NHL Status Report: Bedard returns to ice for Blackhawks, still no timeline for return

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

Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard skated for the first time on Monday since sustaining an upper-body injury, but there is still no timeline for the Blackhawks center’s return. Bedard was injured with one second left in the third period of a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 12 while taking a face-off. Blues center Brayden Schenn went in for a stick lift and knocked into Bedard, who fell backward to the ice. He was clutching his right shoulder as he headed toward the locker room. “It’s a good sign, but the timeline’s probably still going to be the timeline, and we’ll work through it,” said Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill, who expects to have a better idea when Bedard is reevaluated in January. On Monday, Bedard skated and stickhandled the puck but did not take any shots. He has 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 31 games this season. … Frank Nazar, who sustained a facial injury when he was hit by a puck during a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 20, hasn’t resumed skating but has started to eat solid food again, Blashill said. The forward has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 33 games for Chicago, which hosts the New York Islanders on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; CHSN, MSGSN, NHLN). ... Forward Dominic Toninato was reassigned to Rockford of the American Hockey League on Monday.

Utah Mammoth

Karel Vejmelka was placed on injured reserve by the Mammoth on Monday with an upper-body injury retroactive to Dec. 23, the same day the goalie was a late scratch for a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Vejmelka is 16-10-2 with a 2.70 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in 29 games this season. Goalie Matt Villalta was recalled from Tucson of the AHL and is expected to back up Vitek Vanecek against the Nashville Predators on Monday (9 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, Utah16).

St. Louis Blues

Pius Suter (ankle) will be reevaluated in four weeks after he was injured during a 3-2 win against the Predators on Saturday. The forward has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) on 37 games this season, his first with the Blues. "Just his steady influence of being in position," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said on what the team will miss. "Penalty kill, he's excellent at. Defensively, as a low center or wing, he's always in the right spot. He had a high ankle sprain and defensively he went out there, it says a lot about him and his pain tolerance and he still made a great defensive play, chipped the puck out but barely could skate to the bench to get a change. We're going to miss him."

Buffalo Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin returned for the Sabres against the Blues on Monday. The defenseman and Buffalo captain had been in Sweden during the holiday break to be with his fiancee, who is recovering from a heart transplant. Dahlin has 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) in 33 games while averaging a team-high 24:09 of ice time per game. The Sabres (19-14-4) have won eight in a row.

Vancouver Canucks

Jake DeBrusk will be a healthy scratch against the Seattle Kraken on Monday (10 p.m. ET; KHN/Prime, KONG, SNP) for the first time since the forward signed a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the Canucks on July 1, 2024. DeBrusk has 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 37 games this season. He has one goal in his past 16 games. “It [stinks]; it’s embarrassing,” DeBrusk said after practice Sunday. “Anytime you miss a game, it’s embarrassing. I’d be wrong if I said I wasn’t [ticked] off right now, but I understand. I need a jolt, obviously. I haven’t been good enough.” DeBrusk had 48 points (28 goals, 20 assists) in 82 games for Vancouver last season.

Ottawa Senators

Linus Ullmark has taken a leave of absence from the Senators for personal reasons, general manager Steve Staios announced Sunday. The 32-year-old goalie has played 28 games this season and is 14-8-5 with a 2.95 GAA and an .881 save percentage. "Linus has the full support of our organization during this time," Staios said. "Out of respect to Linus, we will not be making any further comments." Ottawa recalled goalie Hunter Shepard from Belleville of the AHL ahead of their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.

Montreal Canadiens

Jake Evans will be out 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury, the Canadiens announced Saturday. The forward was injured in a collision with Justin Brazeau in the first period of a 4-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 20. Evans has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 34 games for Montreal.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak could each return during a three-game road trip that begins at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. McDonagh has been out since Dec. 22 with an undisclosed injury. Cernak, who was on the ice for the morning skate prior to a 4-2 win against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, has been out since Nov. 22 because of an undisclosed injury.