NHL injury update: Logan Cooley skates again; key players injured as Olympic break nears

Key players in the NHL seem to be on the brink of a comeback or an injury that will keep them sidelined for an extended period of time. While Utah Mammoth star forward Logan Cooley has returned to practice, other teams like the Detroit Red Wings and the Vancouver Canucks had to find ways to compensate for key injuries as the schedule approaches the Olympic Winter Games break.Logan Cooley was able to return to practice, but other hopefuls such as Simon Edvinsson have no choice but to make difficult decisions as injuries continue to challenge their will.Utah Mammoth forward Logan Cooley took part in a non-contact morning skate, which marked the first practice since early December, following an eight-week recovery period from a lower-body injury sustained in a collision with Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen on December 5.Injury reports for other players have had mixed results, with Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson ruled out until the Olympic break. The Vancouver Canucks were also forced into roster changes due to injuries after placing Brock Boeser and Zeev Buium on injured reserve. Boeser suffered an injury from a late hit against Pittsburgh, a play that will lead to a Department of Player Safety hearing for Bryan Rust. Buium, on the other hand, took a puck to the face but was able to finish the game. The Vancouver Canucks recalled Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Victor Mancini from the AHL.Goaltender situations are also up in the air. Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark could make his first appearance since the end of December as he comes back from a personal leave, while Chicago Blackhawks forward Teuvo Teravainen is set to return after missing six games with an upper-body injury.Other news includes Washington Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois practicing with the team for the first time since surgery in November, which shows that he is progressing well, although he still is expected to return after the break. Toronto Maple Leafs star William Nylander is nearing a return from a groin injury and hopes to get back before Feb. 3, before he leaves for the Olympics with Sweden.Other tidbits include Anaheim’s Mason McTavish being out, Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock being day-to-day, St. Louis Blues forward Pius Suter being back in full practices, and Colorado’s Devon Toews traveling with the team but not being ready to play.