Mathew Barzal May Miss the Islanders’ Opener; Teams Report Injuries and Uncertainty

Mathew Barzal may not be available for the New York Islanders’ first game of the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 30, as he is not part of camp practices and is expected to stay off the ice for about two weeks after the aggravation of an injury that causes him inflammation. The club says he still has a chance for opening night, but his presence is not guaranteed, as he is being managed with the player’s long-term health in mind. Barzal led the Islanders last season with 72 points and has been one of the team’s key players since being drafted in 2015.

According to NHL, there are other significant developments: Max Domi did not pass the medical examination in Toronto and will be out indefinitely after undergoing surgery in the summer for a previously treated issue; Alexander Nikishin has not yet renewed his contract and was not present on the first day of Carolina Hurricanes practices; defenseman Chris Tanev declared himself fully ready to play after core muscle surgery; Cale Makar is following a lighter program before the start of camp due to a lower-body issue; while Kaiden Guhle is expected to miss 4-5 weeks after a minor adductor muscle procedure.

It is also reported that Yanni Gourde will stay out until December after hip surgery, while Dominic James has broken his hand and is expected to miss the start of the season. On the other hand, several teams are managing the recovery of other players: Ottawa Senators’ Artem Zub and Warren Foegele were not on the ice at camp opening but are expected to return within one or two weeks; Tyler Seguin is trying contact after recovering from an ACL injury and the staff will assess when he will be ready for games; in Buffalo, Jason Zucker may miss the start of the season due to a sports hernia, while Louis Crevier, acquired from Chicago, could be ready for the opening game.

The roundup of these changes and assessments was compiled by NHL.