The last two weeks we’ve looked at players that were either playing above their expectations or below them.  Today we will look at players that have been injured.  I know some of these players have returned and we’ll discuss whether or not they have been playing up to their usual standards.  I’m not taking a look at players that were injured before the season started.  The players I’ve decided to look at had to miss at least three weeks of action and would’ve been drafted in the top half of most fantasy leagues.

•1.       Johan Franzen, W, Detroit:  Franzen tore his ACL on Oct. 8.  He was a huge loss for both the Wings and your fantasy team as he was playing on the first line with Pavel Datsyuk, and the first power play unit with Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.  Franzen had scored 61 goals the past two seasons and had certainly looked to only be getting better.  The most devastating part about the injury is that it happened almost two months ago and at best that means he is halfway through his recuperation period, which is 4-6 months.  Best case scenario is that he will return to action shortly after the Olympics in February.  Worst case scenario is that he’s not back until late March and won’t be the player he used to be until next season.

•2.       Daniel Sedin, W, Vancouver:  Sedin broke a bone in his foot in early October and after being told he would only miss 3-4 weeks his return was delayed a week or two by continued soreness in said foot.  His brother, Henrik, certainly picked up the slack in Daniel’s absence as he became more of a goal scorer than the usual setup man he was always thought to be.  Now that the two are back playing together again, it looks like they have never been apart.

•3.       Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh:  Malkin missed about three weeks of games in November for a shoulder strain, although the Penguins never did fully explain what the exact nature of the injury was.  It didn’t seem to be something that Malkin couldn’t play through, but rather the type of injury the Penguins didn’t want to see develop into something serious.  It was early in the season and they decided they could afford to give him the time off and let him get back to 100%.  Since his return he is not producing the goals you would like to see although he has had no problems setting up his teammates.  The goal scoring should come in time.

•4.       Andrei Markov, D, Montreal:  Markov’s injury started what seems to be sort of an epidemic this season when he was cut by a teammate Carey Price’s skate and need surgery to repair the wound.  He has missed two months so far with the prognosis being that he will miss at least another month.  His loss was huge for Montreal as he was not only their power play quarterback, but their best defensemen as well.  Montreal has been able to hold serve so far in his absence as they are only two points out of a playoff spot, but one wonders if that is where they will be next month.

•5.       Cam Ward, G, Carolina:  Like Markov in Montreal, Ward was also cut by a skate, although the skate didn’t do as much damage.  He has missed about a month, but should be able to return to the ice anytime now.  That’s all fine and good but let’s not forget that he was only 2-9 with a 2.97 GAA and 89.9 SV% before the injury and the Canes have pretty much imploded since.  It’s doubtful that he will be the savior for the Carolina season.

•6.       Sergei Gonchar, D, Pittsburgh:  Gonchar missed 12 games for the Penguins with a broken wrist, but has since returned to the lineup.  The silver lining for the Penguins was that without Gonchar they learned that fellow defenseman Alex Goligoski could handle the load as he was off to a hot start before suffering a groin injury.  Gonchar is back and you certainly want him back in your lineupyour lineup as he is the defensive quarterback on what is a very powerful offense.

•7.       Ryan Smyth, W, Los Angeles:  Smyth was off to a fantastic start to the season with nine goals and 23 points before suffering an upper body injury.  Unfortunately for the Kings, Smyth’s injury seems to have killed the goal scoring of line mate Anze Kopitar as well.  Kopitar was a goal scoring machine with the veteran presence of Smyth on his line, but since his departure, he just can’t seem to find the back of the net.  Smyth has returned to practice, but not full contact, and his return seems to be at least two weeks away.

•8.       Sheldon Souray, D, Edmonton:  Souray missed 16 games with a concussion after taking a header into the boards against Calgary.  Souray has a rocket for a shot and was most missed on the power play where that shot can cause havoc for opposing goaltenders.  He has since returned to the Oilers blue line and has picked up his first two goals of the season, but still hasn’t performed quite up to expectations as of yet.

•9.       Devin Setoguchi, W, San Jose:  Setoguchi missed 12 games with a leg injury that the Sharks would never come clean about.  The worst thing about his injury for both Setoguchi and his owners is that in his absence the Sharks went with a power line of Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, and Patrick Marleau and that line was just lights out seemingly scoring goals at will.  Setoguchi has since returned to the lineup, but not as a first liner.  It remains to be seen whether or not the Sharks will continue to go with a power line or if they will eventually try and go with two balanced lines.

•10.   Mike Knuble, W, Washington:  Knuble has missed nine games so far with a broken finger and is not eligible to return from the IR for another week or so.  The worst thing about Knuble being out of the lineup is that time was lost for Knuble to gain further chemistry with Alexander Ovechkin.  This is Knuble’s first season in Washington and his draft position was predicated on him playing with Ovechkin.  The lost time certainly hurts, and if he is not placed back with Ovechkin upon his return, then it’s really painful.

•11.   Simon Gagne, W, Philadelphia:  Gagne has only played nine games so far this season and one has to be concerned about the injuries he has suffered throughout his career.  The Flyers also just fired their head coach and the team is in a little bit of turmoil after not getting off to the kind of start they wanted.  Gagne is up there in age, he’ll be 30 in February, and it’s hard to believe he will play in the remaining games this season without suffering a further setback.

•12.   Eric Staal, C, Carolina:  Before this season Staal had only missed one game in his NHL career.  Well that little stat went by the wayside when he missed ten games with an upper body injury.  Even when he has been healthy Staal only has three goals and nine points in 17 games.  Hardly worth his draft status.  You can always hope that he has takes off in the second half but the Canes are a real mess right now and that may be wishful thinking.

•13.   Ales Hemsky, W, Edmonton:  Hemsky and the Oilers were dealt a significant blow when it was announced that he would miss the remainder of the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder.  Hemsky had been bothered by the shoulder off and on for weeks and was trying to play through but ultimately there was just no way to avoid the final outcome.  It’s even worse for the Oilers as they are not loaded with skilled talent and Hemsky was their biggest playmaker.  Could be a long season in Edmonton.

•14.   Marc Savard, C, Boston:  Savard just returned this week from a broken foot and was rewarded with a seven-year contract worth an average of $4.2 million a season.  Savard is the top Center for Boston and they will welcome his return with open arms.  Boston played very well in his absence and one would think they will play only better in his return.