The 10 Biggest Injury Risks in the 2015-16 NHL Season

NHL teams use the summer to target additions and refine their rosters to be optimum. During this period, teams tend to project all players into ideal spots in the lineup, and fans hope all of the impact and role players will be in their positions for 82 games.

History tells us much of the success or failure for many teams will have to do with injuries to impact players. As much as these men can change the result when they're at their peak, losing them can have devastating consequences.

Here are the 10 biggest injury risks for the 2015-16 season.

10. Andrej Sekera, D, Edmonton Oilers

Kathy Kmonicek/Associated Press

How Important Is He? Andrej Sekera is a veteran defenseman with a wide range of skills. The Edmonton Oilers signed him to anchor a defense that is riddled with coverage and experience issues. 

How Often Is He Injured? Various maladies have caused him to miss 28 games over the last three seasons.

What's the Backup Plan? Edmonton has no legitimate options to replace Sekera. Mark Fayne is the only other certain veteran, and the youngsters—despite promise—aren't close to being able to take on the major chores expected of him.

9. Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay Lightning

John Raoux/Associated Press

How Important Is He? Steven Stamkos is one of the most brilliant goal scorers of his generation. He's a big part of the Tampa Bay Lightning and their Stanley Cup chances. 

How Often Is He Injured? Stamkos has suffered only one major injury in his NHL career, a broken right tibia that cost him 45 games in 2013-14. 

What's the Backup Plan? The Lightning are inside the window of opportunity to win the Stanley Cup, and Stamkos' offense is vital. Tampa Bay has some exceptional skill but no one with the natural scoring ability of its captain.

8. Francois Beauchemin, D, Colorado Avalanche

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

How Important Is He? The Colorado Avalanche signed Francois Beauchemin in the offseason to provide the team with a top defender and mentor for a young group of defensemen. He's going to play a lot and in important situations. 

How Often Is He Injured? Beauchemin missed 13 games last season with a broken finger and was out 10 games in 2013-14. At 35, his injury history is growing, and that's normal for an older defenseman. 

What's the Backup Plan? Colorado has a severe shortage of top-end defensemen and a large group of players trying to find their way at the position. Losing Beauchemin or Erik Johnson for any length of time could be disastrous. 

7. Robin Lehner, G, Buffalo Sabres

Jen Fuller/Associated Press

How Important Is He? The Buffalo Sabres acquired Robin Lehner in the offseason to provide the team with a No. 1 goaltender. That's one of the most important positions on any team. 

How Often Is He Injured? Lehner missed the final 27 regular-season games and the entire playoffs with concussion issues. This can be a devastating injury for goalies to overcome, and Buffalo will be watching Lehner closely during training camp and preseason. 

What's the Backup Plan? Chad Johnson is the backup but isn't perceived as a possible starter—his career high in starts is 23. If Lehner succumbs to injury, it would probably force the Sabres to hit the open market for a replacement.

6. Mark Giordano, D, Calgary Flames

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

How Important Is He? Mark Giordano is a top-quality defenseman for the Calgary Flames. His possession stats, per HockeyAnalysis.com, reflect his importance to the team. Considering the quality of opposition and zone-start difficulty, Giordano's numbers are fantastic. 

How Often Is He Injured? He missed 21 games in 2011-12 with a leg injury and 21 games plus the playoffs in 2014-15 with injured biceps.

What's the Backup Plan? Calgary has some nice options, such as T.J. Brodie and the newly acquired Dougie Hamilton. None of those defensemen can tackle the tough minutes as successfully as Giordano, though, meaning he's irreplaceable on the roster.

5. Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

How Important Is He? Sidney Crosby is the best player in the NHL and the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

How Often Is He Injured? Crosby has been relatively healthy for the last two seasons, with the major concussion issues of 2011-12 thankfully a distant memory. Crosby spoke on the subject recently in an interview with Bob Pompeani of KDKA-TV Pittsburgh, saying that "it's still kind of frustrating looking back." The interview appeared on the CBS Pittsburgh website on Aug. 6.

What's the Backup Plan? The Penguins are among the deepest teams in the league at center, but it's impossible to replace Crosby. The game is better when impact players are healthy and delivering fantastic play. There is no backup plan to replace Sidney Crosby.

4. Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

How Important Is He? Carey Price won all the available hardware after a phenomenal season with the Montreal Canadiens. It's a fair bet no NHL team relies more on one player than the Canadiens.

How Often Is He Injured? Price missed the last five playoff games of the 2013-14 season, impacting that series in a big way. He also missed the Canadiens' final playoff game of 2012-13.

What's the Backup Plan? Montreal's backup goaltender is Dustin Tokarski, but expecting him to step in and replace Price is completely unrealistic. The Canadiens need their best player for the playoffs.

3. Zdeno Chara, D, Boston Bruins

Nick Wass/Associated Press

How Important Is He? Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins is aging, but the 38-year-old remains a major player at the heart of the team's defense. The trade of Dougie Hamilton in the summer makes a healthy Chara even more important for 2015-16. 

How Often Is He Injured? Chara missed 19 games during the 2014-15 season with a right knee injury. It had a major impact on Boston, who missed the playoffs.

What's the Backup Plan? Whatever the plan, it flew out the window with the Hamilton trade. If the Bruins sign a free agent like Cody Franson before opening night, there's some breathing room. Otherwise, a Chara injury represents real trouble in Boston.

2. Pekka Rinne, G, Nashville Predators

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

How Important Is He? Pekka Rinne makes an enormous difference to the Nashville Predators to the point where they're a completely different team with him. 

How Often Is He Injured? Rinne missed 51 games in 2013-14 with a hip injury and eight more this past season with a knee problem. 

What's the Backup Plan? Carter Hutton is the backup, but when your No. 1 goalie is making $7 million a season, it's a long way from starter to the No. 2 man. Nashville needs a healthy Rinne to have any hope in the postseason.

1. Pavel Datsyuk, C, Detroit Red Wings

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

How Important Is He? Pavel Datsyuk is a brilliant two-way center, probably the best of his generation. He's vital to the Detroit effort, as his experience and ability to make a difference against the other team's best are enormous advantages. 

How Often Is He Injured? Datsyuk has suffered all sorts of injuries, including ones to the knee, shoulder and head over the last couple of seasons. He has played in 108 of the most recent 162 games by the Red Wings, and it's a concern. 

What's the Backup Plan? The Red Wings brought in Brad Richards over the summer, and Henrik Zetterberg, Riley Sheahan and others can play center if Datsyuk is absent. The problem for Detroit is that no one can play with the brilliance of Datsyuk, and it makes it a lesser team. The club is already bracing for its center to miss the start of the season, as this Fox Sports Detroit report from July indicated.