With first place in the Central Division locked up, the Hurricanes will rest a few players in their season finale. With Staal resting, Drew Shore will draw back into the Hurricanes lineup.

Staal was added to the NHL’s COVID-19 list on Friday and will miss Saturday’s rematch in Detroit. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said he has “no idea” how long Staal will be out. Morgan Geekie has been recalled and will replace Staal on Saturday.

Staal has been out with a concussion since December 22nd but is set to return to the lineup on Saturday. Activating him from IR all but guarantees that he will play for the first time in the 2019 calendar year.

Staal has been sidelined by a concussion since December 22nd but says he’s feeling good and expects to play on Saturday. It remains to be seen where Staal will slot into the lineup but he will most likely serve as the Hurricanes second-line centre and force either Greg McKegg or Saku Manalanen out of the lineup and likely back to the AHL. Staal has 11 points (5G / 6A) in 29 games this season.

Staal has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury and was moved to IR to open up a roster spot for Greg McKegg to be called-up.

Staal has missed the last five games with a concussion but is set to return to the lineup Thursday vs. the Red Wings. Staal has 11 points (5G / 6A) in 27 games this season.

Staal has missed the last seven games, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Canucks. Staal will centre the Hurricanes’ top line with Joakim Nordstrom on the left side and Elias Lindholm on the right. Staal has nine points (5G / 4A) in 21 games this season.

Staal has missed the last seven games with a concussion, but head coach Bill Peters said that he will play on Tuesday as long as the doctors clear him to do so. Monitor Staal’s status during the Hurricanes’ morning skate—he has nine points (5G / 4A) in 21 games this season.

Staal has missed the last four games with a concussion and he is expected to miss the next three games because he will stay in Caroline while the team embarks on a west coast road trip.

Staal was caught by a stick in the head/neck area on Sunday and is reportedly out indefinitely after a suffering a concussion. This is a tough blow for the Hurricanes, who will be without their best two-way centre. Look for both Elias Lindholm and Victor Rask to play an increased role with Staal out. Phil Di Giuseppe was also recalled in a corresponding move.

Staal played just 2:54 before leaving Sunday’s game after taking a stick to the head and neck area. With Staal out, Victor Rask played 20:49 and Jay McClement played 15-plus minutes for the second time in 21 games. There was no post-game update on Staal’s condition, but expect an update before Tuesday’s game in New York.

Staal was rested for Wednesday’s game after feeling some pain in his fractured leg. Despite the day-off he was back on the ice at the Hurricanes morning skate today and will be in the lineup tonight. He recorded one assist in his season debut on Monday.

Staal has not played yet this season after fracturing his fibula in the preseason. He will make his season debut on a line with his brother Eric and Nathan Gerbe. He had 40 points (15G / 25A) in 82 games last season. If he can play at that pace again this season, he would be able to post close to 25 points in the remaining 47 games.

Staal, who has been skating by himself lately, will join the team tomorrow for the first time this season. He remains without a timetable for when he will return to full practice, but this is another step in the right direction for Staal.

Staal had surgery on his fractured fibula in late September. Staal is not expected to be back until later this month at the earliest, most likely early January.