We’re just eight days away from the start of the 2024-25 National Hockey League season.
Another key player suffered an injury, while the Buffalo Sabres have named their newest captain. Moreover, the NHLPA filed a grievance on behalf of Ryan Johansen and there are two new countries that have joined the IIHF.
Let’s dig into all of that in the latest NHL Notebook!

Drew Doughty fractured his ankle

During the first period of Wednesday’s game, Drew Doughty left during the first period after crashing into the boards. It was reported on Thursday by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli that the right-shot defenceman suffered a fractured left ankle with no timeline to return.
This is a tough blow for the Kings, as Doughty is their best defenceman. Last season, he scored 15 goals, the most since the 16 he scored in his sophomore season in 2009-10, along with 50 points. He added two goals and three points in the five postseason games the Kings played in.
Hopefully, this isn’t a long-term injury and he can return at some point this season. He’ll have further imaging on Thursday.

NHLPA files contract termination grievance for Ryan Johansen

Ryan Johansen was acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers prior to the 2024 trade deadline and was placed on waivers soon after. In late August, Johansen was once again placed on waivers as the Flyers looked to terminate his contract, claiming a material breach, but the NHLPA has since filed a grievance on his behalf.
Through his 13 seasons in the league, Johansen has 202 goals and 578 points in 905 games, along with 19 goals and 54 points in 67 postseason games. Originally drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets fourth-overall in the 2010 draft, Johansen spent parts of five seasons with the Blue Jackets before being traded to the Nashville Predators during the 2015-16 season.
He spent parts of eight seasons with the Predators, but missed playing in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2017 as he suffered an injury in the Conference Final. Prior to the beginning of the 2023-24 season, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, where he scored 13 goals and 23 points in 63 games.

The Sabres named Rasmus Dahlin as their new captain

The Buffalo Sabres have named Rasmus Dahlin as their 22nd captain in team history.
Preceding him was Kyle Okposo, who was the team’s captain for two seasons before being traded to the Florida Panthers at the 2024 trade deadline. Before him, Jack Eichel served as the team captain from the 2018-19 season until the 2020-21 season.
Dahlin was selected first-overall in the 2018 draft and scored a career-high 20 goals in 81 games last season, along with 59 points. His career-high in the latter category came in 2022-23, where the left-shot defenceman scored 15 goals and 73 points in 78 games.

John Gibson undergoes appendectomy, will be out 3-6 weeks

On Thursday, it was reported by The Athletic’s Eric Stephens that Anaheim Ducks’ netminder John Gibson has undergone an emergency appendectomy and will miss 3-6 weeks.
It’s been a rough few seasons for the 31-year-old netminder in the Ducks’ rebuild. Last season, he posted an .888 save percentage and a 3.54 goals-against average in 46 games, en route to another awful season for the Ducks. The Pittsburgh-native hasn’t had a save percentage over .905 since the 2018-19 season, and his goals-against average hasn’t dipped below the 2.50 mark since the 2017-18 season.
It’s to be expected, though, as the Ducks have been one of the worst teams in the league over the past five seasons, leaving Gibson with very little help in front of him. They look to be turning a corner though, and Czech netminder Lukáš Dostál looks ready to handle more opportunities between the pipes.
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