Seattle Kraken’s Jaden Schwartz placed on injured reserve with lower-body injury

Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Kraken’s top six will look a little different for the next few games.

On Thursday, the team announced it is placing forward Jaden Schwartz on injured reserve.

The move is retroactive to Tuesday, when Schwartz left the Kraken’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks in the third period with a lower-body injury.

#SEAKraken have placed Jaden Schwartz on Injured Reserve (per the team roster).

He left Tuesday’s game in Chicago early in the 3rd period and did not return due to a lower body injury

— Scott Malone (@ScottMaloneTV) November 30, 2023

The 31-year-old took a puck off the foot earlier in the game, and briefly went into the locker room before returning. He played a handful of shifts before coming out of the game.

Seattle ended up losing, 4-3.

Here's Jaden Schwartz's last shift before he left with a lower-body injury. Nothing obvious causing the injury, but he isn't skating with his normal stride. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/AA5XnXiI0W

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) November 29, 2023

Schwartz is added to a list of key forwards that are out for the Kraken. Andrew Burakovsky has been out since late October with an upper-body injury, with the hopes that he returns next week. Brandon Tanev, who was banged up on opening night, is currently listed as day-to-day after suffering a lower-body injury in last Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

Since Schwartz has been placed on IR, he will have to off the main roster for at least seven days, meaning he will miss the Kraken’s quick trip through eastern Canada where they face the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens.

In what has been uneasy start for Seattle, compared to last season, Schwartz has been one of the team’s consistent offensive threats. He sits tied for third in the team in points (15) with Eeli Tolvanen, with his eight goals placing him second behind Jared McCann.

The Kraken are tied fourth in the Pacific Division with the Calgary Flames, both 11 points back of the first-place Vegas Golden Knights. They are just a point back of the Nashville Predators for the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

Seattle is slated to face the Maple Leafs tonight at 7 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena.