NHL Status Report: Walker out at least 8 weeks for Blues with upper-body injury

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.

St. Louis Blues

Nathan Walker (upper body) was placed on injured reserve and be out at least eight weeks, the Blues announced on Tuesday. The forward played 12:21 in a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. Walker has nine points in 25 games this season. St. Louis is also without Jimmy Snuggerud for at least six weeks. The forward was scheduled to have surgery on his left wrist on Tuesday. Snuggerud, who is also on injured reserve, has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 26 games.

Colorado Avalanche

Valeri Nichushkin returned for the Avalanche against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday after the forward missed eight games with a lower-body injury. It was Nichushkin’s first game since Nov. 11, when he had an assist in 12:57 of ice time in a 4-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks. Nichushkin has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 17 games this season for Colorado, which went 7-0-1 without him.

Vegas Golden Knights

Carter Hart will make his Golden Knights debut against the Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SNO, SNE). The goalie, who signed a two-year, $4 million contract ($2 million AAV) with Vegas on Oct. 15, practiced with the team Monday after playing three games for Henderson of the AHL (1-2-0, 3.07 goals-against average, .839 save percentage). Hart became eligible to return to an NHL game on Monday, with his most recent NHL appearance having taken place on Jan. 20, 2024, as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. He was one of the five members of Canada’s 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship team acquitted of sexual assault charges following a trial this summer. “I think for me, preparation is everything,” Hart said after practice Monday. “I’ve worked my [butt] off to get back to this point. … I’ve done everything I can to be prepared, and I’ll be prepared if I get the call tomorrow.”

Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak (undisclosed) did not travel with the Bruins and missed his third straight game for them against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Pastrnak did not practice in Boston on Monday before the team departed for Detroit. “It’s still day to day,” coach Marco Sturm said. “We were hoping he could skate by now, but he didn’t. So, that’s why. We’ll see how it is the next few days, but he will not travel.” Pastrnak played 18:35 in Boston’s 3-1 win at the New York Islanders on Nov. 26. He leads the Bruins with 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 25 games. … Forward Viktor Arvidsson (lower body) was activated from injured reserve on Tuesday and returned after missing seven games.

Chicago Blackhawks

Laurent Brossoit (lower body) was activated from injured non-roster by the Blackhawks on Tuesday and loaned to Rockford of the American Hockey League on a conditioning assignment. The goalie had offseason hip surgery, his third procedure since signing a two-year, $6.6 million contract ($3.3 million average annual value) with Chicago on July 1, 2024, and has not played since Game 4 of the 2024 Western Conference First Round for the Winnipeg Jets, when he replaced Connor Hellebuyck at the start of the third period of a 5-1 loss at the Colorado Avalanche on April 28.

Dallas Stars

Lian Bichsel (lower body) will need surgery and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks, Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said before their game at the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Bichsel, a defenseman, was injured in the second period of a 6-1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. He has three points (one goal, two assists) in 26 games while averging 15:49 of ice time.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Brandon Carlo (lower body) is not with the Maple Leafs and may need surgery, coach Craig Berube said on Tuesday prior to their game at the Florida Panthers. The defenseman last played on Nov. 13, a 4-3 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Carlo, who played 19:44, has two assists in 18 games. “He has to get something done," Berube said. "[His recovery] didn't go the way we thought."

New York Islanders

Jean-Gabriel Pageau practiced in a noncontact jersey for the first time since the center sustained an upper-body injury against the Blues on Nov. 22. He continues to be out week to week. "I'm progressing every day and I feel better every day," Pageau said after the Islanders' morning skate prior to their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. "So, hopefully it keeps going this way and I'll be back sooner rather than later." Pageau has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 22 games this season.

Los Angeles Kings

Samuel Helenius signed a two-year, $1.75 million contract with the Kings on Tuesday. The deal has an average annual value of $875,000. Helenius, a forward, could have become a restricted free agent after this season. The 23-year-old does not have a point in three games for Los Angeles (12-6-7), which hosts the Washington Capitals on Tuesday (10:30 p.m. ET; FDSNW, MNMT). ... Warren Foegele skated in a noncontact jersey Tuesday for the first time since the forward sustained an upper-body injury on Nov. 24. He will miss his third straight game.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Boone Jenner is "close" to returning from an upper-body injury, according to coach Dean Evason, but the Blue Jackets captain missed his 10th straight game on Monday, a 5-3 win at the New Jersey Devils. Jenner, a forward, hasn't played since Nov. 11. He has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 16 games this season. Columbus hosts Detroit on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+).

San Jose Sharks

Vincent Desharnais (upper body) is week to week, Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Tuesday. The defenseman has been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Nov. 26. ... Michael Misa and Jeff Skinner have not been ruled out to play against the Capitals on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; MNMT, NBCSCA, SN1). Misa has not played since Nov. 1. He has three points (one goal, two assists) in seven games after being selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Skinner has been out since Nov. 13. He has seven points (four goals, three assists) in 17 games.