Penguins take another hit on D

by James Mirtle on Sep 22, 2008 10:38 AM CDT Comment 5 comments

Injured Saturday on a hit by Tampa Bay forward David Koci in the Penguins' exhibition opener at Mellon Arena, Gonchar's left shoulder will undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging test sometime this week. He did not practice yesterday.
— Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

And the injury reports are rolling in already, a couple of days into training camp. Pittsburgh's been hit the hardest so far, losing Ryan Whitney until about December and now Gonchar for an undisclosed amount of time.

Make no mistake, other than Marc-Andre Fleury or Sidney Crosby going down, Gonchar is the worst possible player for the Penguins to lose for any extended amount of time. No longer is he simply an offence-first defenceman; Gonchar is Pittsburgh's top option on the blueline in every situation, a player that leads the team in icetime because he's out there every penalty kill, power play and late-game situation.

Seth Rorabaugh has a good look at just how important Whitney and Gonchar have been to Pittsburgh's success since the lockout.

It's tough to say how long Gonchar will be out given what we know, but it could be a period of months. If that's the case, Pittsburgh's blueline looks awfully thin, and youngsters like Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski could be handed key minutes in offensive situations.

No other Penguins defenceman had more than Hal Gill's 24 points, and you don't want to see him quarterbacking the power play.

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Comments

No other Penguins defenceman had more than Hal Gill's 24 points, and you don't want to see him quarterbacking the power play.

I think I know of a team that's willing to part with a legitimate PP quarterback for dirt-cheap.

1-800-BRIAN-BURKE.

by Earl Sleek on Sep 22, 2008 12:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Earl, this likely isn't a long-term injury and the Pens don't have the cap space or inclination to add a $5.75 million dollar defensemen.

They were planning on using Malkin on the point anyways and now could probably round him out with Letang, Goligoski and even maybe Sydor.

Amazingly, I'm more concerned about the hit it'll be on the PK and even strength than while on the PP.

by Hooks Orpik on Sep 22, 2008 12:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They need to stop playing the Lightning! First those goons injured Crosby, and now Gonch. Ban the Lightning!!

by penzrule on Sep 22, 2008 1:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey Hal Gill has a pretty good shot. It broke Ryan Malone's nose!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGhUbYQKieg

by Seth Rorabaugh on Sep 22, 2008 3:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tampa will make the playoffs, Pens not. It's time for GM Ray Shero to start earning his salary. He's had enough time telling media how good Crosby and Malkin are or how his late father coached but his 15 minutes are up.
Recchi situation was fiasko, Hossa trade wasn't that great after all.

by Anonymous on Sep 22, 2008 5:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs