Ten minutes. That’s how long Detroit Red Wings left wing Jakub Vrana lasted in his first practice of the season before he suffered a shoulder injury that will sideline him for a minimum of four months. The Red Wings expected to be improved this season and Vrana projected to be the leading scorer on this rebuilding team. Instead, he will be on the NHL’s growing list of vital players who will see doctors, not scoring chances when the season starts in less than two weeks. “He’s a guy that, going into the season, we had penciled into some big roles with the opportunity to score goals for us,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “Certainly, we’d be in a better spot today as we stand if he were healthy and ready to go. But he’s not and that’s just the reality of life. Here are other top players currently out of commission: Center Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh: On Sept. 8, it was announced Sidney Crosby would be out six weeks after having surgery on his left wrist. If the prognosis is right on, he would miss four games. But already there is speculation he might try to be back for the opener. It matters when Crosby returns because the Penguins are vulnerable this season to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006. A few points could be the difference between making, or missing, the postseason. Center Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh: The Penguins announced Malkin will miss the first two months of the season because of knee surgery. Given the tough fight the Penguins will probably have for a playoff spot, this injury has the potential to do great harm to Pittsburgh’s chances. This isn’t the team anymore that has Jordan Staal or Nick Bonino ready to move up. The Penguins are still relevant, but their depth isn’t what it once was. Center Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals: Still trying to rehabilitate an injured hip, Backstrom is expected to miss the start of the season. He has the scary “indefinite… tag. Making the playoffs in the Metropolitan is a challenge, no matter who you are. Losing Backstrom for an extended period is a 6.1 magnitude on hockey’s injury Richter scale Center Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres: Out indefinitely because the Sabres want him to have the fusion surgery to correct his disc injury. He prefers a different surgical approach. The Sabres will trade him before or after the surgery. Right wing Alex Tuch, Vegas Golden Knights: Will be out until January because of a shoulder injury. He’s a critical piece in the Golden Knights’ drive to win the Pacific Division.
Center Yanni Gourde, Seattle Kraken: Had offseason shoulder surgery and will miss the first few months of the season. It's bad luck for him because the Kraken plan to expand his role this season. Goalie Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars: Despite rumors to the contrary, It’s not a foregone conclusion that Bishop will spend the season on the Long Term Injured Reserve list. Bishop has said publicly that he believes he will play this season, although he has not provided any timeline for his return The Stars certainly can’t count on his return. He didn’t play at all last season. But keep this in mind: If he could come back from this knee surgery and be the goalie he once was, this would be a major lift for the Stars. It’s easy to forget that Bishop has a career .921 save percentage and a 2.32 goals-against average. He has a .923 save percentage in the three seasons he’s played in Dallas. He’s 34, not 40. Goalie Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins: Technically, he’s an unrestricted free agent. But the expectation is that he will be fully recovered from hip surgery and be ready to play in late December or early January. The Bruins are trying to make one last run with their aging group. Without Rask, the Bruins’ goaltending is untested. They want their veteran for this final push. Defenseman Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens: Weber’s body is essentially falling apart and the Canadiens say he won’t play this season and may not play ever again. The Habs made it to the Stanley Cup Final with Weber’s help last season, and they may not make the playoffs without him.
Goaltender Carey Price: Word is Price is making progress in rehabilitating his surgically repaired knee. Still, he could miss a game or two at the start of the season.