NHL Buzz: Murray out weeks for Avalanche with fracture

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2021-22 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

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Colorado Avalanche

Ryan Murray is out indefinitely for the Avalanche with a fracture in his arm.
The defenseman was injured Monday blocking a shot in the first period of a 3-2 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers.
"We don't have a firm timeline on it, but it'll be weeks, not days," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Tuesday.
Murray had four assists in 37 games this season.
Colorado plays the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, SNP, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).

Edmonton Oilers

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is expected to return for the Oilers against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
The forward missed his 12th game with an upper-body injury when the Oilers visited the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. He was injured Feb. 26 in a 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers.
Nugent-Hopkins scored 37 points (seven goals, 30 assists) in 45 games this season.

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Washington Capitals

Marcus Johansson began his second stint with the Capitals on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
Johansson, who was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Kraken on Monday, played his first seven NHL seasons for Washington (2010-17).
"I played with 'Kuzy' the last two years I was here and it was great," Johansson said. "I think we had a lot of chemistry and, obviously, played with 'Ovi' a lot too before that. So with those two guys, you just go out and play and do your best and work hard and I think things will come by itself."
Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said Johansson's past connection with Kuznetsov and Ovechkin contributed to the decision to play him with them Tuesday, but he wasn't ready to commit to the combination beyond that.
"It's just a starting point," Laviolette said. "They've had some history, they've played together before, and just with some guys out of the lineup and trying to get a balance throughout the lineup, it's just a starting point."
Forward Johan Larsson, who was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday, was scheduled to arrive in Washington late Tuesday afternoon. Larsson is recovering from sports hernia surgery, and Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said he will need at least a week of practice before he'll be ready to play. --Tom Gulitti

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St. Louis Blues

Nick Leddy played for the Blues against the Washington Capitals one day after he was acquired in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings.
The 31-year-old defenseman scored 16 points (one goal, 15 assists) in 55 games this season. He was traded to St. Louis with defenseman Luke Witkowski for forward Oskar Sundqvist, defenseman Jake Walman and a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
"I think you look at this team and a lot of those guys were there for the Cup run (in 2019) and winning the Cup, and the core group of guys," Leddy said Tuesday. "It's nothing that they haven't seen before, but I think just for me, just going out and playing my game and trying to add whatever I can."
Leddy was to be paired with Colton Parayko against Washington.
"Great pickup," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "A guy that's been around, got a lot of playoff experience. You're getting a good, experienced defenseman that can skate and move a puck. We're going to move him around, but we've got him with Parayko right now and got him [on the power play]. We'll go from there." -- Harvey Valentine

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Pittsburgh Penguins

Rickard Rakell made his debut for the Penguins against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The forward was not on the ice for the morning skate one day after he was acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks for forwards Zach Aston-Reese, Dominik Simon, goalie prospect Calle Clang, and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
"As far as what he will bring, I think he's a guy that can help us on both sides of the puck," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of Rakell. "He can, first and foremost, play the type of game that we're trying to play. I think he brings a lot of speed to his game. He has the ability to finish. He's a good goal-scorer. He has good offensive instincts, but he also has awareness away from the puck, which is an important aspect of winning."
Rakell scored 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) in 51 games this season.
"We think he can help us in a lot of capacities," Sullivan said. "But most importantly, we think he's a real good fit as far as the style of play that we're trying to play and some of the needs that we felt our team needed in order to become a better team." -- Wes Crosby