What happened: Jiri Kulich, who returned to game action on Oct. 17, missed Monday's practice session alongside skaters on injured reserve. Lindy Ruff stated afterward that the forward still has protocol stages to pass before he can join the road trip opening in San Jose.

Why it matters: The setback interrupts early-season availability for a forward who has already navigated multiple lineup absences since late September. Kulich previously exited a Sept. 25 contest early and required medical clearance checks on Oct. 16 prior to his recent return.

What to watch: Kulich remains eligible to fly out and join the roster mid-trip once he clears the remaining protocol benchmarks.