When Vegas Golden Knights forward Erik Haula was stretchered off the ice in last week’s meeting with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it was widely feared that the 27-year-old Finn would be out of action for a substantial amount of time.
And now we may have gotten that confirmation.
The Golden Knights placed Haula on their injured reserve list Tuesday, which you can view on the team’s website. It is still unknown exactly how long Haula could be out of the lineup, but his placement on IR certainly isn’t a good sign.
Golden Knights assistant coach Mike Kelly was unable to give an update on Haula’s injury after Monday’s practice, but did suggest details of the injury would be clarified Wednesday.
However, TSN’s Bob McKenzie provided a tidbit Tuesday that isn’t exactly encouraging for Haula’s immediate condition.
By the sounds of it, Erik Haula’s injury is complicated/complex and VGK won’t know full extent of his absence until second and third medical opinions, which he is in process of getting. More likely to be month-to-month than week-to-week but nothing known for sure at this moment.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) November 13, 2018
Haula is coming off the best season of his career, posting 29 goals and 55 points in Vegas’ inaugural campaign. After a slow start to his 2018-19 season, Haula began getting hot in the six games prior to his injury, averaging a point in each of those contests.
With Haula on injured reserve, center Cody Eakin figures to continue filling in on the second line alongside wingers Max Pacioretty and Alex Tuch until the return of Paul Stastny, who suffered a lower-body injury against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 8.
UPDATE: Knights head coach Gerard Gallant confirmed Wednesday that Haula is month-to-month. It’ll be a while before we see him on the ice again, folks.