The Vegas Golden Knights will be without several key players as they head into the final stretch before the Winter Olympics break. General manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed that six players currently sidelined due to injuries are not expected to return before the NHL pauses for the Olympics in early February.
Among the injured are centers Brett Howden, William Karlsson, and Colton Sissons, goaltender Carter Hart, defenseman Brayden McNabb, and winger Brandon Saad. None of these players will participate in the Knights’ remaining nine games leading up to the break. Howden has been placed on injured reserve, while Karlsson has not played since leaving a game against Anaheim on November 8 due to a lower body injury. There are conflicting reports about his potential return for the remainder of the season, but he has not yet been placed on long-term injured reserve.
Injury issues ramped up for the Knights when Hart exited a match against Columbus on January 8 due to a non-contact injury, which has left him without a clear timetable for recovery. Despite these setbacks, the Knights have some good news in the net with the return of Adin Hill, who will help stabilize the goaltending situation.
McNabb’s status is particularly noteworthy; his impressive ironman streak of 298 consecutive games ended after a collision during a game against Nashville on December 31. Saad has been out since January 8, while Sissons last played on January 14, creating a significant void in the team’s fourth line.
The Knights have also faced complications with defenseman Rasmus Andersson, whose immigration paperwork is still being processed, preventing him from joining the team for their upcoming game against the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
As the Vegas Golden Knights navigate this challenging period, they will rely on their remaining roster to step up in the absence of these injured players. The team’s performance in the upcoming games will be critical as they seek to maintain their competitive edge before the Olympic break.
