Tim Connolly (Buffalo): The Sabres are used to winning when Tim Connolly is in the lineup. Problem is that TimCo has not been the lineup for more than 56 regular games of the last 3 seasons. He has had an impressive 48 points (10 goals, 38 assists) over than span. All that might change as Connolly is expected to suit up Friday night for his first game since November 14. The problems have been varied for Connolly who most recent trip to the IR was triggered by a rib injury.
Brent Sopel (Chicago): Chicago signed Sopel to an contract extension last season yet from the day the deal was inked Sopel has been hit with a variety of injuries. Sopel's most recent is the delightfully descriptive "upper-body injury". There is no real timetable for Sopel's return to the Blackhawk's blueline.
Raffi Torres (Columbus): Winger Torres is Lloyd's of London's worst nightmare - a walking injury waiting to happen. An injury last season cost Torres 50 games of the season while his recent arthroscopic knee surgery will cost him supposedly 2-4 weeks yet that time frame has come and gone as Torres was placed on IR on December 2. Torres is not yet ready to return to play and the mystery is when and if he will every really be ready to compete without some nagging injury haunting him.
Marc-Andre Bergeron (Minnesota): The saddest FI injury of the year so far has to be defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron who was leading the Wild blueliners in scoring. Bergeron suffered an "upper-body injury" in early December and has been on the IR since December 12. No details have arisen about the true nature of MAB's injury nor has an expected return date been announced yet.
Ruslan Fedotenko(Pittsburgh):Penguins' winger Fedotenko broke his hand in a one punch knockout of Atlanta Thrashers' forward Colby Armstrong only 2 minutes in to a January 6 game. Fedo will miss 4 to 6 weeks and has been placed on the IR retroactive to January 7.
Eric Brewer (St. Louis): The Blues' captain and d-man Eric Brewer has had a relatively healthy career until his recent herniated disk required surgery. St. Louis, currently without its leader, will spend what is most likely the rest of the season without Brewer's presence in the locker room. Brewer had surgery on December 17 and was placed of the IR retroactive to December 13.
Jamie Heward (Tampa Bay): To be brutally honest Jamie Heward's absence on the Lightning blueline will not really affect any outcomes considering the d-man has only suited up for 13 games so far this season but Heward is probably missing the ice. Heward was slammed head first in to the boards by Washington Capitals' superstar Alex Ovechkin in a game on New Year's Day. Considering the severity of the injury there is not expected return date and Heward was placed on IR as of January 2.
Roberto Luongo (Vancouver): Possibly the most notable injury in the league right now is the absence of Canucks' goaltender Roberto Luongo who suffered a groin injury during a November 22 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rumor has it that Luongo is almost ready to make a return, possibly in time for him to get a few starts in before the All-Star Game to which he has been tapped as a reserve goalie. Luongo was having a good start to the season before the injured sidelined him on IR since November 23.
Taylor Pyatt (Vancouver): The Canucks have a second injured FI in the form of winger Pyatt who broke his foot during a December 26 game. Pyatt is out "at least four weeks" and was placed on the IR on December 27. To make things worse it appears that T-Py played the whole game possibly compounding the injury with extra shifts.
Tom Poti (Washington): Capitals' d-man Tom Poti suffered a groin strain in late December landing him on the IR on December 23. The absence of Poti leaves a gaping whole on the Caps' blueline that is currently being filled by rookie Karl Alzner. There is no time table for a Poti return yet.
John Erskine (Washington): Another Caps' d-man also has his own injury woes. Erskine suffered a concussion during a November 24 game and was immediately placed on the IR list. There is no expected return date yet for Erskine who has never played more than 51 games on any given season.Check here soon for more news and updates at FIW.
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