Because there were so many injuries to key players early in the season, and the big names continue to fall, the beginning of December is a good time to look back, and forward, at when some of the top players in the Western Conference could return.
Central Division
Chicago:
Dave Bolland – had back surgery on November 10. Is expected to return in 12-16 weeks. ETA: post-Olympics?
Adam Burish – torn ACL in late September should cost him approximately six months. ETA: playoffs at best, likely 2010-11
Detroit:
Niklas Kronwall – sprained MCL on November 21 is expected to cost him two weeks. ETA: Dec. 7
Jason Williams – broke a fibula in early November and is expected to miss eight weeks. ETA: Christmas
Valterri Filppula – broken right wrist at the end of October expected to keep him out six to eight weeks. ETA: mid- to late-December
Johan Franzen – had surgery to repair torn ACL on October 16, beginning a six month recovery. ETA: maybe playoffs, more likely 2010-11
Columbus:
Rostislav Klesla – doctors discovered a torn groin and torn stomach muscle on Dec. 2, which could keep him out more than six weeks. ETA: at least mid-January
Nashville:
none
St. Louis:
DJ King – could have pins removed from his hand this week. ETA: soon?
Eric Brewer – lower body injury. ETA: this weekend?
Northwest Division
Calgary:
none
Colorado:
David Jones - tore his left ACL in late November, which should cost him roughly six months. ETA: playoffs at best, likely 2010-11.
Vancouver:
Pavol Demitra – has been recovering from summer shoulder surgery, and doesn’t have a firm timetable for return. ETA: after Christmas.
Edmonton:
Nikolai Khabibulin – is listed as day-to-day with back issues. He has missed a few games because of the injury. No ETA, but injury could be an ongoing concern.
Ales Hemsky – suffered a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. ETA: 2010-11.
Mike Comrie – diagnosed with mono on Nov. 16. ETA: TBD
Minnesota:
Martin Havlat – was retroactively put on the disabled list last week because of hamstring issues. Hopes to play Dec. 2.
Brent Burns – hasn’t played since Nov. 18 because of a concussion. ETA: TBD
Petr Sykora – hasn’t played since Nov. 7 because of a concussion. ETA: TBD
Pierre-Marc Bouchard – has only played in one game because of concussion-like symptoms. ETA: TBD
Pacific Division
San Jose:
Jody Shelley – hasn’t played since Nov. 7 because of “general soreness” and was placed on the disabled list on Nov. 30. ETA: TBD
Los Angeles:
Rob Scuderi – hasn’t played since Nov. 14 because of a lower body injury. ETA: soon? Did not play Dec. 1.
Ryan Smyth - has been out since Nov. 16 with an upper body injury, but has been cleared to skate with the team. ETA: soon.
Phoenix:
Peter Mueller - left Friday’s game with an injury and did not play Sunday. Status is still being determined.
Vernon Fiddler - left Friday’s game with an injury and did not play Sunday. Status is still being determined.
Ed Jovanovski - left Friday’s game with an injury and did not play Sunday. Status is still being determined.
Kurt Sauer – hasn’t played since the season opener because of head issues. ETA: TBD.
Dallas:
none
Anaheim:
Joffrey Lupul – was placed on the disabled list retroactively after missing five games with back spasms. ETA: TBD.
Kyle Calder – took a puck to the eye Nov. 28 and is expected to miss between two and four weeks. ETA: Christmas.
Ryan Carter – hasn’t played since Nov. 11 because of a foot injury. He’s expected to miss at least two more week. ETA: late-December.
