The Carolina Hurricanes haven’t been able to catch a break this season, as injuries have plagued the roster since opening night, and it sounds like the Hurricanes may have to wait a little longer before key players can return.
After the Hurricanes practiced on Friday, two notable faces were missing once more from the crew, as Eric Robinson and Shayne Gostisbehere were unavailable. During a brief meeting with the media, Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour provided updates on their status.
Robinson, who sustained an upper-body injury against the Buffalo Sabres on January 19th, is expected to miss all six of the Hurricanes’ remaining games before the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
“He’ll be out, for sure,” Brind’Amour said when asked about Robinson. “I would anticipate at least to the break, and then hopefully back after that.”
The expected absence for Robinson seems clear, but for Shayne Gostisbehere, the timetable for his return to the lineup remains hazy. The 32-year-old defenseman has been in and out of the lineup with a groin injury since the fifth game of the season, and hasn’t played since January 13th against the St. Louis Blues.
“We were hoping he was going to be in the lineup, you know, earlier,” Brind’Amour told the media. “But obviously with an issue like that, you just, you have to let it totally, one-hundred percent heal. Because it seems to be reoccurring. So, hopefully we can figure out a way to put it behind him.”
In Better News
While Friday’s practice shed light on the injuries faced by key players, positive news was present.
Charles-Alexis Legault and Noah Philp both participated in their first practices after sustaining a hand injury and a concussion, respectively.
Legault, who was given a timetable of three to four months after having surgery to repair multiple extensor tendons in his right hand in early November, has skated for months. However, Friday marked his first official practice with the team, albeit in a yellow non-contact sweater.
Philp, who has played only part of two games with the Hurricanes since he was claimed off waivers, entered concussion protocol on January 16th. He, too, wore a yellow non-contact sweater.
