The 2017 NHL preseason begins Saturday, but plenty of fantasy-relevant news has already broken with the opening of training camps this week. Here are the latest injury updates from around the League with all the fantasy implications based on what we know now.
Stay tuned for more updates to NHL.com's top 250 rankings in the coming days. For complete fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com's cheat sheet.
Fantasy: 2017 NHL training camp roundup
Injury updates to relevant players before start of preseason
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READY FOR TRAINING CAMP
Tyler Seguin, C/RW, DAL (ADP: 21.7) -- Shoulder surgery
Fantasy spin: Seguin, dual eligible in Yahoo, will be back at center this season, likely alongside elite left wing Jamie Benn. He's healthy and said he's motivated to get the Dallas Stars offense back on track under new coach Ken Hitchcock. Seguin is a safe bet for at least 70 points if healthy and brings elite totals in power-play points and shots on goal. If he falls outside the top 15 overall, take full advantage.
Steven Stamkos, C, TBL (ADP: 29.5) -- Knee surgery
Fantasy spin: Stamkos played on a line with Nikita Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov at Tampa Bay Lightning practice Friday. The two-time 50-goal scorer will have elite running mates at even strength (Kucherov) and on the first power-play unit (Victor Hedman) but comes with plenty of injury risk. That said, getting him in the third round of a fantasy draft could make him a tremendous bargain.
Kris Letang, D, PIT (ADP: 38.9) -- Neck surgery
Fantasy spin: Healthy Letang could be bargain.
Ryan Johansen, C, NSH (ADP: 105.2) -- Thigh injury
Fantasy spin: Johansen said he's 100 percent healthy entering camp, so it's astonishing to see him going outside the top 100 on average. He has 70-point potential and is a safe bet for at least 60 on the top line with Filip Forsberg. Monitor how far centers are dropping in your league, but keep in mind NHL.com has Johansen ranked ahead of centers Sean Monahan and Aleksander Barkov. Don't let him slip away.
Nolan Patrick, C, PHI (ADP: 160.6) -- Abdominal surgery, face infection
Fantasy spin: Patrick was healthy enough to play in the Philadelphia Flyers' rookie game on Thursday and was impressive at the first day of training camp Friday. He has a fantasy ceiling of more than 50 points as the potential second-line center with first-unit power-play action after Brayden Schenn was traded to the St. Louis Blues on June 23. Considering the recent success of first-year players at the NHL level, Patrick is well worth a fantasy flier anytime outside the top 150.
Joe Thornton, C, SJS (ADP: 161.2) -- Knee surgery
Fantasy spin: The 38-year-old played through a torn ACL and MCL in the Stanley Cup Playoffs but said he's 100 percent to start training camp. This is great news for the veteran center and potential draft bargain, who plays frequently with Joe Pavelski on the top line and brings exposure to top-ranked defenseman Brent Burns on the first power-play unit. He had 82 points in 82 games two seasons ago.
Robby Fabbri, C/LW, STL (ADP: 167.2) -- Torn ACL
Fantasy spin: Fabbri was on the ice Friday at St. Louis Blues training camp centering Magnus Paajarvi and Tage Thompson. The 21-year-old played mostly wing last season but certainly has sleeper potential given his strong performance in the 2016 postseason (15 points in 20 games). It would be ideal for him to gain a top-six and power-play role, but he could feasibly return fantasy value on the third line for the deep Blues offense.
David Krejci, C, BOS (ADP: 168.6) -- MCL injury
Fantasy spin: Krejci was limited by injury in the playoffs but has fully recovered and is another bounce-back candidate to target in late rounds to fill a fantasy bench spot. Krejci benefited from centering David Pastrnak down the stretch last season under coach Bruce Cassidy, so don't be surprised if that line sticks and Krejci returns to 60 points.
Kyle Okposo, RW, BUF (ADP: 169.9) -- Concussion
Fantasy spin: Okposo is back healthy after being hospitalized in intensive care late last season. He's in a great spot alongside either center Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly or Sam Reinhart and returns to the Buffalo Sabres' League-best power play. He is a two-time 60-point producer from his days with the New York Islanders and tied an NHL career high with 23 PPP last season playing 65 games.
Patrick Sharp, LW/RW, CHI (ADP: 163.8) -- Hip surgery
Fantasy spin: Sharp reported to training camp after a long recovery from hip surgery in March. He returns to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he had five 60-point seasons and two 70-point seasons in a top-six and power-play role. Injuries remain a concern for Sharp at 35 years old, but he could latch onto a line with either Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews and be well on his way to a rebound. He's going undrafted in many 12-team leagues.
Kevin Fiala, LW/RW, NSH (ADP: N/A) -- Broken femur
Fantasy spin: Fiala is a sleeper candidate who could help the Nashville Predators' secondary scoring after they lost James Neal in the NHL Expansion Draft. Nick Bonino is likely to step into Nashville's second-line center role and could be flanked by Fiala and veteran Scott Hartnell. Fiala began to break out in the postseason (two goals in the Western Conference First Round) before his season-ending injury. Now fully healthy, he's a high-upside choice in the final round of a 12-team draft.
INJURY CONCERNS
Erik Karlsson, D, OTT (ADP: 18.4) -- Foot surgery
Fantasy spin: Karlsson is still recovering from offseason surgery and has not begun skating. He has point-per-game upside when healthy, but he could need an adjustment period once he returns, especially with a new defense pair after the departure of Marc Methot. The Ottawa Senators could also start slow without him. He's worth a late second-round pick based on his potential ceiling in the scope of his position down the stretch of the season.
James Neal, LW/RW, VGK (ADP: 107.1) -- Hand injury
Fantasy spin: Neal sustained a hand injury in the postseason, and it's concerning to learn that the Vegas Golden Knights' top wing is not yet fully recovered. Play this situation by ear, but Neal is certainly not worth drafting inside the top 100 overall, especially playing for an expansion team.
Zach Parise, LW, MIN (ADP: 119.1) -- Back injury, day to day
Fantasy spin: Injury concerns continue to surround Parise, 33, who has seen his points decline in each of the past two seasons. He'll have strong linemates (likely Eric Staal and Nino Niederreiter) when healthy and is a top 25 fantasy left wing option based on his track record, but there's little reason to reach for Parise at this juncture of his career.
Ryan Kesler, C, ANA (ADP: 136.9) -- Hip surgery
Fantasy spin: Kesler injury opens door for Rakell.
Patric Hornqvist, RW, PIT (ADP: 138.1) -- Hand injury
Fantasy spin: Hornqvist, who missed the start of training camp, has added value in a hits league and finished 79th in standard Yahoo leagues last season. You can count on steady production in five of the six standard categories, and the exposure to Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Letang on the Pittsburgh Penguins' first power-play unit is always coveted by those who don't own him in fantasy.
Boone Jenner, C/LW, CBJ (ADP: 172.3) -- Middle-body injury
Fantasy spin: Jenner may not be a lock to play in the Columbus Blue Jackets' top six, but his combination of points, SOG, penalty minutes and hits makes him a fantasy-relevant option in late rounds. It's easy to lose sight that Jenner scored 30 goals two seasons ago.
Other notable injuries: Brandon Dubinsky (C, CBJ); Derick Brassard (C, OTT); Martin Hanzal (C, DAL); Sami Vatanen (D, ANA); Hampus Lindholm (D, ANA); Ryan Ellis (D, NSH); Travis Zajac (C, NJD); Jakob Chychrun (D, ARI); Andrej Sekera (D, EDM)
