The Carolina Hurricanes have received a positive update on the injury front. Defenseman Jalen Chatfield should return to the lineup on the team’s upcoming three-game road trip, per a team announcement. Chatfield has missed the last six games after taking an illegal check to the head from Minnesota Wild forward Tyler Pitlick on November 6th. Pitlick received a match penalty for the hit but did not receive any discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety. Chatfield went through concussion protocol and landed on injured reserve.
Chatfield will be a helpful addition as Carolina continues to face an injury to impact defender Jaccob Slavin. Chatfield has stepped into a second-pair role and averaged the third-most ice time on the blue line this season, usually receiving nearly 20 minutes a game. He has three assists, 10 hits, and 14 blocked shots in 13 games. He’s taken another step forward after a standout year last season, when he scored 18 points and posted 64 blocks and hits in 79 games.
Carolina’s right side will be getting a much-needed veteran boost when Chatfield returns. Their right side currently consists of Sean Walker alongside depth vet Mike Reilly and call-up Joel Nystrom. With Nystrom playing reasonably well through his first 13 NHL games, particularly defensively, it could be Reilly heading for the press box.