Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Lands on injured reserve
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Martinez (neck) was placed on injured reserve Friday, retroactive to Dec. 7, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports.
Martinez has missed the last two games due to a neck injury, and he returned to Chicago on Thursday in order to be further evaluated. As a result, it isn't very surprising to see him land on injured reserve, and a better idea of his status could come into focus after he's evaluated by the team's medical staff.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Being evaluated
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Martinez (neck) has returned to Chicago for further evaluation, so he won't be in the lineup for Thursday's road game against the Islanders, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Martinez will presumably also miss Saturday's tilt in New Jersey. The Blackhawks will then return home to host the Islanders on Sunday. The 37-year-old defenseman has a goal, four points and 38 blocks in 15 appearances in 2024-25. Kevin Korchinski is likely to be in the lineup while Martinez is unavailable.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Exits practice early
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Martinez (neck) exited Wednesday's practice session early, and he's slated to be re-evaluated, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Martinez sustained a neck injury during Saturday's game against the Jets, and it was discouraging to see him leave practice early Thursday. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available for Thursday's road game against the Islanders, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him miss at least one more game.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Dealing with neck injury
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Martinez (neck) is not practicing Sunday, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Martinez left Saturday's game after he was struck in the neck by a deflected puck. While his status is in doubt for Monday's game against the Rangers, Martinez was not placed on IR and doesn't appear to be in for an extended absence. Kevin Korchinski was recalled from AHL Rockford on Sunday to provide additional defensive depth.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Set to miss time
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Martinez suffered an upper-body injury after taking a deflected puck to the head or neck in the third period of Saturday's game versus the Jets, and he'll miss time, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
This suggests Martinez will at least miss Monday's game versus the Rangers, and it's possible he could miss the Blackhawks' full three-game road trip. Further information wasn't provided about his injury. With Martinez out, look for Louis Crevier to take his spot in the lineup.
Martinez produced a power-play assist, three shots on goal and a minus-4 rating in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Blue Jackets.
This was a case of mixed results for Martinez, as the power-play production was nice, but it came in a game in which the Blackhawks were caved in at 5-on-5. He has two helpers over his last three contests and is seeing time on the second power-play unit. Martinez has three assists, 11 shots on net, a minus-3 rating and 31 blocked shots over 12 appearances this season, but Sunday was the first time Martinez has failed to record a block in 2024-25.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Pockets assist in win
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Martinez notched an assist, five blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Stars.
The helper was Martinez's first point over six games since he returned from a groin injury. The defenseman has added 12 blocked shots in that span, which is his bread-and-butter for fantasy production. For the season, he's at two helpers, eight shots on net and 27 blocks over 10 appearances. Martinez will fill a top-four role regularly, though his limited offensive upside limits his usefulness in fantasy.
Martinez will be a game-time decision for Thursday's tilt against Seattle, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Martinez hasn't played since Oct. 15 due to the injury. He has an assist, one hit and 15 blocks in four appearances with Chicago in 2024-25. If he's ready to return Thursday, he'll likely serve on the top pairing alongside Seth Jones while Nolan Allan, who has dressed in Chicago's last 12 games, might shift the press box.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Taken off injured reserve
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Martinez (groin) was activated off injured reserve ahead of Thursday's matchup with Seattle, per the NHL media site.
Martinez was officially deemed a game-time decision by head coach Luke Richardson, but his removal from injured reserve clears the way for the blueliner to suit up versus the Kraken. Considering the Michigan native hasn't reached the 20-point mark in three consecutive seasons, fantasy players probably shouldn't be expecting a ton of offensive output by Martinez the rest of the way.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Might be available for Thursday
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Martinez (groin) practiced Wednesday and might be able to play Thursday, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Martinez hasn't been in the lineup since Oct. 15 due to the injury. A determination about his status won't be made until Thursday, but if he is ready to go, then Martinez will likely serve on the top pairing alongside Seth Jones. That would probably result in Nolan Allan being a healthy scratch after remaining in the lineup for 12 straight games.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Won't return during road trip
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Martinez (groin) won't return during the Blackhawks' current road trip, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports Wednesday.
Martinez has been traveling with the Blackhawks during their current five-game road trip, but he's been ruled out for the final three matchups, which will take place Thursday in San Jose, Saturday in Los Angeles and Sunday in Anaheim. His earliest chance to return to action will be Nov. 6 against Detroit, and even if he isn't available against the Red Wings, it wouldn't be surprising to see him back in action sometime in early-to-mid-November.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Will travel with team
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Martinez (groin) is getting close to returning and will travel with the Blackhawks on their upcoming five-game road trip, which will begin Saturday in Dallas, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports Tuesday.
Martinez is expected to miss Tuesday's game versus Vancouver and Friday's clash against Nashville, but beyond that he might be able to draw back into the lineup. He has an assist, a hit and 15 blocks across four appearances this season. Martinez will serve in a top-four role when healthy.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Lands on IR
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Martinez was placed on injured reserve Thursday due to a right groin injury.
Martinez had already been ruled out for Thursday's home opener against the Sharks due to what was initially described as a lower-body injury, and he'll be sidelined for at least a week after being evaluated by the team's training staff. Nolan Allan will take Martinez's place in the third pairing alongside Connor Murphy on Thursday, while Isaak Phillips was recalled from AHL Rockford in a corresponding move.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Out of action Thursday
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Martinez (lower body) will miss Thursday's home game versus San Jose, Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN reports.
Martinez will be evaluated by the Chicago training staff and more should be known Friday. Martinez signed a one-year contract with the Blackhawks in the offseason after playing parts of the last five seasons with the Golden Knights. Martinez has an assist, four shots on goal and 15 blocked shots in four games this season. Nolan Allan is slated to take Martinez's place in the lineup alongside Connor Murphy on the third pairing.
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Blackhawks' Alec Martinez: Earns helper in loss
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Martinez recorded an assist and blocked two shots in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Flames.
Martinez picked up his first point in four games with the Blackhawks. The defenseman has also done what he does best, racking up 15 blocked shots so far. The 37-year-old accumulated 165 blocks in just 55 regular-season contests with Vegas last season. Martinez should see top-four minutes throughout 2024-25, but his offense is likely to be limited, which in turn reduces his viability in fantasy formats that don't count blocks.
Martinez signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Chicago on Monday, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Martinez compiled four goals, 17 points, 72 shots on net and 165 blocked shots in 55 regular-season contests with Vegas in 2023-24. He can log over 19 minutes per game but will likely serve as a veteran depth defender for the Blackhawks in 2024-25.
Golden Knights' Alec Martinez: Enters lineup, earns assist
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Martinez notched an assist and blocked two shots in Saturday's 2-1 overtime win over the Wild.
Martinez sat out four games, presumably as a healthy scratch. With Alex Pietrangelo (illness) returning, Martinez joined him on the third pairing for Saturday's contest. Martinez has 17 points, 69 shots on net, 157 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating through 49 contests, but the Golden Knights have many capable options on defense, so he may not be an everyday player down the stretch.
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Golden Knights' Alec Martinez: Removed from IR
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Martinez (lower body) was activated from injured reserve Sunday, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
Martinez appears to be ready to return to the lineup Sunday versus New Jersey following a four-game absence. He has compiled four goals, 16 points, 67 shots on net and 152 blocked shots in 45 contests this campaign.
