It’s been a rough day for injuries.
Shortly after the Florida Panthers announced that Aaron Ekblad had been placed on long-term injured reserve, the Washington Capitals said forward Connor Brown will also be out long term.
No timetable has been given for Brown at this time. The exact nature of the injury is unclear, but the Capitals said surgery is an option.
Brown left Monday’s bout against Vancouver early after going down awkwardly in a hit by Noah Juulsen.
Brown, 28, was traded to the Washington Capitals over the summer after potting 10 goals and 39 points with the Ottawa Senators in 64 games last year. Brown failed to record a point in four games with the Capitals prior to the injury.
The news is yet another blow after Evgeny Kuznetsov was given a one-game suspension for high-sticking Canucks defenseman Kyle Burroughs in the face.
Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson and Carl Hagelin are all out indefinitely as well, resulting in the Capitals having to get creative to make up for the key absences. Connor McMichael and Joe Snively have been with the team as extra skaters, and the club called up Beck Malenstyn from the AHL’s Hershey Bears. With Kuznetsov out on Thursday, at least two of them should draw in against Ottawa.
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