In this first edition of a weekly article, we’ll break down the notable injuries around the NHL and what their applicable fantasy implications will be. Some suggest making a roster change, others might be a streamer grab, some are folks you want to hang tight on. For the lowdown on the laid-low, follow us below the crease…

Thomas Vanek – LW – Buffalo Sabres

UPDATE: 10.14.09 : 9:30 PM I know we covered this earlier today but new news says Vanek could return earlier than the predicted “few weeks” prognosis Buffalo Coach Lindy Ruff uttered last night.  Is it possible he’ll be back this weekend?  Seems so, but there is no reason to rush Vanek back so early in the campaign.  He’ll probably miss a few tilts unless he’s only got some bruises. Our previous advice still stands.

OUT AWHILE:

Johan Franzen – C/RW – Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings had high hopes for Johan Franzen this year, but barely into the first season of an 11-year, $43M contract4 months, Franzen will be lost to the Wings for 4 months with a torn left ACL.  Having lost Jiri Hudler to the KHL and Mikael Samuelsson to Vancouver in the off-season, Detroit was hoping Franzen would continue to develop and replace those lost points. Now, they’ll have to look elsewhere. Franzen, like Andrei Markov, will be back around the Olympic break. If you have an IR slot, stash him there until February. If not, drop him outright.

Look to Valtteri Filppula to step it up in Franzen’s absence and have a break out year, as he’ll be a fixture on the 2^nd line with Zetterburg – when Z’s not moonlighting on the top line with Pavel Datsyuk. Other Red Wings will benefit as well, most notably Jason Williams who is already playing the point on the 1^st PP unit. I’ve already snagged Filppula in some of my leagues, and he and Williams are available in almost 90% of public leagues right now.

Andrei Markov – D – Montreal Canadiens

As we covered earlier this week, Markov’s loss leaves an offensive hole in Montreal’s defense corps. The Canadiens bought in free agent Marc-Andre Bergeron to help fill the void. Like we said on our radio show NHL-Breakdown two weeks ago, there is no replacing Markov, but Bergeron will get a shot on the PP. Again, snag Spacek but I’d only add Bergeron to my watch list for now.

OUT 4-6 WEEKS:

Sami Salo – D – Vancouver Canucks

Surprise! Sami Salo is hurt again. Okay, Okay, it’s no surprise. Like the swallows of Capistrano, Salo gets injured almost every season it seems and this year, he just got started earlier. TSN reports that Salo will be out for 4-6 weeks with a sprained MCL in his right knee. Big Surprise, eh?

Since November of 2006, Salo has Injured a knee, had nerve damage in his shoulder, re-injured his knee, pulled a few groins, fractured his wrist, broke his nose (courtesy of a slapshot from teammate Alex Edler), a bruised shoulder, a broken rib and finally – a torn gluteus muscle – which at the time was his 37^th career injury. Having missed an entire season of 83 games over the past 4 seasons, this was inevitable.

The Canucks thought so too which is why they went out and got Christian Erhoff in the offseason. Look for Erhoff’s value to rise a smidge and for Mathieu Schneider (see below) jump right into the mix upon his return.

Kari Lehtonen, - G – Atlanta Thrashers

I admit it - I drank the Kool-Aid. I believed the Thrashers when they said Lehtonen’s back surgery wouldn’t set him back. I ate it up when Lehtonen said he’d be in camp just a few weeks prior. I defended him while his back recovery seems to have gone into slow motion.

Fact is, He never made it to camp, still isn’t on the ice 2 weeks into the season and likely won’t play until Nov 25^th – Thanksgiving in the States. Ondrej Pavelec is playing decently (2-1, 3.01GAA and a .913 SV%) and is still available in 75% of all leagues. Snag him if you drafted Lehtonen and you’ll have both possibilities on a stronger Thrashers team than we’ve seen in years.

Eric Cole – LW – Carolina Hurricanes

Not much has changed since we covered Cole’s injury last week and his 4-6 week diagnosis remains. Tuomo Ruutu is skating alongside Eric Staal and – in a surprise, Sergei Samsonov on a revamped top line in Cole’s absence. Ruutu has already scored a goal and an assist in this new setup and Samsonov has an assist in each of the last two games. Keep an eye on both players as their value will skyrocket if this combo sticks.

Daniel Sedin – LW - Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks are incredibly unlucky this year and have another injury to add to the growing group of players in the infirmary. As we reported earlier this week, Daniel Sedin’s bruised heel is an actual break and he will be sidelined the next 4-6 weeks, but he aims to return sooner.  Steve Bernier takes his spot on the top line and Burrows has already capitalized on his newfound 1^st unit PP time, scoring a goal on Sunday evening.

Sheldon Souray – D – Edmonton Oilers

After suffering a concussion after a questionable play by Jarome Iginla last Thursday vs. Calgary (that left Edmonton Oilers Coach Pat Quinn writing up a $10,000 check to the league for his incindiery comments about it), Souray is still sidelined. He did not travel with the team on their road trip and has yet to skate since the incident.  Denis Grebeshkov seems to have benefited from the extra playing time the most, tallying a goal and 2 assists since Souray went down. Snag Grebeshkov - he’s available in 80% of all leagues and tallied 39 points last year for the Oil.

OUT 2 - 4 WEEKS:

Joe Pavelski - C - San Jose Sharks

So far, our advice concerning Joe Pavelski has been dead on since we posted it last Tuesday. Out after undergoing foot surgery Pavelski is expected to miss at least 2 weeks, possibly 4. So far, Marleau and Clowe have remained on the 2^nd line while talented rookie Benn Ferreiro has slid to the third line. Jamie McGinn takes the LW slot on line 2 now, allowing Clowe to play the off wing Right Side where he started the year. Marleau has put up two goals and an assist since Pavelski’s exit, making him an attractive trade target and valuable two-position player at Center and Left Wing.

Rick DiPietrro – G - New York Islanders

Crazy, but true – DiPietro could be as little as a few weeks away from playing. After working out with trainers for the past few weeks, DiPietro saw shots in a nice 45+ Minute session with other walking wounded and coaches from the Islanders. While a 47 minute practice session is a LONG way from starting in an NHL game, DiPietro is obviously on the road to recovery.

I expect the Isles to take their time with Rick, especially considering his injury history. Add in the fact that the Islanders have two capable goaltenders in Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron and you have a perfect storm for patience. I expect DiPietro to work his way back by Thanksgiving in the U.S. (Nov 25^th) and split time with Roloson the rest of the season. If this happens, expect Biron to get dealt late this year, or early in the New Year.

Blair Betts – LW – PHI

Signed by the Flyers after an excellent pre-season tryout, Betts dislocated his right shoulder, and was scheduled to miss 4-6 Weeks. Well, apparently it wasn’t a severe dislocation as the Phlyers reported that Betts is ahead of schedule and may return sooner, possibly by next Thursday the 22^nd.

Betts is a major shorthanded asset, but outside of that, he’s a 4^th liner on a talented team. Drop him in all but the deepest of leagues – there are far better returns on the waiver wire no matter your stat cats.

Mathieu Schneider – D – Vancouver Canucks

Off-Season Shoulder Surgery, but he’s Ready to return. Been skating regularly but is stuck on IR until Oct 25^th, vs. Edmonton after fulfilling the mandatory 10 game, 24 day absence required by the Long Term IR list he was placed on. Skating twice a day, Schneider believes he is ready to return. If he’s floating on your waiver wire, snag him and enjoy the points he’ll put up on a blue line looking for some veteran leadership in Sami Salo’s absence

Patrick Elias – LW – New Jersey Devils

Elias has also been skating twice daily to return from off-season groin surgery and it seems the feisty winger is getting closer to returning. In fact, Devil’s GM Lou Lamoriello told the Newark Star Ledger Tuesday “He’s skating every day and skating more intensively.” It sounds like Elias is just a few weeks away and could be game ready by November 1^st.  Now is a good time to explore acquiring the thirty-goal scorer via trade.

1 TO 2 WEEKS:

Mike Modano, C, DAL,

After having been declared fracture free after an MRI, Modano did apparently have a cracked rib after a re-examination. Modano had left with Dallas on their three game road trip but has been off the ice until this morning. He’s still 3 or 4 days away from playing, so keep Modano benched for now. Rib injuries flare upon contact in a game that is full of it, so another week until returning to game action seems more likely.

Vesa Toskala – G- Toronto Maple Leafs

Barely holding onto the starting gig in Toronto (despite the Coach’s protestations), Toskala has held off Rookie Jonas Gustafsson by virtue of the kid’s injury only (see below). Well, Tosk’s luck may have run out. Vesa injured his knee vs. the Rangers Monday evening and is now sidelined. An MRI late Wednesday revealed Toskala has just a bruised knee, but he will miss at least 10 days. The bell may be tolling for Toskala as Gustafsson is close to returning. If you own Toskala, you should obtain Gustafsson. I smell a platoon situation coming on.

Johan Gustavsson – G – Toronto Maple Leafs

Highly heralded, Jonas Gustavsson was pursued and signed by the Leaf as in the off-season after a whirlwind tour a la Fabian Brunnstrom two years back. Unlike Brunnstrom, Gustavsson might be ready to step into the role of everyday starter. Out with a groin strain, “The Monster” is expected to start skating tomorrow. With Toskala expected to miss 10 days, Johan will have just a few games to stake his claim to the starter’s gig. He’s available in 75% of all public leagues.

Tags: Atlanta, betts, Canucks, Carolina, Cole, Dallas, Detroit, Devils, DiPietro, Edmonton, Elias, Franzen, Gustavsson, Injury, IR, Islanders, Knee, Lehtonen, Long Term, Maple Leafs, Markov, Modano, Montreal, New jersey, New York, Oilers, pavelski, Philadelphia, Salo, San Josem, Schneider, Sedin, shoulder, Souray, Stars, Toronto, Toskala, Vancouver, Vanek