This Around the NHL has it all.
Unsurprisingly, there was another injury, while the Utah Hockey Club called up a defenceman to replace an injured defenceman. Moreover, a head coach signed an extension on Tuesday and a two-time Stanley Cup winner signed a deal in Europe.
Let’s dig in!

Robert Thomas fractured his ankle

The St. Louis Blues announced Wednesday morning that forward Robert Thomas fractured his ankle and will be re-evaluated in six weeks.
Thomas, 25, was selected 20th overall in the 2017 draft and made his debut in 2018-19, the same season the Blues won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. He had a solid 2021-22 season, scoring 20 goals and 77 points in 72 games, but took a step back in 2022-23, scoring just 18 goals and 65 points in 73 games.
Last season, he led the Blues in points with 86, while also scoring 26 goals in 32 games. So far in 2024-25, Thomas has a goal and six points in seven games as the Blues look poised to make the postseason for the first time since 2021-22. This is a big blow to the team.

Utah called up Maveric Lamoureux

Another Central Division team that has dealt with injuries this season is the Utah Hockey Club. On Wednesday morning, the team announced that Sean Durzi underwent surgery to repair an injured shoulder and will be out for 4-6 months. Moreover, John Marino underwent surgery for a back injury and will be out for 3-4 months.
In turn, the Hockey Club recalled their first-round pick in the 2022 draft, Maveric Lamoureux. Last season with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, he scored nine goals and 33 points as the team made the Memorial Cup but was out for the season due to shoulder surgery.
The 6’7” right-shot defenceman has played four games for the Hockey Club’s American Hockey League affiliate, scoring two goals and three points.

Justin Schultz signed in Switzerland

Sticking with right-shot defenceman, two-time Stanley Cup champion Justin Schultz is signing with HC Lugano in Switzerland’s National League.
Finishing his collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin in 2012, Justin Schultz signed with the Edmonton Oilers. He spent four seasons there, before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2015-16 season. The right-shot defenceman won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the team, before eventually finding his way to the Washington Capitals to begin the 2020-21 season.
After just two seasons, Schultz was selected in the expansion draft by the Seattle Kraken. Throughout his National Hockey League career, Schultz scored 71 goals and 324 points in 745 games, along with 10 goals and 42 points in 81 postseason games.
Moreover, he played with Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Alexander Ovechkin in his career. Not too shabby.

Paul Maurice signed an extension

The Florida Panthers won the first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2024, while head coach Paul Maurice won the first Stanley Cup of his career. On Tuesday, he signed a multi-year extension with the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Maurice’s playing days lasted four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, before taking an assistant coaching job with the Windsor Compuware Spitfires. Eventually, he became the head coach of the Detroit Junior Red Wings in 1993-94, helping with the OHL Finals the following season.
In 1995-96, Maurice was hired as the Hartford Whalers’ assistant coach, before being hired as their mid-season replacement. He stuck with the Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes organization until he was fired early in the 2003-04 season. In the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals, his Hurricanes lost to the Detroit Red Wings in five games.
After two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maurice returned to the Hurricanes organization, spending parts of four seasons there before being fired (again). After a brief stint in the Kontinental Hockey League, Maurice returned to coach the Winnipeg Jets from 2013-14 until 2021-22, stepping down in Dec. 2021.
Maurice nearly retired after stepping down from the Jets but returned to coaching with the Panthers to begin the 2022-23 season. For the second time in his career, he fell short of winning his first Stanley Cup as the Panthers fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals.
Thankfully, Maurice got his ring in 2024, as the Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games for the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
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