Welcome to another edition of the Fantasy Hockey Injury Report. The season is now in full swing, and so are the injuries. You can’t avoid them, but we can get a head start and plan around them. The injury report will be out every week to help you plan the rest of your fantasy hockey week. Let’s take a look at which key players are dealing with injuries. 

Petr Mrazek - Carolina Hurricanes - Goalie

Injury: concussion, day-to-day.

The Hurricanes had an opportunity to add a goalie before the trade deadline, but they decided to go with what they had in the AHL to keep their playoff chances alive. Losing two goalies in one game is never good, and in Mrazek’s case, there is no timetable as to when he might be able to return. Concussions are always tricky, and for fantasy owners, this puts them in a very tough spot. We should get an update on his condition in the next few days.

Oliver Bjorkstrand - Columbus Blue Jackets - Winger

Injury: ankle, eight-to-ten weeks.

What a season it has been for the Columbus Bluejackets. The latest player to go down due to injury is Oliver Bjorkstrand, and it doesn’t look like he will be back before the end of the season. He suffered an ankle injury that is expected to keep him out of the lineup for eight-to-ten weeks. Fantasy owners are now stuck having to drop him and look for someone to add off the waiver wire. It’s hard to replace that kind of talent, but there are some options available. Despite all the injuries, Columbus is still in the hunt to make the playoffs. What a miracle that would be if they actually made it.

Elvis Merzlikins - Columbus Blue Jackets - goalie

Injury: undisclosed, day-to-day.

Sticking with the Blue Jackets, goalie Elvis Merzlikins is out of the lineup due to an undisclosed injury and there is no timetable for his return. He took a knee to the head in his last game against the Senators and did not return. The team isn’t calling it a concussion, but that looks like that is what he may be dealing with. Since taking over for Korpisalo, the 25-year-old has been amazing. He was able to keep his team in the hurt for the playoffs, and now it will be up to Korpisalo to get them there. In 32 games this season, Merzlikins has a 2.39 GAA and a .922 SV%. You won’t be able to replace that production, and even if he comes back from injury, he will go back to being the backup. It’s a shame that the magic has to come to an end like this.

Kailer Yamamoto - Edmonton Oilers - Winger

Injury: ankle, week-to-week.

I’ve talked about Yamamoto numerous times in the waiver wire report as a player to add in fantasy hockey, and now it looks like he may be done for the season. The 21-year-old is dealing with an ankle injury and it isn’t a day-to-day injury. He is expected to miss multiple weeks, and we don’t know if the injury is serious enough to keep him out of the lineup for the remainder of the season. He was playing on a line with McDavid and was producing like you would expect, but that has all come to a crashing halt. At this point in the season, there’s no need to hang on to him. Tyler Ennis is a nice option to consider if you need to replace him. 

Steven Stamkos - Tampa Bay Lightning - Center

Injury: lower-body, day-to-day.

Steven Stamkos is out of the lineup due to a mystery and we have no idea when he might be able to return. He didn’t play in the third period against the Maple Leafs, and after the game, head coach Jon Cooper said that his captain was dealing with the same injury as last time. We don’t know what that injury is, but Stamkos did say that it was something that he was going to need to manage for the rest of the season. That isn’t something fantasy owners want to hear. Not knowing what the injury is, or how serious it might be, definitely makes things much more difficult for fantasy owners to deal with. It could be something that affects his play for the rest of the season, but not enough for the team to shut him down. Let’s hope he can return to the lineup soon and continue to be productive.