sanderson goes right back into your lineup. If the timeline suddenly stretches, then we can start looking at alternatives.

Let's not forget that Sanderson has been Chabot's direct competition and replacement over the last few seasons, and head-to-head, Sanderson is still the better defensemen in fantasy leagues.

Connor Bedard - Chicago Blackhawks

This is exactly the kind of update fantasy managers wanted to see from Bedard. After undergoing shoulder surgery in July and being given a four-month recovery timeline, Bedard has now joined the Blackhawks for part of a team practice in a non-contact jersey. I am absolutely excited to see him practicing already, especially with reports suggesting that a return as early as November could be possible. He still isn't cleared for contact and the Blackhawks haven't given us a firm return date, but this is a massive step in the right direction.

The Blackhawks are obviously going to be cautious with their young superstar, especially after another shoulder injury, but there is no reason for fantasy managers to be anything but excited about this update. Chicago needs Bedsy back in the lineup, and fantasy managers need to remember just how good this kid is when he's healthy. He was by far the best draft and stash option on the board this year, and seeing him back on the ice this early is exactly what you wanted to see if you invested in him on draft day.

Fantasy outlook: This remains an absolute hold for me, and today's update makes me even more comfortable with that decision. Continue watching for progress updates and rejoice when the young phenom finally gets the green light to return. If November becomes a realistic target, fantasy managers who held Bedard through the injury could be getting one of the best players in the league back much sooner than expected. I cannot wait to see what Bedard and Patrick Kane can do together once this kid is finally back in the lineup.

Macklin Celebrini - San Jose Sharks

This is the kind of injury situation fantasy managers need to keep a very close eye on. Celebrini was a last-minute scratch against the Dallas Stars after taking part in line rushes and most of warmups, leaving the Sharks without their franchise cornerstone at the worst possible moment. It is reported that this was a lower-body injury and it was better to err on the side of caution. There is no timeline yet, and the fact that he was able to participate in warmups before being pulled from the lineup makes this one especially difficult to read right now.

What really stood out to me was watching San Jose without him. I know the Stars are an elite team and this was a tough road matchup, but the Sharks looked completely lost without their generational talent. They looked like a team without much gas in the tank, and it really showed me just how important Celebrini already is to this franchise. He had been the engine behind San Jose's 2-0 start, so this is something fantasy managers need to monitor closely as we wait for more information.

Fantasy outlook: There is nothing to do here yet other than hold Celebrini and watch for updates. There is nothing in the world that would make me move Celebrini, barring a confirmed season-ending injury in a redraft league. A late scratch this early in the season is concerning, but there is no reason to panic until we know more about the injury.

Celebrini is the cornerstone of this franchise and one of the most valuable players in fantasy hockey, so you are not dropping him because he missed one game. Keep an eye on the practice reports and injury updates heading into Thursday's game against St. Louis, and hopefully this turns out to be nothing more than an early-season precaution.