NHL Injury Report: Kulich and Tippett Cleared for Training Camp as Teams Prepare for 2026-27 Season

The ice is finally thawing on some of the NHL's most concerning medical files. As training camps loom just weeks away, the league's late-summer injury report is headlined by a wave of crucial clearances—most notably in Buffalo and Philadelphia, where two franchise cornerstones have officially beaten the clock. For teams banking on internal growth to push them over the playoff line, a clean bill of health in August is the ultimate off-season acquisition.

In Buffalo, the collective exhale is palpable. Jiri Kulich, the Sabres' highly touted center prospect, has been fully cleared for opening night after a terrifying blood clot derailed his 2025-26 campaign. Kulich had begun last season as the team's top center prospect, showcasing elite speed and a lethal shot before fluid buildup in his ears led to the severe diagnosis in November.[2]

Following a procedure two months ago to completely remove the clot, Kulich has spent the summer non-contact skating and is now expected to be a full-go for the 2026-27 season. The Sabres, who came within a single victory of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last spring, are leaning heavily on their young core after parting ways with Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram. Getting a healthy Kulich back into the top-six mix provides an immediate, high-octane offensive injection.[2]

Down in Philadelphia, the Flyers are celebrating their own massive medical victory. Power forward Owen Tippett is expected to be ready for September's training camp, closing the book on a harrowing postseason medical saga. Tippett suffered an internal bleeding issue during the Flyers' first-round series victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, a complication that ultimately forced him out of the entire second-round sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.[3][4]

The internal bleeding eventually resolved, allowing Tippett to undergo a separate sports hernia surgery in mid-to-late May. After leading the Flyers with 28 goals and 51 points in 81 regular-season games, his return to the ice is paramount for a Philadelphia squad desperate for finishing touch. While team doctors expect him to be physically cleared for camp, the Flyers' medical staff will likely preach patience as he regains his peak explosiveness and cutting ability through the autumn months.[3][4]

Out West, the Anaheim Ducks are navigating a longer runway for their star winger. Troy Terry underwent surgery on June 9 to address a chronic hip impingement and a labral tear that he battled through during Anaheim's postseason push. The Ducks managed the injury down the stretch, but the structural damage ultimately required surgical intervention.[1]

With an expected recovery timeline of five to six months, Terry is slated to return somewhere between early and mid-November. While losing a 57-point producer for the first 20 to 30 games of the season is a heavy blow, Anaheim's front office views the absence as a vital developmental window. The vacated top-six minutes will hand elite prospects like Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke premium ice time to prove their NHL readiness right out of the gate.[1][7]

Meanwhile, the defending Stanley Cup champions are playing the ultimate long game. Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis finally underwent shoulder surgery in late June to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff. The staggering reality? Jarvis originally sustained the injury in the autumn of 2023 and played two and a half seasons on it—scoring 30-plus goals in back-to-back years and hoisting the Cup before finally agreeing to go under the knife.[5][6]

General Manager Eric Tulsky outlined a four-to-six-month recovery window for Jarvis, placing his return between late October and December. For the Hurricanes, the decision to delay the surgery was calculated risk management; they were chasing a championship and couldn't afford to lose their leading goal-scorer. Now, with the Cup secured, Carolina has the luxury of letting Jarvis heal completely, ensuring his shoulder is structurally sound for the next decade of his career.[5][6]

While late-summer surgeries and extended recovery timelines often spell doom for early-season momentum, the proactive approaches taken across the league this year tell a different story. From Kulich's terrifying clot to Jarvis's championship sacrifice, these players are prioritizing long-term structural health over short-term band-aids. As training camps open, the focus isn't just on who is missing—it's on the explosive talent waiting in the wings, ready to return stronger than ever.