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THN.com Top 10: Pre-season injuries of impact

The Penguins will be without Sergei Gonchar's cannon from the point until late in the season. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

John Grigg
2008-10-01 16:15:30

The NHL pre-season is about many things, the most important being able to avoid injuries. This year a number of big-time injuries have hit big-time players. Below are 10 injuries so far that will have the most impact on their respected teams.

10. Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina – Knee
Arthroscopic surgery cost the Hurricanes’ captain the final 20 games of the season in 2007-08. Now he’s already had surgery to clean up the residual mess. Brind’Amour is one of the best-conditioned players in the game, but at age 38, knee problems are worrisome.

9. Derian Hatcher, Philadelphia – Knee
Hatcher didn’t actually hurt his knee this pre-season, but it was discovered he might have to retire because of it. Hatcher’s best days are far behind him, meaning this injury has an impact because it frees up salary cap room for the Flyers.

8. Antero Niittymaki, Philadelphia – Hip
The Flyers’ backup goaltender had surgery on his ailing hip in September. He is back skating with the team, but hip injuries are nothing to fool around with and it is not yet known if he will be ready to go when the season begins.

7. Raffi Torres, Columbus – Shoulder
Torres was injured in his first NHL action since last December. He was expected to open the season as the Jackets’ second- or third-line right winger, able to crash the boards and lead the troops. He’ll be out until mid-November at the earliest.

6. Erik Johnson, St. Louis – Knee
Johnson, the No. 1 overall pick in 2006, tore ligaments in his knee during a team golf outing in late September and is gone for the season. The Blues were slated to be bad anyway, but the injury stalls the young defenseman’s growth.

5. Torrey Mitchell, San Jose – Leg
Mitchell broke both bones in his leg during training camp and is out until mid-November at the earliest. The pivot’s injury most likely means Patrick Marleau will begin the season as the second-line center, rather than getting a chance for a fast start playing the wing on Joe Thornton’s line.

4. Sergei Zubov, Dallas – Hip
Zubov underwent arthroscopic surgery on his hip in mid-September and will be out until at least mid-October. Like his compatriot Sergei Gonchar in Pittsburgh, Zubov is an important offensive cog and veteran presence who, at 38 years old, will take longer than normal to get back to full strength.

3. Justin Williams, Carolina – Achilles tendon
Williams was slated to open the season as the Hurricanes’ No. 1 right winger. However, he’ll be out until at least mid-January, meaning the Canes will have to rely more on Tuomo Ruutu and Sergei Samsonov, who are not exactly the most reliable players in the league.

2. Ryan Whitney, Pittsburgh – Foot
Whitney had corrective surgery on his foot prior to training camp. The injury bothered him most of last season and it was decided to take action sooner rather than later. The Pens’ No. 2 blueliner is out until December.

1. Sergei Gonchar, Pittsburgh – Shoulder
Gonchar runs the Pens’ power play and is the veteran and offensive leader of an otherwise thin defense corps. He’ll be out four to six months and with colleague Whitney out as well, Pittsburgh is in some real trouble.

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COMMENTS (19)

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11 Cups Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:25)

Caz, the Wings are so deep on "D" men they would never have trouble in that area. As Cory said Kronwall, Stuart etc. that is the least of the Wings problem if a top 4 man went down. And Yano defence produces offence, and Crosby and Malkin are still one way players compared to Zetterberg and Mr. Selke Pavel. If the Wings don't choke early in the playoffs, you my see what is about as close as your going to get to a Dynasty in the last 12 years. Mr implanT Chelios iswith the Wings this year to mainly teach the new kids his 25 years of experience. Even if the injury would not have come, he would have only have played I'd say half the games in the season. So that's not even an issue because he'll still be around to coach so to speak. THE WINGS ARE DEEP!!!!!

Audrey Roy Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:07)

Caz, I would say Detroit as well at least 8 NHL competent d-men, but also Montreal. What about Markov, Komisarek, Brisebois, Hamrlik, Dandenault, Bouillon, Gorges, O'Byrne. I would also add Yannick Weber if too many guys are injured

mike Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:06)

just to expand on cory's last comment look how even "the mighty wing's" lost,what 5 of 6 (or something like that)when lidstrom did go down last year.If they were to lose both lidstrom and rafalski until december or later i'd cancel the parade for next year.You just have to have puck-moving defense-men

Cory Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:03)

Fair enough. Although if I may I would offer the argument it might hurt more simply because of the transition game and depth. The Crosby loss was going to hurt regardless, but the Pens have fairly strong offensive depth so you still had a better than average O even without Crosby. I would say the Fleury loss was not as great because before Fleury went down he wasn't exactly tearing the league up, it was after he came back that he really established himself. Meanwhile you had Conklin who came in and played spectacular. That could have gone either way, if Conklin had not played the way he did the Pens likely would have struggled more and I think it was more about his individual effort than the team on that front.

Cory Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:03)

Now to the main point about the defense. For one the Pens depth is not as great as it is on O. With Gonchar out you do not really have a guy who can step in and play anywhere near the level he does. For example if Lidstrom went down on the Wings Rafalski could step up and be a very solid number 1 guy. Not Lidstrom good, but good. There's no one on the Pens really ready to replace production on that level. Also with the new NHL the transition came has shown to be incredibly important for offensive production. It all starts out of the backend and having defenseman that can make that first outlet pass is key. The Pens just lost 2 of their best defenseman in that aspect and that is gonna slow down the offense.

Caz Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:01)

Cory - Meech, Quincey and Ericsson have yet to play a full season and those 3 combined don't even have 80 games played. It depends on how you want to look at NHL competent. I'm not saying that they aren't good enough to be in the NHL. They probably would have a couple seasons under their belts if they weren't stuck in the Red Wings depth chart. They will most likely turn out to be or are already better than Eaton and Scuderi but my take on competent was that they have over 200 career games played. Don't get me wrong, I would take Detroit's top 8 over the Penguins' top 8 any day. I just think losing Crosby and Fleury last year was a more devasting blow yet they still kept winning. I don't see why they can't do the same without Gonchar and Whitney when they have a couple experienced guys that can step in right away.

Cory Posted
(2009-04-30 07:05:55)

Caz I think Sean Miller may have been being sarcastic. But to answer your question of what that had 8 or more NHL competent defenseman going in to camp the answer would be the Red Wings. Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Stuart, Lebda, Lilja, Chelios, Meech, Quincey, and Ericsson. That's 10.

Bio ImplanT Posted
(2009-04-30 07:05:50)

Now Chelios is out a repoered 3-6 weeks with a Fx Tibia . Only positive note is Detroits incredible depth. There's a alot of young guns in Detroits arsenal. Let's see how that goes. Will be interesting. Helm has looked quite good in the preseason. Ericsson might go against the cap, not sure. But he's another fine example.

Caz Posted
(2009-04-30 07:05:46)

Thanks Jordan. That's exactly what I meant about Goligoski. He will replace their roles not their numbers. As for Sydor, yes he's done but my point was that he has 2 Stanley Cup rings and brings experience especially to a young team. No one else had a ring other than Sykora and I do think he would be the 6th D on a lot of teams. Finally, I'm not saying that the injuries won't have an impact nor do I think Scuderi, Eaton and Sydor are good (and Gill for that matter). I'm saying that these aren't bad guys to have on your depth chart when you are hit with 2 significant injuries. Taking Detroit as an example. If Lidstrom and Rafalski were injured, they would be looking at guys like Quincey, Ericsson and Meech to step in and they already have guys like Lebda and Lilja on the roster. As the best team in the league, I don't think they have better depth than the Pens but that's just my opinion.

Jordan Posted
(2009-04-30 07:05:43)

Yano- First, us Pittsburgh (note the 'h' on the end) fans arent suggesting the injuries will hardly impact the team. Everyone has said it will hurt it, but they're not enough to completely ruin the season. We have been saying they will be fine, you're misconstruing it to be us saying it's something that can be brushed off. I dont think anyone is dumb enough to really think Goligoski can outright replace either at this point. Secondly, Caz's point was that Goligoski is the one who will help pick up the slack from Gonchar and Whitney being hurt, that not he was able to fully replace them. Though I do agree Sydor is done. Man was he awful last season.

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