Injuries Having the Biggest Impact so Far in the 2015-16 NHL Season

Injuries are an unavoidable part of life for NHL players. Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith (pictured above) is among the notable stars who are already sidelined within the opening month of the season. His absence for a lengthy period is having a big impact upon the Blackhawks.

An injury to a star like Keith can affect a team's offensive or defensive play—sometimes even both. Several teams, such as the St. Louis Blues, have more than one star on the shelf. That can leave management and coaches scrambling to find suitable replacements.

Here's a look at the injuries that are having the biggest impact so far in this NHL season, listing the sidelined players, the significance of their absences and the effects upon their teams. Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments section below.

Four Blues Sidelined

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The injured: On Oct. 5, St. Louis Blues center Patrik Berglund went on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is day-to-day since Oct. 13 with a lower-body injury. On Oct. 16, center Paul Stastny was placed on injured reserve with a broken foot. Left wing Jaden Schwartz (fractured left ankle) joined him on Oct. 22.

Significance: Losing three top-six forwards and their best puck-moving blueliner is a huge blow for the Blues. It's a significant test of their depth. So far, the Blues have handled the absences well, winning eight of 11 games in October. 

Effect: The Blues are coping for now, but the lengthy absence of those key players could affect their performance over the long term. The loss of Stastny and Schwartz could particularly hurt their offensive production. On Oct. 29, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Tom Timmermann reported the Blues brought in free-agent forwards Martin Havlat and Dainius Zubrus on a tryout basis. Both could be short-term remedies. 

Sharks' Logan Couture Suffers a Broken Leg

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The injured: On Oct. 16, the San Jose Sharks placed center Logan Couture on injured reserve after he fractured his right fibula during practice. He was slated to miss four to six weeks, which means he won't return until mid- to late November.

Significance: Couture's absence hurts the Sharks' scoring punch. The 26-year-old is their second-line center and a key part of their offensive attack. He's tallied over 60 points twice in his seven NHL seasons, most recently in 2014-15. 

Effect: Since Couture went down, the Sharks have won only two of their remaining seven games in October. Injuries to other players, notably defenseman Paul Martin, also contributed to those losses. However, there's no question they're missing Couture's offense. On Oct. 26, Curtis Pashelka of the San Jose Mercury News reported they've moved winger Tomas Hertl into the second-line center spot.

Oilers' Jordan Eberle Sidelined by Shoulder Injury

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The injured: On Sep. 29, the Edmonton Oilers placed right wing Jordan Eberle (shoulder injury) on injured reserve. He was expected to miss four to six weeks.

Significance: The 25-year-old Eberle is the Oilers' first-line right wing, with three 60-plus-point seasons on his resume. That type of production isn't easy to replace. 

Effect: Defense remains the struggling Oilers' biggest issue this season, but they definitely miss Eberle's offense. Employing Anton Slepyshev and Teddy Purcell in his spot has proved unsuccessful. Right wing call-up Leon Draisaitl tallied two goals in a recent 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. He could remain on the first line until Eberle's return sometime in November.

Blackhawks' Duncan Keith Undergoes Knee Surgery

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The injured: On Oct. 19, Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith was placed on injured reserve. The following day, he underwent surgery to repair a tear in the meniscal ligament in his right knee. He was expected to miss four to six weeks. 

Significance: Keith is the anchor of the Blackhawks defense corps and one of their top stars. He's a two-time winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the 2015 playoff MVP. In short, Keith is irreplaceable. 

Effect: Following Keith's surgery, the Blackhawks won three of their final five games in October. However, those victories were low-scoring affairs decided by one goal. On Oct. 28, the Chicago Tribune's Steve Rosenbloom reported the Blackhawks' transition game is suffering without Keith. It's apparent that will remain an issue until his return in late November. 

Sabres Lose Bogosian, Lehner and Kane

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The injured: On Oct. 5, the Buffalo Sabres placed defenseman Zach Bogosian (lower body) on injured reserve. Goaltender Robin Lehner (high-ankle sprain) followed on Oct. 10 (retroactive to Oct. 8), and left wing Evander Kane (sprained MCL) followed on Oct. 24. 

Significance: In less than a month, the Sabres lost their best defenseman, starting goalie and first-line left wing. For a rebuilding team that is hoping to improve this season, finding suitable replacements for Bogosian, Lehner and Kane is almost impossible.

Effect: The Sabres won only four games in October. Four of their losses were by one goal. Perhaps a healthy Lehner and Bogosian could have made the difference in those games. Kane was struggling before his injury, but he will still be difficult for the talent-thin Sabres to replace.

Red Wings Lose Four Veterans

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

The injured: On Oct. 3, the Detroit Red Wings placed center Pavel Datsyuk (pictured above) on injured reserve due to offseason ankle surgery. Right wing Johan Franzen went on IR for concussion-like symptoms on Oct. 12, followed by center Brad Richards (back) on Oct. 22. Defenseman Mike Green is listed as day to day with an upper-body injury.

Significance: Losing four key veterans is a serious blow for any club. Datsyuk, 37, is their top center, while the oft-injured Franzen is a top-six winger. Richards and Green are past their best seasons but still bring invaluable depth, experience and leadership to the lineup.

Effect: As the injuries mount, so have the losses. After winning their first three games of the season, the Red Wings won only two of their remaining eight games in October. MLive.com's Ansar Khan reported turnovers and a lack of production from the third and fourth lines were contributing factors in the Wings' recent struggles. That can be tied in part to the absence of so many skilled veterans. 

Player and team stats via NHL.com. Injury report via TSN.