Predators place Nick Cousins, Filip Forsberg on IR with upper-body injuries

The Nashville Predators placed two forwards on injured reserve, giving the designation to both Nick Cousins and Filip Forsberg. The team recalled Michael McCarron and Mathieu Olivier in their place. Both Cousins and Forsberg are listed as week-to-week with upper-body injuries.

Forsberg was injured earlier this month, but the team hadn’t moved him to injured reserve until now. His placement there will likely be retroactive to his last game played, which was back on Nov. 2. Given he only has to miss seven days minimum, it means he will be able to come off IR whenever he is fully recovered. The Predators could use him, but Forsberg also doesn’t want to miss a good chunk of the season given he’s scheduled for unrestricted free agency at the end of the year. This platform year is likely the most important of his career — at least financially — as he’s still just 27 and could be looking at a huge contract on the open market.

Cousins meanwhile played in the team’s most recent game but managed just over seven minutes of ice time. The 28-year-old forward has been a versatile player throughout his career but has just one goal and three points through his first 12 games for Nashville this season. Two of those are even on the power play, meaning he’s been almost invisible at even-strength through the first month.

Predators fans likely won’t be too happy about the recalls given the histories of McCarron and Olivier. Neither one has shown any sort of offensive production, even struggling to score at the minor league level. In 75 NHL games, McCarron has just two goals and eight points, while Olivier has just three and six in 38 career contests. Cody Glass, one of the team’s top prospects and offseason acquisitions, remains in the minor leagues.