NHL Status Report: Sanderson could return for Senators next week

Laba, Vaakanainen week to week for Rangers; Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek still out for Wild

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:34pm

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The latest NHL injury news and lineup updates, including Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson potentially returning in 7-10 days, New York Rangers forwards Noah Laba and Urho Vaakanainen being week-to-week, and Minnesota Wild stars Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek remaining out with lower-body injuries.

Why it matters

Injuries to key players can significantly impact a team's performance and playoff positioning as the NHL season winds down. These updates provide insight into the health status of several top players and how their absences may affect their respective teams moving forward.

The details

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson could return in 7-10 days after missing the past seven games with an upper-body injury. New York Rangers forwards Noah Laba and Urho Vaakanainen are each week-to-week with upper-body injuries, while goalie Jonathan Quick is day-to-day. Minnesota Wild stars Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek remain out with lower-body injuries, though Kaprizov participated in the morning skate. Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is nearing a return from a seven-game absence, while San Jose Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli is being evaluated for a lower-body injury and may miss an upcoming road trip.

  • Sanderson has missed the past seven games with an upper-body injury he sustained on March 7.
  • Laba and Vaakanainen were each injured in a March 22 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
  • Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek missed the Wild's March 25 game against the Dallas Stars.
  • Larkin has missed seven straight games for the Red Wings.
  • Toffoli left during the first period of the Sharks' March 23 game against the Sabres.

The players

Jake Sanderson

A defenseman for the Ottawa Senators who has 48 points (11 goals, 37 assists) in 62 games this season and leads the team in average time on ice per game.

Noah Laba

A forward for the New York Rangers who is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Urho Vaakanainen

A defenseman for the New York Rangers who is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Kirill Kaprizov

A forward for the Minnesota Wild who leads the team with 80 points (38 goals, 42 assists) in 69 games this season.

Joel Eriksson Ek

A forward for the Minnesota Wild who ranks fourth on the team with 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 62 games.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

These injury updates highlight the importance of player health and depth as teams jockey for playoff positioning in the final stretch of the NHL regular season. Maintaining a healthy roster can be the difference between making or missing the postseason.