One Goal, One Warmup, Two Costly Injuries: Ducks and Hurricanes Lose Key Centers

RALEIGH, United States, October 13, 2026: Ryan Poehling had barely finished celebrating the goal that put Anaheim ahead of Calgary when his night, and potentially the next two months of his season, came to a painful end. The Ducks center crashed knee-first into the goalpost and suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL), leaving him facing six to eight weeks on the sidelines. Hundreds of miles away, Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal suffered a different setback before he could even play against Philadelphia, tearing a calf muscle during the pregame warmup period. The defending Stanley Cup champions now expect to be without their captain for one to two months.

Both injury updates arrived Tuesday, presenting two teams enjoying encouraging starts to the 2026-27 NHL season with difficult personnel decisions. Anaheim, which has won four of its opening five games, placed Poehling on injured reserve and recalled 20-year-old prospect Roger McQueen from the San Diego Gulls. Carolina, riding a five-game winning streak, must reorganize its forward lines without the veteran center who won the Conn Smythe Trophy during the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup triumph in June. The immediate concern extends beyond replacing two names on the lineup sheet. Both players perform responsibilities that are essential to how their teams compete, particularly when opponents have the man advantage or when important faceoffs must be won.

Ryan Poehling and Jordan Staal: NHL Injury Updates at a Glance

The timelines are team estimates rather than confirmed return dates. Neither injury announcement establishes precisely when the player will resume skating, receive medical clearance or return to competitive action.

Ryan Poehling’s Winning Goal Turns Into a Six-to-Eight-Week Injury

For Poehling, the circumstances could hardly have been more frustrating.

Anaheim were facing the Calgary Flames on Saturday, October 10, when the 27-year-old center delivered one of the decisive moments of the game.

At 5:35 of the third period, Poehling scored a shorthanded goal to put the Ducks ahead.

But as he attacked the net, sliding Calgary defenseman Zayne Parekh tripped him. Poehling collided knee-first with the right goalpost.

He could not continue.

The Ducks went on to win 4-2, with Poehling contributing a goal and an assist before leaving.

The two points were his first of the 2026-27 season.

What initially appeared to be a potentially serious knee problem was confirmed Tuesday as an MCL sprain, with the club estimating a six-to-eight-week absence.

The injury removes Poehling from Anaheim’s lineup during a period when the team is trying to establish itself as a consistent Western Conference contender.

The original Reuters report on Poehling’s injury confirms the recovery estimate, injured-reserve move and subsequent roster response.

Why Poehling’s Injury Is More Than the Loss of One Goal Scorer

Poehling’s importance is not measured solely by his goals and assists.

He is an experienced center who can provide defensive support, work on the penalty kill and give the coaching staff flexibility when dividing responsibilities among the forward lines.

His injury occurred during exactly the kind of situation in which those qualities matter.

Anaheim were shorthanded, meaning Calgary had an extra skater because of a penalty.

Instead of merely surviving the disadvantage, Poehling turned the possession into an attacking opportunity and scored.

Shorthanded goals require a combination of defensive anticipation, skating, positioning and decision-making. The attacking player must recognize when an opponent has become vulnerable without unnecessarily abandoning the team’s defensive responsibilities.

Those skills make Poehling useful even when he is not producing points regularly.

Replacing his contribution requires Anaheim to consider which available centers can handle defensive assignments and which players can maintain the team’s attacking balance.

Poehling’s 2025-26 Season Explains Why Anaheim Invested in Him

Poehling joined Anaheim in June 2025 after previously playing for Montreal, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

During his first season with the Ducks, he recorded 11 goals and 25 assists in 75 regular-season games.

That gave him 36 points, a useful contribution from a player whose responsibilities extended beyond attacking production.

He also scored four goals during Anaheim’s playoff campaign.

In March 2026, the Ducks signed Poehling to a four-year contract, demonstrating their commitment to keeping him as part of the organization’s longer-term plans.

The decision reflected the value of retaining experienced players alongside an increasingly promising group of younger forwards.

Across 363 career NHL games entering the latest injury update, Poehling had recorded 133 points, comprising 55 goals and 78 assists.

Those numbers establish an experienced professional rather than a high-volume star scorer.

For Anaheim, losing that type of player can affect several smaller responsibilities that are difficult to replace through a single roster move.

Roger McQueen’s NHL Opportunity Arrives Earlier Than Anaheim Expected

Perhaps the most interesting consequence of Poehling’s injury is the opportunity it creates for Roger McQueen.

The Ducks recalled the 20-year-old center from their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Diego Gulls.

McQueen was Anaheim’s first-round selection, 10th overall, in the 2025 NHL Draft.

He is one of the organization’s more closely watched developing forwards.

Before his recall, McQueen had scored three goals in three AHL games during the current season, according to Anaheim’s official player announcement.

The Ducks’ official McQueen recall announcement confirms those figures and his development background.

What Makes McQueen an Interesting Replacement Candidate?

McQueen brings a very different profile from Poehling.

Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing approximately 206 pounds, he has the physical attributes of a large modern NHL center.

He also arrives with a substantial junior and collegiate development record.

During the 2025-26 college season, McQueen scored 11 goals and added 16 assists in 36 games for Providence College.

His 27 points helped him earn Hockey East Rookie of the Year recognition.

Another statistic is particularly relevant to Anaheim’s immediate needs.

McQueen won 313 of 568 faceoffs at Providence, a success rate of approximately 55.1%.

That provides evidence of his ability to compete in the faceoff circle at the collegiate level.

But the NHL presents a substantially more demanding environment.

The timing, strength and technique of experienced professional centers differ from what younger players regularly encounter in college or the AHL.

McQueen’s college faceoff percentage therefore cannot be assumed to translate directly into NHL success.

Will McQueen Immediately Replace Poehling’s Minutes?

Not necessarily.

A recall creates an opportunity for selection. It does not guarantee that a prospect will immediately receive the same ice time, line assignment or special-teams responsibilities as the injured player.

Anaheim’s coaching staff can distribute Poehling’s minutes among established forwards while introducing McQueen gradually.

The club could also place him in a more protected offensive role while assessing how he handles NHL defensive assignments.

The important distinction is between filling the available roster spot and replacing the injured player’s complete contribution.

McQueen’s scoring ability and physical size are encouraging.

His capacity to manage defensive-zone faceoffs, penalty-killing situations and difficult matchups against established NHL centers remains to be demonstrated.

Those areas will determine how large his immediate role becomes.

Anaheim’s 4-1 Start Faces Another Test of Its Young Roster

The Ducks entered the October 13 injury announcement with four victories from their first five games.

That represented an encouraging turnaround from a difficult preseason.

Anaheim had finished its four exhibition games with a 1-3-0 record and a minus-11 goal differential.

The club conceded 20 goals while scoring only nine.

The results raised questions about the team’s defensive structure, particularly after a 10-0 preseason defeat against San Jose.

Those concerns were documented in The Sports Encounter’s complete 32-team NHL preseason assessment.

The regular season initially produced a much more convincing response.

Anaheim defeated Vegas and Florida before beating Calgary on the road.

The Ducks also recorded their 11th consecutive home-opening victory when they defeated the Panthers 3-2 in overtime on October 4.

That victory featured two power-play goals from Cutter Gauthier and an overtime winner from Mikael Granlund.

TSE examined Anaheim’s special-teams performance and its improved early-season outlook in our October 4 NHL roundup.

Why Poehling’s Absence Could Affect Anaheim’s Special Teams

Anaheim’s early results have already shown the value of special teams.

The October 4 victory against Florida was decided entirely by Ducks power-play goals.

Poehling’s shorthanded goal against Calgary demonstrated a different strength: the team’s ability to create attacking opportunities while killing penalties.

His absence may reduce the number of experienced players available for those defensive situations.

However, one shorthanded goal does not establish that Anaheim’s penalty kill depends entirely on him.

To measure the impact accurately, the club would need to compare its shorthanded ice-time distribution, defensive-zone faceoff results, expected goals against and penalty-killing performance before and during his absence.

Those figures would provide stronger evidence than simply comparing the number of wins with and without Poehling.

Can the Ducks Maintain Their Fast Start Without Full Health?

Anaheim’s recent performances have included both promising results and evidence of vulnerability.

On October 7, the Ducks led Edmonton 2-0 before conceding five unanswered second-period goals and losing 5-2.

Evan Bouchard’s attacking contribution helped the Oilers completely reverse the contest.

The collapse was analyzed in TSE’s report on Edmonton’s five-goal comeback against Anaheim.

The defeat highlighted the importance of maintaining defensive organization even when a team is controlling the game early.

Poehling’s injury makes that challenge more complicated.

The Ducks will have to preserve their attacking improvement while finding a workable division of defensive and special-teams duties.

McQueen could become part of the solution, but his development should not be judged by an unrealistic expectation that he immediately reproduce every aspect of Poehling’s game.

Jordan Staal’s Calf Tear Hits Carolina Before the Game Even Begins

Carolina’s injury update was even more unexpected.

Staal was preparing for Sunday’s road game against the Philadelphia Flyers when he experienced a calf injury during the warmup period.

The Hurricanes initially described his absence as a lower-body issue.

On Tuesday, coach Rod Brind’Amour confirmed that his captain had suffered a muscle tear and would miss approximately one to two months.

Brind’Amour characterized the incident as a “freak thing” and acknowledged that the team faced another difficult adjustment.

The Hurricanes’ official October 13 injury report confirms the diagnosis and the coach’s recovery estimate.

Staal’s absence is significant because Carolina is attempting to defend the Stanley Cup it won in June.

The team has begun the new season strongly, but losing its captain introduces tactical and leadership challenges at an early stage.

Why Staal Matters Even Without a Point This Season

Staal had not registered a goal or an assist in his first six appearances of the 2026-27 season.

That statistic does not accurately represent the full value of his contribution.

The 38-year-old center was averaging 2 minutes and 53 seconds of shorthanded ice time per game, the highest figure among Carolina’s forwards when the injury was announced.

He had also taken 124 faceoffs, more than any other Hurricanes player.

Those numbers identify two responsibilities that the coaching staff must redistribute.

Staal is trusted to compete for possession in the faceoff circle and to defend when Carolina is short a player.

He also provides a physical presence and experience in difficult matchups.

His absence therefore affects the structure of the lineup even when his offensive production is limited.

Carolina Loses a Center Whose Value Extends Into the Penalty Kill

The most immediate tactical problem concerns faceoffs and defensive assignments.

Winning a faceoff during a penalty kill can allow a defending team to clear the puck and consume valuable seconds.

Losing possession can force the defensive unit to spend an extended period under pressure.

Staal’s experience makes him particularly useful in those situations.

The Hurricanes must now decide how to divide his faceoff and shorthanded responsibilities among their other centers.

Those players may be capable of replacing individual shifts.

But asking them to absorb additional defensive work can also influence their offensive assignments and overall workload.

The importance of that redistribution will become clearer as Carolina faces stronger opponents and more demanding special-teams situations.

Staal’s Conn Smythe Legacy Makes This More Than an Ordinary Injury

The significance of losing Staal becomes clearer when viewed against Carolina’s championship campaign.

During the 2025-26 regular season, the veteran scored 20 goals and provided 16 assists in 75 games.

He then delivered eight goals and four assists across 19 playoff games.

Six of those goals came during the Stanley Cup Final against Vegas.

Staal’s performances earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the postseason.

The Hurricanes defeated the Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 to win the series 4-2 and claim their second Stanley Cup, ending a 20-year championship wait.

His contribution was central to The Sports Encounter’s full report on Carolina’s Stanley Cup-clinching victory.

From Championship Leader to the Injured List

Staal has spent 15 seasons with Carolina and become one of the franchise’s most important modern players.

He has accumulated 499 regular-season points for the Hurricanes, with 198 goals and 301 assists.

Across his entire NHL career with Pittsburgh and Carolina, he has recorded 747 points in 1,409 regular-season games.

Those figures demonstrate his longevity, but Carolina’s current concern is more immediate.

The Hurricanes must replace a player who has helped define their checking lines, defensive responsibilities and leadership structure for many years.

At 38, Staal is also returning from a muscular injury that requires careful management.

The club has not announced a fixed date for his return.

It would be premature to predict whether he will be available after four weeks, require the full two months or need additional recovery time.

Mark Jankowski and Jesperi Kotkaniemi Become Central to Carolina’s Response

Carolina has already begun adjusting its forward combinations.

During Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Philadelphia, Mark Jankowski moved into a larger role with Jordan Martinook and Nikolaj Ehlers.

Jankowski also scored, extending his goal-scoring streak to four games.

The goal provided an encouraging response, although it does not establish that he can reproduce all of Staal’s defensive responsibilities.

Before Tuesday’s game against Washington, the Hurricanes projected Jankowski between Ehlers and Martinook.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi was also projected to center a line with Eric Robinson and Nicolas Deslauriers.

The changes give Brind’Amour options without requiring one player to shoulder every responsibility previously handled by the captain.

Why Carolina Cannot Simply Ask One Player to Become Jordan Staal

Different players offer different combinations of skills.

Jankowski has demonstrated an ability to contribute offensively and play in a checking role.

Kotkaniemi provides another natural center option.

Sebastian Aho and Logan Stankoven remain important players in the broader lineup.

But moving responsibilities between lines affects more than individual statistics.

The coach must decide which combinations should face opponents’ strongest players, who handles defensive-zone faceoffs and how penalty-killing minutes should be distributed.

Changes to one line can force adjustments elsewhere.

Carolina’s depth gives Brind’Amour several options, but those combinations will require testing during competitive games.

Could Carolina Recall Another Forward?

Brind’Amour indicated that the Hurricanes expected to consider an additional forward recall.

Importantly, the replacement does not necessarily have to be a center.

Moving Kotkaniemi into a central role gives Carolina flexibility to recall a winger if management considers that the better roster fit.

No additional player’s NHL debut, promotion or permanent line assignment should be treated as confirmed until the club makes a specific announcement.

The team’s immediate projected lineup demonstrates its short-term plan, but it does not establish how Carolina will organize its forwards throughout Staal’s absence.

Carolina’s Strong Start Faces a Test After Its Captain’s Injury

The defending champions entered the October 13 announcement with a 5-1-1 record and five consecutive victories.

The start was encouraging after an emotional opening-night defeat to Florida.

Carolina raised its 2026 Stanley Cup championship banner on September 29 but lost 1-0 in overtime when Gustav Forsling scored with five seconds remaining before a shootout.

That game, including the goaltending performances and the significance of Carolina’s championship celebration, was examined in TSE’s report on the Panthers spoiling the Hurricanes’ banner night.

Carolina subsequently recovered through sustained pressure and improved finishing.

On October 3, the Hurricanes defeated Philadelphia 3-2 in overtime after Shayne Gostisbehere scored the winner.

The comeback was part of TSE’s October 3 NHL roundup, which examined Carolina’s territorial dominance despite trailing entering the third period.

A week later, Carolina beat Philadelphia again, this time 4-1.

Staal’s injury became public during that latest victory.

The result showed that the team could win one game without its captain.

It did not answer whether Carolina can maintain that performance throughout a prolonged absence.

Seth Jarvis’ Recovery Adds Another Layer to Carolina’s Injury Problem

Staal is not the only important Carolina forward dealing with a significant injury.

Seth Jarvis has been recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

He had resumed practicing but remained unavailable for game action when the Staal update was announced.

The two situations create additional demands on the remaining forward group.

Carolina must manage Staal’s defensive responsibilities while continuing to navigate the absence of another established offensive contributor.

The club’s depth was a central strength during its championship campaign.

It now faces a more prolonged early-season examination.

What Do the Two Injuries Mean for Anaheim and Carolina’s Playoff Ambitions?

The Ducks and Hurricanes entered the season with different expectations.

Carolina began as the defending Stanley Cup champion.

Anaheim began with a younger roster seeking to demonstrate that its development was translating into more consistent results.

Those differences influence how each club will approach its injury problem.

Anaheim Needs Development Without Sacrificing Structure

Anaheim can view McQueen’s recall as an opportunity to learn more about one of its leading prospects.

But the Ducks must balance that development against the importance of continuing their encouraging start.

Young forwards can make substantial offensive contributions without immediately becoming accomplished defensive centers.

McQueen’s development should therefore be assessed through his decision-making, faceoff performance, defensive positioning and ability to maintain his level of play against stronger opponents.

Goals and assists will matter, but they will not tell the entire story.

The Ducks’ broader approach to developing players was visible during the preseason, when Beckett Sennecke scored a hat trick in a 6-2 victory over San Jose.

That performance was among the key developments covered in TSE’s analysis of young players forcing early NHL roster decisions.

McQueen now receives an opportunity created by injury rather than preseason competition.

How Anaheim manages that opportunity could influence both its immediate results and his longer-term development.

Carolina Must Defend Its Championship Without Its Captain

Carolina’s situation carries different consequences.

The Hurricanes already possess a proven championship structure.

The question is whether that structure can remain effective without a player who handles important defensive and leadership responsibilities.

Staal’s absence will test the depth of Carolina’s centers, the effectiveness of its penalty kill and the ability of its checking lines to control difficult matchups.

The result of one or two games will not provide a conclusive answer.

Those measures need to be evaluated across a meaningful portion of his absence.

The longer-term context was established in The Sports Encounter’s 2026-27 NHL season preview, which identified Carolina as the defending champion in an expanded 84-game regular season.

In that longer schedule, maintaining roster depth and managing player availability are essential parts of remaining competitive through April.

Comparing the Damage: Which Team Has the Harder Replacement Problem?

The two injuries are not identical, and their consequences should not be judged only by recovery time.

Carolina appears to face the more complicated immediate redistribution of responsibilities because of Staal’s unusually extensive defensive role and captaincy.

That is an editorial assessment based on the confirmed evidence, not a prediction that the Hurricanes will lose more games.

Anaheim faces a different form of uncertainty because its most obvious roster response involves a 20-year-old prospect without established NHL experience.

Neither absence can be evaluated accurately simply by counting goals or assists.

What Should Fans Monitor During the Injury Layoffs?

For Anaheim, the most useful indicators will be the composition of its center lines, McQueen’s deployment if he plays, defensive-zone faceoff results and shorthanded performance.

For Carolina, the relevant measures include the distribution of Staal’s former penalty-killing minutes, team faceoff performance, third-line defensive results and the effectiveness of new forward combinations.

Both clubs will also provide medical updates as rehabilitation progresses.

The announced recovery windows should remain estimates until players receive clearance and return to game action.

Ryan Poehling and Jordan Staal Injuries: Frequently Asked Questions

How long will Ryan Poehling be out?

The Anaheim Ducks expect Poehling to miss approximately six to eight weeks with a knee MCL sprain, according to their October 13, 2026, injury announcement.

How did Poehling suffer his injury?

Poehling was tripped by Calgary defenseman Zayne Parekh and crashed knee-first into the right goalpost after scoring a shorthanded goal during Anaheim’s 4-2 victory on October 10.

Who replaces Ryan Poehling for the Ducks?

Anaheim recalled Roger McQueen from the San Diego Gulls. His exact lineup role and ice-time allocation depend on subsequent coaching decisions.

Who is Roger McQueen?

McQueen is a 20-year-old center selected 10th overall by Anaheim in the 2025 NHL Draft. He recorded three goals in his first three AHL games this season before being recalled.

How long will Jordan Staal be out?

Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour expects Staal to miss approximately one to two months with a calf muscle tear.

How did Jordan Staal get injured?

Staal suffered the injury during the warmup period before Carolina’s October 11 game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Who will replace Staal in Carolina’s lineup?

Mark Jankowski moved into a larger role alongside Jordan Martinook and Nikolaj Ehlers, while Jesperi Kotkaniemi was projected to center another line. Carolina may make additional roster changes.

Why is Staal’s absence so significant?

Staal is Carolina’s captain and an important defensive center. He led the team’s forwards in average shorthanded ice time and had taken the most faceoffs when his injury was announced.

Did Jordan Staal win the Conn Smythe Trophy?

Yes. Staal won the 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy after scoring eight goals and 12 points in 19 playoff games as Carolina captured the Stanley Cup.

Are the Ducks and Hurricanes playing well despite the injuries?

Both teams made encouraging starts. Anaheim was 4-1-0 and Carolina 5-1-1 when the injuries were announced on October 13. Their ability to sustain those performances will be tested during the absences.

The Sports Encounter Verdict: Anaheim Needs Answers From Its Youth, Carolina From Its Depth

Ryan Poehling was helping Anaheim win a game when his season took an unexpected turn.

His shorthanded goal against Calgary demonstrated precisely why the Ducks value a player capable of contributing beyond conventional scoring situations.

The collision with the post now leaves Anaheim searching for those contributions elsewhere.

Roger McQueen offers considerable promise.

His size, development record and early AHL scoring suggest he has earned an opportunity.

But the Ducks must manage that opportunity carefully if they want to sustain their strong start while supporting his development.

Carolina faces a different challenge.

Staal’s value has been established over more than 1,400 NHL games.

His role in the Hurricanes’ 2026 championship, particularly his Conn Smythe-winning playoff performance, makes him one of the franchise’s defining veteran players.

He also remains a crucial contributor in the less glamorous areas of the game.

Faceoffs, shorthanded shifts and difficult defensive assignments rarely receive the same attention as goals.

But they help determine which team controls possession and which players are available for attacking situations.

Without Staal, Brind’Amour must find those contributions throughout the roster.

Both teams have already shown that they can win games.

The coming weeks will reveal how effectively they adapt when important pieces of their lineups are missing.

Anaheim’s response will tell us more about the readiness of its next generation.

Carolina’s response will tell us more about the depth of its championship structure.

The injuries happened in completely different circumstances.

Their shared consequence is that two NHL teams must now prove their systems can function without players they had expected to rely on.