Fantasy Hockey Injury Report: Marchand, Jarvis, Celebrini, and More

Hey folks. We are back with another fantasy hockey injury report, and there is plenty to cover as the NHL season continues to take shape. Some teams are already dealing with significant injuries to key players, while others are getting encouraging signs that reinforcements could be on the way.

This time around, we have a veteran star expected to miss several weeks, a young forward who suffered a scary injury, and a key fantasy contributor making progress toward his season debut. We also have quick updates on two players who have yet to return to the lineup, leaving fantasy managers waiting for more news before making their next move.

As always, the goal is to separate the situations worth worrying about from the ones where patience could pay off. Let's dive in and take a peek at the latest updates and figure out what they mean for your fantasy hockey roster. 

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Brad Marchand - Florida Panthers

This is another massive blow for the Florida Panthers, who have already lost Aleksander Barkov to a significant lower-body injury. Marchand was only playing in his second game of the season after missing time following offseason surgery, and now he is dealing with another lower-body injury.

The good news is that the early word from Pierre LeBrun is that Marchand is expected to miss weeks rather than months, which is a huge relief considering how serious the injury looked when he was helped off the ice against the Los Angeles Kings. That said, we are still waiting to hear some results from an MRI to officially determine the damage and timeline for return. Florida is already without its captain, and losing another key veteran is going to make things much tougher for a team that relies on Marchand for both production and physicality.

Marchand is still a major part of this Panthers team, and his absence leaves a noticeable hole in the lineup. He brings more than just scoring, providing the kind of hits, grit and overall intensity that fantasy managers love in formats that reward peripheral stats. Even at 38 years old, Marchand has shown that he can still produce at a high level when healthy, and playing on a talented Florida team gives him plenty of opportunities to contribute offensively. The concern, of course, is that he has now suffered another setback after already dealing with an injury last season and undergoing surgery this offseason.

Fantasy outlook: I'm holding onto “The Rat” if I have the roster space. He still offers elite peripherals and the ability to produce offensively on a very good team, making him valuable in a variety of fantasy formats. The week-to-week designation is certainly frustrating, especially after he had just returned to the lineup, but the early reports suggest this isn't a season-ending situation. If you have an injured reserve spot available, that's an ideal place to stash him. Otherwise, I'd try to be patient rather than dropping a player who can still make a difference once he gets healthy.

William Eklund - Ottawa Senators

This is some really unfortunate news for the Senators, especially after what was a scary scene against the Philadelphia Flyers. Eklund suffered a lower-body injury and had to be helped off the ice without putting weight on his left leg. It was painful to watch, and anytime a player has to leave the ice like that, you have to worry about how serious the injury might be. There is still no clear timeline for his return, so fantasy managers will have to wait for more information before knowing how much time he could miss.

Ottawa brought Eklund in from San Jose this offseason to help fill the offensive hole left by Brady Tkachuk's absence, and losing another forward is a big blow to this roster. Eklund was still getting settled into his new surroundings, and the hope was that a fresh start with the Senators would help him take another step offensively. He has the talent to become a productive top-six forward, and it would be unfortunate if this injury derailed his chance to get comfortable and build some chemistry with his new teammates.

Fantasy outlook: I'm holding Eklund for now. I want to see him hit his stride in Ottawa before even considering dropping him, especially after the Senators invested in bringing him over to help their offense. Obviously, the severity of this injury will matter, and a lengthy absence could change the conversation, but I'm not ready to give up on him after such a short time with his new team. Keep him stashed if you have the roster space, monitor the updates and give him a chance to show what he can do once he's healthy.

Seth Jarvis - Carolina Hurricanes

This is exactly the kind of update I was hoping to see from Jarvis! The Carolina Hurricanes star took a major step forward in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, participating in Thursday's morning skate in a regular jersey for the first time after previously wearing a non-contact jersey. Jarvis underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in June and was initially expected to miss 4-6 months, but he now appears to be progressing faster than anticipated.

He won't play Thursday against Vancouver, but getting cleared to take contact is a massive step toward his return. Jarvis himself called it the “biggest step I've had so far,” while head coach Rod Brind'Amour said, “He's feeling good, so just keep moving along.”

Jarvis is going to be a huge addition to an already stacked Carolina team. He led the Hurricanes with 32 goals last season and is a key piece of their top line and top powerplay unit. I'm excited to see what this offense can do with him back in the mix, especially after Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov have already started finding their rhythm without him.

One thing I'm particularly curious about is how his return will impact Jackson Blake, who has been tearing it up early in the season. Blake has been taking advantage of the available opportunities, but getting a star like Jarvis back will inevitably change the team's lineup deployment. It will be interesting to see whether Blake can maintain his current role and production once Carolina is closer to full strength.

Fantasy outlook: Jarvis was my easy favorite IR stash to start the season, and this update has me even more excited about holding him. The original recovery timeline suggested we might have to wait until later in the fall, but he could be back on the ice sooner than expected.

I'm keeping him stashed everywhere I can, because a healthy Jarvis brings elite goal scoring and powerplay production to an already dangerous offense. Don't drop him now just because you've had to wait a little longer for his return. Keep watching the practice reports, and if he's available on your waiver wire, I'd be looking to grab him before he makes his season debut.

Macklin Celebrini - San Jose Sharks

Celebrini will miss his second straight game Thursday against the St. Louis Blues after being ruled out with a lower-body injury. He had initially been considered a game-time decision, but after not taking part in warmups, the Sharks decided to keep their superstar out of the lineup.

The good news is that Celebrini has been considered day-to-day, and his next opportunity to return will come Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. Hopefully, this is just a minor setback and we see him back in action soon. 

Fantasy outlook: There is absolutely nothing to do here except hold Celebrini and wait for him to get healthy. He is the cornerstone of the Sharks and one of the most valuable players in fantasy hockey. I wouldn't even consider moving him unless we received significantly more concerning news, particularly in a redraft league. Keep him stashed, watch for updates ahead of Saturday and hopefully we see the young phenom back on the ice soon.

Jake Sanderson - Ottawa Senators

Unfortunately, Sanderson will miss his third straight game Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, but there are some encouraging signs that he could be getting closer to a return. The Senators' top blue liner skated on his own before Thursday's morning skate, although he has yet to rejoin the full team session.

Ottawa hasn't provided a firm timeline, but the early indication is that he avoided the worst-case scenario after leaving the season opener with a lower-body injury.

Fantasy outlook: I'm holding Sanderson everywhere. He is a major piece of Ottawa's defense and a valuable fantasy contributor, so I'm not going to panic over a short absence when he is already showing signs of progress. Thomas Chabot has benefited from the extra responsibility in his absence, but Sanderson remains the player I want on my roster long term. Keep monitoring the updates and get ready to put him back into your lineup once he's cleared to return.