BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Evander Kane's fresh start with the Buffalo Sabres has been sidetracked by an injury to his left knee.
The hard-hitting, top-line forward will miss approximately four to six weeks, coach Dan Bylsma announced after practice on Monday.
Without revealing the exact nature of the injury, Bylsma said Kane won't require surgery after hurting his medial collateral ligament.
Kane was hurt in the third period of a 4-3 loss to New Jersey on Saturday. He was chasing down a puck in the right corner, when he was checked by defenseman David Schlemko. Kane's left knee was exposed and pinned to the boards by the knee-on-knee collision.
Kane had difficulty applying any weight on his left leg as he was helped off the ice after being treated by trainers (see full story).
Predators: Sign D Ekholm to six-year extension
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Mattias Ekholm to a six-year, $22.5 million contract.
Predators general manager David Poile announced the deal Monday.
NHL
Ekholm, 25, is a restricted free agent who already has a goal and two assists in seven games this season. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenseman currently has 30 points and 66 penalty minutes in 152 career games. He doubled his rookie production last season with 18 points and had a plus-12 rating.
The 102nd draft choice overall in 2009, Ekholm made his postseason debut last spring. He played in all six games against Chicago and tied for the team lead with a plus-4 rating while averaging 26 minutes, 24 seconds of ice time.
The deal averages $3.75 million per year for Nashville.
Blues: Offensive help needed with Schwartz, Stastny out
ST. LOUIS (AP) In the St. Louis Blues' first game without top forwards Jaden Schwartz and Paul Stastny, it took players a while to adjust.
Coach Ken Hitchcock pointed out that his players have no choice.
Stastny is out at least another month with a broken right foot and Schwartz will be re-evaluated in three months after surgery for a fractured left ankle sustained in a freak practice accident on Friday. Schwartz had 63 points last season and Stastny had 46 points, and had five points in five games this season.
A third forward, Patrik Berglund, isn't expected back until January after shoulder surgery.
Some help is on the way. The Blues anticipate activating All-Star defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (groin) and promising rookie Robby Fabbri (concussion) in time for Tuesday night's game against Tampa Bay. The 19-year-old Fabbri was a first-round pick in 2014 and has been a high scorer in juniors.
Still, it's going to take a group effort to compensate for all of that lost offense (see full story).
Jets: Burmistrov fined for elbowing
NEW YORK -- Winnipeg Jets forward Alexander Burmistrov was fined $4,167 by the NHL on Monday for elbowing Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon.
Burmistrov was called for a minor penalty for elbowing in the second period of the Jets' 5-4 home victory Sunday.