NHL Players Getting Big Opportunities Due to Injuries Early in 2014-15

NHL teams fix their rosters for optimum impact on opening night, hoping to get a strong start and give themselves breathing room. The race for a playoff spot by Thanksgiving weekend in the United States is a bar all teams strive for at the beginning of the season.

Injuries are the major problem for teams, and there have been a lot of them this fall. That gives rookies and minor league players a chance to step in and make a name for themselves. If they play well enough, these players might hang around for the entire season.

Here are 10 NHL players getting big opportunities because of early season injuries.

10. Chris Tierney, C, San Jose Sharks

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His Back Story: Chris Tierney is a second-round pick from 2012 by the San Jose Sharks. His arrival in the NHL should be considered ahead of schedule based on pedigree. 

Why Is He Getting The Opportunity: The Sharks began the season with several significant injuries at the forward positions. Tyler Kennedy, James Sheppard and Raffi Torres were all on the injured list, giving Tierney a chance to step in. 

Early Results: Tierney is playing well for a Sharks team in transition. He played 10 minutes in the first game, scoring an assist and earning more playing time in the following games. His emergence this early as a legitimate option bodes well moving forward, as the Sharks add youth to their aging roster.

9. Marko Dano, C, Columbus Blue Jackets

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His Back Story: Marko Dano was a first-round pick in the 2013 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. His arrival in the NHL as a teenager suggests he is ahead of the development curve at this time. 

Why Is He Getting The Opportunity: The Blue Jackets are one of the teams hit hardest by injuries during the early part of the year. Brandon Dubinsky, Nathan Horton, Boone Jenner and others began the season on the injured list. 

Early Results: Dano posted a goal and an assist in his second NHL game, and he may see an increase in his playing time as the season moves along. Dano turns 20 in November and could still be in the NHL if he keeps performing at this level.

8. Andre Burakovsky, LW, Washington Capitals

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His Back Story: Andre Burakovsky is a 2013 first-round pick by the Washington Capitals. He won't turn 20 until February, so his NHL time isn't guaranteed.

Why Is He Getting The Opportunity: The Capitals began the 2014-15 season with injuries to forwards Jay Beagle and Tom Wilson. The club also decided to run Marcus Johansson and Troy Brouwer as wingers, opening up an opportunity for Burakovsky in the middle. More details are offered by Alex Prewitt for Capitals Insider via The Washington Post.

Early Results: Burakovsky is having a very good start to his rookie season. He's impacting offensively and is one of the top rookies in the NHL. On the downside, his faceoff abilities are not NHL calibre.

7. Jesse Joensuu, RW, Edmonton Oilers

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His Back Story: Jesse Joensuu is a two-way winger who is still trying to establish himself at the NHL level. He was drafted in the second round by the New York Islanders in 2006. 

Why Is He Getting The Opportunity: The Edmonton Oilers had an opening on their checking line because Luke Gazdic is injured to start the season. Edmonton signed Joensuu in the summer of 2013 to a two-year deal. He was injured and ineffective for most of 2013-14, and the Oilers used Gazdic as a checking winger for much of the year. 

Early Results: Joensuu has been part of a very effective trio with veterans Boyd Gordon and Matt Hendricks. The line is facing difficult zone starts and doing well, and Joensuu is flourishing in the early days of the season.

6. Damon Severson, D, New Jersey Devils

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His Back Story: Damon Severson is a second-round pick from the 2012 draft who won a job with the New Jersey Devils. 

Why Is He Getting The Opportunity: The Devils' first-round pick from 2011—No. 4 overall Adam Larsson—can't crack the lineup. Injuries appear to have impacted Larsson's development. 

Early Results: Severson has been a revelation so far this season. It's unlikely he'll be taken out of the lineup any time soon based on performance. He is among the top-scoring rookie defensemen early in 2014-15.

5. Vladislav Namestnikov, C, Tampa Bay Lightning

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His Back Story: Vladislav Namestnikov was a first-round selection by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011.

Why Is He Getting The Opportunity: The Lightning had some injury troubles in camp, notably to veteran Brenden Morrow. They also had players on the bubble like Richard Panik, who was eventually lost to waivers and the Toronto Maple Leafs, per Stephen Whyno of the Canadian Press via The Hamilton Spectator. 

Early Results: In the third game of the season against the Montreal Canadiens, Namestnikov scored one goal and an assist. The Lightning are loaded up front, and Namestnikov is unlikely to win a feature role. But he's passed some good players to get where he is today. 

4. William Karlsson, C, Anaheim Ducks

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His Back Story: William Karlsson was a second-round pick by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2011 draft. He played all but nine games of his hockey career in Europe before this season. 

Why Is He Getting The Opportunity: A Los Angeles Daily News article by John Wawrow on October 13 gave details on Karlsson's arrival in the NHL. Injuries to Dany Heatley and Kyle Palmieri opened a window of opportunity for the young Swede.

Early Results: Karlsson scored two goals against the Buffalo Sabres in the second game of the season, and the Ducks may have another quality youngster who is NHL-ready. 

3. Jason Zucker, LW, Minnesota Wild

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His Back Story: Jason Zucker is a second-round selection from 2010. He has been trying to break into the lineup with the Minnesota Wild for a couple of years.

Why Is He Getting The Opportunity: The Wild have been facing injury issues this fall, including winger Justin Fontaine. Zucker was among a group vying for playing time during training camp. 

Early Results: He made the big team and scored a goal October 11. Minnesota is off to a solid start as a team, and Zucker may finally establish himself as an NHL player.

2. Stuart Percy, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

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His Back Story: Stuart Percy is a first-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2011. He is the third selection by the team from 2011 to play in the NHL. 

Why Is He Getting The Opportunity: Stephen Whyno from the Canadian Press via The Lethbridge Herald gives the details of Cody Franson's injury, which gave Percy the chance to play in the NHL on opening night.

Early Results: Percy is playing very well and has impacted the game in a big way. He is among the league's leading rookie scorers and playing well defensively. He may be in the NHL to stay.

1. Anthony Duclair, LW, New York Rangers

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His Back Story: Anthony Duclair is an emerging talent for the New York Rangers. He was selected in the third round of the 2013 draft and has arrived in the NHL in a very short period. 

Why Is He Getting The Opportunity: The Rangers had injuries to Derek Stepan and Kevin Hayes at the beginning of the season, and Duclair performed at a high level during training camp.

Early Results: The club needed to make a move in order to get Duclair on the roster, per NHL.com. Duclair is turning heads with his skill set and is among the NHL's leading rookie scorers.