The Carolina Hurricanes placed star forward Jeff Skinner on injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 5, the team announced Sunday.
Skinner suffered a concussion in the preseason finale against the Washington Capitals last Sunday after colliding with Matt Niskanen.
Skinner led the Canes with 33 goals in 71 games during the 2013-14 season but has yet to play in the first two regular season games of this year’s campaign. Without his offensive prowess, the Hurricanes fell twice to the New York Islanders in the home-and-home series.
The Hurricanes have recalled 25-year-old winger Zach Boychuk from the Charlotte Checkers, the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, in a corresponding move. Boychuk was drafted by Carolina in the first round of the 2008 NHL draft and has appeared in 96 NHL games with Carolina, Pittsburgh and Nashville.
Boychuk appeared in 11 games with the Hurricanes last season and picked up one goal and three assists while earning 36 goals and 38 assists in 69 games with the Checkers. In the first two games of the Checkers’ 2014-15 season, Boychuk has tallied one goal.
Photo via Brace Hemmelgarn/USA TODAY Sports Images
