{"id":541983,"date":"2026-04-05T12:23:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/541983\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T12:23:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:23:15","slug":"weegar-out-with-upper-body-injury-what-we-know-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/541983\/","title":{"rendered":"Weegar Out With Upper-Body Injury? What We Know So Far"},"content":{"rendered":"

MacKenzie Weegar\u2019s absence might not set off alarms \u2014 but it\u2019s the kind of quiet development that can shift a game before the puck even drops.<\/p>\n

He\u2019ll miss Saturday\u2019s matchup against the Vancouver Canucks due to an upper-body injury, but all signs still point toward this being more maintenance as the Mammoth prepare for a potential playoff berth.<\/p>\n

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What stands out is that he logged 19:33 of ice time in Seattle just days ago. Players don\u2019t typically handle that kind of workload if something is structurally wrong \u2014 it strongly suggests he\u2019s been managing discomfort rather than dealing with a fresh, acute injury.<\/p>\n

Given Weegar\u2019s style, the likely culprit is something wear-and-tear related. He\u2019s a physical, minutes-heavy defenseman who thrives in contact areas \u2014 tying up sticks, battling along the boards, stepping into shooting lanes.<\/p>\n

Over time, that can lead to lingering issues like shoulder soreness, a minor AC joint irritation, or even a hand\/wrist problem from repeated impacts. None of those are headline-grabbing injuries, but they can absolutely affect performance if not managed properly.<\/p>\n

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The Utah Mammoth holding him out feels like the smart move. After a recent trade, teams tend to be even more cautious with newly acquired players \u2014 especially one expected to anchor the blue line in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

The \u201cday-to-day\u201d designation is the key takeaway. Internally, that usually means the medical staff isn\u2019t seeing signs of anything that would require imaging beyond precautionary checks or extended shutdown time.<\/p>\n

A return as soon as Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers is very much on the table.<\/p>\n

Short term, though, this is a noticeable absence. Weegar\u2019s value isn\u2019t always flashy, but it\u2019s foundational \u2014 he\u2019s the kind of defenseman who smooths out chaos before it starts.<\/p>\n

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Without him, Utah may feel a bit less stable defensively, especially against a Canucks team that can generate pressure in waves. They might be the worst team in the NHL, but they recently handed the Colorado Avalanche, the league’s best team, an 8-6 loss. Anything can happen in a league full of parity.<\/p>\n

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