Fantasy Hockey Injury Report: Suzuki and Ullmark Out, plus Hellebuyck Update

Hey folks. We're back with another fantasy hockey injury report, and there are some important developments that fantasy managers need to keep an eye on. From a major ironman streak coming to an end in Montreal to a starting goalie landing on injured reserve in Ottawa, there are some roster decisions to think about as we head deeper into the season.

We'll also look at a star goaltender whose suspension has created plenty of uncertainty in Winnipeg, leaving fantasy managers wondering what comes next. These situations can have a major impact on fantasy rosters, whether you're trying to replace an injured player, find a short-term solution in net, or figure out what to do with a goalie whose future with his team remains up in the air.

And then there's the former Senators captain, who isn't actually injured, but might have taken a hit to the pride. We'll get into that situation too, because not every injury report needs to be completely serious, right?

Let's dive in!

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Nick Suzuki - Montreal Canadiens

This is a big blow for the struggling Canadiens, who haven't quite gotten their skates under them yet this season. Losing their captain is a major hit to the team, especially with Suzuki leading the way offensively with 12 points through his first nine games. The bigger story for fantasy managers is that his 546-game ironman streak has finally come to an end, meaning one of the most reliable players in fantasy hockey is going to miss some time. Suzuki is expected to be out for 2-4 weeks after blocking a shot with his hand against San Jose on Tuesday.

The Habs are going to need to find creative ways to generate offense without their captain, and Juraj Slafkovsky will need to step up his game during Suzuki's absence. Oliver Kapanen has already been skating in Suzuki's spot at center on the top line, giving him an opportunity to prove himself while the Canadiens try to fill the void. This is a tough stretch for a team that was already trying to find consistency, and losing its most dependable forward certainly won't make things any easier.

Fantasy outlook: Thankfully, this isn't a season-ending injury, so Suzuki is a firm hold in all formats. Missing 2-4 weeks is frustrating, especially for managers who have relied on his incredible durability, but he's far too valuable to drop. If you have an IR spot available, use it and wait for your captain to return. If you don't have an IR spot, I'd still do everything possible to keep him on the roster rather than giving away a player who can produce at a point-per-game pace.

Linus Ullmark - Ottawa Senators

This is not good news for the surging Senators, who are finally getting the start to the season they've been expecting for a few years now. Just as it looks like Ottawa is starting to put it all together, they lose their starting goalie to a lower-body injury. Ullmark had been outstanding to start the season, posting a 7-1-0 record with a 1.33 GAA and .945 save percentage before leaving Wednesday's game against Florida. This is also the second time this month he's had to leave a game early with an injury, which has to be a concern for the Senators.

With Ullmark now on IR, Samuel Ersson is likely to get the majority of the starts while he's out, with Jonas Johansson recalled to provide additional depth. Ersson hasn't exactly inspired confidence with his early-season performances, so this could be a difficult stretch for Ottawa if Ullmark is out for an extended period. 

The good news is that the team is playing well in front of its goalies, which should give Ersson a chance to pick up some wins even if his numbers aren't great. The bad news is William Eklund and captain Thomas Chabot are also on IR, leaving a depleted roster.

Fantasy outlook: Ullmark is an obvious hold in all formats if you have an IR spot available. He was playing some of the best hockey of his career to start the season, and you don't want to give up on that kind of upside because of an injury. If you're looking for a replacement, Ersson is worth a temporary add in deeper leagues, especially if you need goalie starts, but temper your expectations until we know more about Ullmark's timeline and see how Ersson handles the increased workload.

Brady Tkachuk - Florida Panthers

Tkachuk is expected to miss zero time with a bruised ego after getting absolutely destroyed by the Ottawa crowd in his return to Canada's capital city. The Sens played a tribute video highlighting his time with the team and all the charity work he did in the community, only for the crowd to boo through the entire thing. It's one thing to get booed when you're on the ice, but getting booed while people are trying to show everyone what a great guy you are has to sting a little.

What made it even funnier was watching Lars Eller get a standing ovation for his return to Ottawa after playing just one season with the Senators. Tkachuk spent eight seasons there and captained the team for five, but apparently that wasn't enough to earn him a warm welcome. Some of my favourite chants of the night were "you can't read" and "you eat crayons." Absolutely hilarious. The crowd had plenty more where those came from, and the whole thing made for one of the more entertaining nights of the season.

Other notable chants at Tkachuk included: “We don't need you!” “Matthew's better!,” and “You betrayed us!"

Fantasy outlook: Thankfully, Tkachuk's ego should recover in time for his next game, so fantasy managers don't need to worry about putting him on IR. He did score a powerplay goal in the game, so at least he gave his fantasy managers something to celebrate while the Ottawa fans were busy giving him the business. Keep him in your lineup, but maybe avoid telling your friends that you have him rostered, though

Connor Hellebuyck - Winnipeg Jets

The Hellebuyck saga is approaching another major turning point, with his suspension set to end on Friday, October 23. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner requested a trade in the offseason and missed training camp, leading the Jets to suspend him, but now they're running out of time to figure out what comes next.

Winnipeg head coach Scott Arniel has admitted that everyone is waiting to see how things play out, with a trade, a return to the team, or even Hellebuyck being paid to stay home all still possibilities. Personally, I still think a trade is going to happen, but I wouldn't be surprised if Hellebuyck ends up being benched if he remains in Winnipeg.

What's particularly interesting is that the Jets have managed to keep winning without their superstar goalie, and Stuart Skinner has played particularly well in his absence. Winnipeg's winning record gives the team little reason to rush Hellebuyck back into the crease if the situation remains unresolved.

There are also reports that multiple teams are interested in acquiring him, but his full no-movement clause means he has a say in where he ends up. It's a messy situation, and even though Hellebuyck is one of the best goalies in the world, his fantasy value is temporarily tied to a situation that nobody seems to have a clear answer for.

Fantasy outlook: This is a frustrating situation for Hellebuyck owners because Friday's suspension ending doesn't necessarily mean he's going to start playing hockey again. Depending on how your fantasy platform handles his status, he could lose his IR eligibility without actually getting into the lineup, leaving you with a very expensive roster spot that isn't producing anything.

I'm still holding him in all formats because I believe a trade will eventually happen, and if he lands somewhere new, he should be the starter wherever he goes. However, keep a close eye on the news and make sure you have another goalie you can rely on in the meantime, because Skinner's strong play and the Jets' winning record could make this situation drag on longer than anyone would like.