NHL Status Report: Toews out of Avalanche lineup with upper-body injury

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

Colorado Avalanche

Devon Toews did not play for the Avalanche in their 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday because of an upper-body injury. The defenseman was not on the ice for warmups. He left early in the third period of a 5-3 win at the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday after sliding into the boards while being defended by Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers, and returned with 3:10 left to play. Toews on Wednesday was named to Team Canada's roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 in February.

Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog left Sunday’s game after sustaining what coach Jared Bednar called an upper-body injury in the second period. With the score tied 1-1, Landeskog was driving to the net when he lost his footing and crashed into the cage before going into the boards. Landeskog was helped off the ice.

“He’s going to miss some time,” Bednar said of Landeskog. “He’s still getting looked at and diagnosed, but he didn’t look comfortable. He’s going to miss some time, for sure. … I hate to see any player, let alone our captain, go in like that. But it’s a fast game, and he got tripped up a little bit. There wasn’t much there except for the collision with the post.”

Bednar said Toews is “going to miss some time, too,’’ but said he would remain with the team and continue on to Tampa although he will not play. Bednar said a timeline for a return will be better known when the team gets back to Colorado.

Florida Panthers

Seth Jones will be evaluated Monday for an upper-body injury sustained in the first period of a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot park in Miami on Friday, coach Paul Maurice said. The defenseman is day to day. … Defenseman Tobias Bjornfot was recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League. … Forward Matthew Tkachuk continues to practice in a yellow noncontact jersey.

Washington Capitals

Tom Wilson was being further evaluated Sunday for a lower-body injury the forward sustained during a 3-2 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. The Capitals expect to know more about the timeline for his recovery Monday. Neither Wilson nor forward Aliaksei Protas, who did not play Saturday because of a lower-body injury, practiced Sunday. Coach Spencer Carbery was unsure whether the Capitals will need to call up a forward for their game against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday (7 p.m. ET; Victory+, MNMT, KCOP-13). If Wilson and Protas are unable to play, Washington would have only 11 healthy forwards available. "I'll talk to (general manager) Chris (Patrick) later today about that," Carbery said. "'Willy's' being further evaluated, so we'll have an update on him not today. Protas (is) day to day, so we'll see where he's at. But I don't know the answer to that, yet."

Columbus Blue Jackets

Brendan Smith was placed on injured reserve Friday, retroactive to Dec. 29, with a lower-body injury and is week to week. The forward was injured that day in a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. He has two assists in 15 games this season. … Miles Wood was placed on injured reserve Thursday and is week to week with a lower-body injury. The forward was injured on his third shift of the game in a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.

New York Islanders

Bo Horvat missed a 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday because of a lower-body injury. The forward was injured in the third period of a 7-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Thursday when he got tangled with Mammoth defenseman Sean Durzi Durzi. Horvat, who was named to Team Canada for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, leads the Islanders with 21 goals and 33 points in 36 games this season. He skated on his own Saturday morning, but there's no timetable for when he will be back in the lineup, coach Patrick Roy said. … Ilya Sorokin was on the ice Friday for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury on Dec. 19. The goalie is 12-10-2 with a 2.55 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 24 games this season and backed up David Rittich against the Maple Leafs.

Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard skated again on Friday, and Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said on Sunday that he expects the center to return before the break for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. “I anticipate [having] Connor back before the break,” Blashill said prior to the Blackhawks' 3-2 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. Bedard resumed skating on Dec. 29 for the first time since he sustained his upper-body injury 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. Bedard, who was clutching his right shoulder as he headed toward the locker room, has 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 31 games this season.