Lots of guys getting back on the ice, but the injury bug has claimed yet another player with a long term injury. Find out who’s on the shelf and more importantly, who might benefit from these injuries, as well as who is coming back, below the crease…

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Imminent returns:

Danny Briere - C/RW - Philadelphia Flyers

Out with a lingering quadriceps injury, Briere is awaiting for doctor’s approval but it looks like he’ll be back on the ice Thursday night if he gets clearance. Rookie James Van Rymsdyk will return from a broken pinky finger as well. Thursday is a big game for Philly Goalie Ray Emery as it’s the first against his old squad, the Ottawa Senators, who released him after much on and off-ice acrimony.

Hopefully Briere can stay in the lineup, he’s missed 4 games with this quad injury and half the season last year due to groin injuries. Let him get a game under him and then activate him if he manages to get through it okay.

Ilya Kovalchuk - LW - Atlanta Thrashers

Recovering from a broken bone in his foot, Kovalchuk  left practice on Wednesday, and may play on Thursday vs. the NY Rangers , but seems sure to suit up on Friday.  Err on the side of caution and start him tonight.

Alex Ovechkin - LW - Washington Capitals
Alex is skating in practice but not taking contact, he could be back in game action in the next few days - putting the kibosh on Yahoo’s jumping the gun and misreporting what Ovechkin claims was a joke - namely that he’d miss 4 weeks. Just today Ovechkin said he’d need a few more days but he participated in all non contact drills in practice today and repeatedly took full slap shots for the first time since his shoulder strain. It seems He’ll be back by early next week, so get ready to activate him.

Evgeni Malkin - C/LW - Pittsburgh Penguins
Finally cleared for full practices,  Malkin wore the black “contact” jersey in practice on Thursday - as seen in the pic above. Malkin has missed the past two weeks with a strained shoulder, but has practiced hard two days straight. While he’s out for tonight’s tilt vs. New Jersey, he says he could return in the next game against the Bruins at home. Crosby has struggled while Malkin has been out, a return to the lineup will lead to a line shuffle for sure. Get ready to start Malkin for Saturday night no matter who he lines up with, he’s dangerous.

1-2 Weeks away:

Daniel Sedin - LW - Vancouver Canucks

Daniel has been sent home to heal his broken foot, after he flew to join the team and had participated in a few practices. Daniel was obviously not yet ready to play, still suffering from tenderness and now his target date is November 20th. Keep him reserved for another week.

Marian Hossa - LW - Chicago Blackhawks
Out since having off-season shoulder surgery, Hossa has been practicing and has finally been cleared for light contact, and was taking one on one drills. He will slowly start ramping up his contact level with the goal of returning during the 6 game road trip the Hawks head out on on the 19th. Get ready to activate him or target him for acquisition in your league.

Brooks Orpik - D- Pittsburgh Penguins
Alas- the dreaded “Lower Body: injury has struck and Orpik is the latest recipient. With Sergei Gonchar still on the shelf, losing Orpik is a small blow to the Pens blueline. Orpik blocks a lot of shots but has no fantasy value otherwise. Unless you have Mark Andre Fleury as your Goalkeeper. The thin defense corps could lead to more rubber getting through, but that could be a boost in saves, not in GAA for the Stanley Cup winner who is playing lights out this year. Both Orpik ands Gonchar (who is Skating) should both get back around the same time - just after Thanksgiving.

4-6 Weeks:

Cam Ward - G - Carolina Hurricanes

After getting skated into by Columbus Blue Jacket Rick Nash last week, Ward stayed down - which was a sign things were bad. When he was helped off the ice dragging his left leg and trailing blood - it just got worse. While the Hurricanes haven’t said much, Ward has suffered a lacerated inner thigh and he is going to miss about a month of time.

Carolina immediately signed Free agent keeper Manny Legace, who promptly lost his first game in a Hurricanes jersey, stopping just 26 of 30 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Kings Wednesday night. I still think Michael Leighton steals this gig - if only the Hurricanes give him some playing time. Right now, it’s shaky to pick up either guy, but I have Leighton in two of my leagues as a deep flier pick. Even splitting starts the next 4-5 weeks, that’s a lot of games i just acquired for nothing.

Brandon Dubinsky / Chris Drury - C - New York Rangers

Curtis Glencross of the Calgary Flames was suspended for his blindside hit that concussed Chris Drury, but from the sounds of Coach Tortorella, it seems like Drury will be gone awhile. The team even sent him home to recover rather than have him at the rink where he might be tempted to overdo it. he’s gone awhile.

Meanwhile, after blocking a shot by Jay Bouwmeester in the same game against Calgary, Brandon Dubinsky didn’t just suffer a broken hand.  Dubinsky said his hand basically exploded - as it was severely cut by the puck, giving him a compression laceration, which led to extensive bleeding before he even got back to the bench. Now casted up, he’s gone until around the end of December, which leads to all sorts of line shuffling for the Rangers without two of their Centers. Prospal will move back to Center the first line with Marion Gaborik and youngster Enver Lisin. Lisin has been on this line for two games and it seems he might stick - although he is playing with a broken bone in his left foot. Artem Anisimov takes the 2nd line center gig and could be a decent pickup as he’ll be playing with hard shooting Ales Kotalik and Chris Higgins.
More than 6 weeks a way:

Jason Williams -C/RW - Detroit Red Wings

After crashing awkwardly into the boards in last Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs, Williams will be on the shelf at least 8 weeks with a broken fibula.  Another tough loss for the Red Wings who are without Johan Franzen until at least January with a torn ACL and Valterri Filppula who is out until late December with a broken wrist. Brad Stuart takes over Williams’ spot on the Power play Point of the 2nd unit.

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Tags: blackhawks, Briere, Capitals, Carolina, chicago, Detroit, Drury, Dubinsky, Flyers, Gaborik, gonchar, hossa, injured, Injury, IR, Kovalchuk, Leighton, malkin, NHL Williams, NY Rangers, orpik, Ovechkin, penguins, pittsburgh, Red Wings, Sedin, Vancouver Canucks, Ward