Key NHL Players Sidelined as 2024-25 Season Begins

The 2024-25 NHL season has commenced, but several high-profile players are already sidelined with injuries. Vancouver Canucks‘ goaltender Thatcher Demko is among the most notable names absent from the lineup due to a knee injury sustained during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Demko’s injury occurred in Game 1 of Vancouver’s opening-round series, and it was recently announced that he will be out for three to four weeks, with a potential return in early November.

In Colorado, Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog continues his extended recovery from knee injuries. Landeskog underwent arthroscopic knee surgery after leading the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup victory in 2022. Initially, it was expected that he would miss 12 weeks of the 2022-23 season; however, he ultimately missed the entire season. Further complications led to cartilage transplant surgery, ruling him out of the entire 2023-24 season. As of now, Landeskog’s return date remains unclear.

Other notable injured players include individuals recovering from various surgeries and injuries. These include appendicitis surgery, lower-body injuries, shoulder surgeries, and serious medical conditions such as recovery from testicular cancer. Each player’s timeline for returning to the ice varies, with some expected back as soon as mid-October, while others remain uncertain.

Some players on the injured reserve list are nearing their return, such as those with projected recovery dates in October 2024. Yet, others face longer rehabilitation periods, with return expectations not set until February 2025 or even the 2025-26 season.