As the Nashville Predators gear up to face off against the Dallas Stars on April 3, 2023, fans are eagerly awaiting news about Roman Josi's status. Unfortunately, it seems that the star defenseman might not be taking to the ice tonight.
According to Emma Lingan of the Predators' official site, Josi was absent from the team's previous game against the St. Louis Blues due to an upper-body injury. Lingan reports that there is still no timeline for Josi's return, which leaves fans and teammates alike anxiously waiting for updates.
Josi's absence from the lineup is a significant blow to the Predators, as he has been a key player throughout the season. In 67 games this season, he has accumulated an impressive 18 goals, 41 assists, 269 shots on net, and 146 blocked shots. His contributions on both ends of the ice have been instrumental in the Predators' success this season, and his absence will certainly be felt by the team.
Of course, Josi's absence is not the end of the world for the Predators. The team has a number of talented players who are capable of stepping up and filling the void left by the star defenseman. However, there is no denying that Josi's presence on the ice is a significant advantage for the Predators, and his absence will make things more challenging for the team.
As for whether or not Josi will be playing tonight against the Dallas Stars, it seems unlikely given his ongoing injury concerns. However, there is always a chance that he could surprise everyone and make an appearance on the ice. Regardless, the Predators will be doing everything they can to secure a victory against the Stars, with or without Josi in the lineup.
A look at Roman Josi's NHL career
Roman Josi has had an impressive career in the NHL since being drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2008. Josi played in the Swiss League and helped SC Bern win the league title in 2008-09.
He was named top defenseman at the 2009 IIHF Division I World Junior Championship and played for Switzerland at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Josi made his NHL debut for Nashville in 2011 and finished fourth among NHL rookies in blocked shots.
Over the years, Roman Josi has continued to excel and has become one of the league's top offensive defensemen. He was named captain of the Predators in 2017 and helped them advance to the Stanley Cup Finals that same year. In 2020, Josi was voted winner of the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman.
In 2021-22, Roman Josi led all defensemen in scoring with an NHL career-high 96 points. He became the first defenseman with at least 90 points in one season since Ray Bourque in 1993-94. Josi's achievements on and off the ice have made him a valuable member of the Predators organization and one of the league's most impressive players.