As we approach the middle of November, there are seven significant long-term in the National Hockey League to report. Let’s see who are the players on the shelf.
Noel Acciari
The Pittsburgh Penguins centre from Johnston, Rhode Island suffered an upper body injury on November 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and is expected to be out two more weeks. It is believed the injury happened when he was the recipient of a body-check in his two shifts (one minute and 10 seconds of ice time). Acciari has three assists for three points in 13 games. Acciari has made significant improvements this season defensively. He is a +3 after being a -25 last season.
Justin Brazeau
Another Penguins forward, Justin Brazeau of New Liskeard, Ontario, is out three more weeks with an upper body injury he suffered on October 30 against the Minnesota Wild. It was an excellent start to the season for Brazeau as he was averaging a point per game (six goals and six assists for 12 points in 12 games). Brazeau’s finest performance came on October 21 when he had one goal and two assists for three points in a 5-1 Penguins win over the Vancouver Canucks.
Thatcher Demko
The Vancouver Canucks number one goaltender from San Diego, California is out two to three weeks from a lower body injury suffered on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. Expect Kevin Lankanen to get the bulk of the starts while Demko is out. This season has a record of five wins and four losses with a goals against average of 2.80 and a save percentage of .903.
Pierre-Luc Dubois
The Washington Capitals left winger from Ste-Agathe-Des-Monts, Quebec is out three to four months after having surgery on his abdominal and adductor muscles. He has not played since Halloween when the Capitals lost 3-1 to the New York Islanders. After having a great 2024-25 season in the American capital city, where he had a career-high 66 points in 82 games, Dubois does not have a single point in six games this season. Dubois played the first three games with the Capitals in October, before missing five straight games. Dubois then returned for the last three games for the Capitals in October before it was determined that surgery was needed.
Jonah Gadjovich
The Florida Panthers left winger from Whitby, Ontario will be out three months after suffering an upper-body injury against the Vegas Golden Knights on October 25. Like Acciari, Gadjovich had three assists for three points this season.
Tristan Jarry
The Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender from Surrey, British Columbia will be out another two weeks from a lower body injury he suffered in the Penguins’s loss to Toronto last week. Jarry has been excellent this season. He has a record of five wins and two losses with a goals against average of 2.60 and a save percentage of .911 with one shutout. The shutout came in a 3-0 Penguins win over the San Jose Sharks on October 18.
Zachary L’Heureux
The Nashville Predators left winger from Montreal, Quebec will be out four to six weeks with a lower body injury. He suffered the injury during practice. L’Heureux had 15 points in 62 games for the Predators last season. He had six points in seven games for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League before being called up to Nashville on November 4.
