Link hits: Injuries mounting across the league, Los Angeles will house 2010 NHL Draft

by FrankD on Oct 27, 2009 11:29 AM EDT

Hooks noted yesterday that three Penguins, Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz and Tyler Kennedy, were all absent from practice. Injuries? Days off? Hard to say right now, but rest assured the Penguins aren't the only team working through injuries.

The Devils will be without Paul Martin and Jay Pandolfo for at least four weeks. Martin suffered a fractured arm after Bill Guerin used it for target practice in Saturday's loss to the Devils, while Pandolfo dislocated his shoulder during a hit from former Devil Mike Rupp. [Fire & Ice]
J.S. Giguere re-injured his groin in the 6-4 loss to Columbus on Saturday. It likely won't keep him on the shelf for too long, but sometimes those lower-body injuries aren't rushed back nearly as much for a goalie as they would be for another skater. [SBNation]
Ilya Kovalchuk was off to an intense start for the Thrasers (9g, 1a in 8 games). Hell, even the Thrashers are off to a strong start. Kovi suffered a broken foot after taking a shot off the skate Saturday night against the Sharks. Atlanta will have to try and work around that for the next 4 weeks, at the least. [Bird Watcher's Anonymous]
Aaron Lerner of SBNation tossed together an article on headshots in the NHL, stating "something needs to change." The recent injuries to Florida's David Booth and Colorado's Darcy Tucker really has a lot of people hoping the NHL does something about these hits. [SBNation]
And finally, to steer away from the injuries a bit, some news has landed earlier than anticipated, as the league still has no plans to officially announce that the 2010 NHL Entry Draft will take place in Los Angeles. I guess, as noted in this post, that they are still considering a venue. [SBN]

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It’s starting to seem like if it weren’t for injuries, there’d be no hockey news at all!

I would love to be able to defend Guerin for his part in the parade of injuries, but I got nothin’.

"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007

"Don't beat yourself!"--Darrell Waltrip

by GreenEyedLilo on Oct 27, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions

All these injuries, and yet Gaborik is still healthy. What are the odds??

by ButchersDog on Oct 27, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

It’s still early, even for Gaborik.

by PensFan024 on Oct 27, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Nope….apparently he got hurt last night. I spoke to soon. LOL.

by ButchersDog on Oct 27, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I read that earlier today too but didn’t see any prognosis so figured I could wait on it. All these other guys are out a week or more. According to Gaborik, it’s nothing serious.

http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/2009/10/27/1102876/its-nothing-related-to-my-groin-or

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 27, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Can't help it...

Is anyone else thinking of the Black Knight from Monty Python? “’Tis only a flesh wound!”

"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007

"Don't beat yourself!"--Darrell Waltrip

by GreenEyedLilo on Oct 27, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Now, does that make Sean Avery a Knight Who Say Ni, or just a regular Knight that’s just annoying.

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.

by Lavender on Oct 27, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

heh, like I said, “according to Gaborik.” I’m sure by now he knows he’s not a doctor. The Rangers have been treating him like a fragile piece of glass since he signed on. Even if he’s a little sore by next game I wouldn’t be surprised if they sit him for one.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 27, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m sure they’ll make him a bubble boy, in a body cast, and lying in an iron lung machine just to play things safe with him.

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.

by Lavender on Oct 27, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I think now could be the make-or-break time in the Trashers-Kovalchuk “relationship”… if they manage to stay over .500 there’s a very good chance he resigns…

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Oct 27, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

I’d like to think if they offered him $100-mill he’d stay anyway, but maybe that’s just me talking about how I’d handle the situation. heh

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 27, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Cascade Helmets

While I kind of digged the CHX, the upgraded M11 helmet is already being worn by a few players in the league. Though, for a shot like Booth took, you have to wonder how much the helmet would have prevented the result.

Still, I think Cascade is starting something great for hockey. It’s just a matter of other companies joining in that effort to protect player’s heads, not which can keep the player the coolest, or look the coolest.

I feel like I could go off on that more, but this is PensBurgh not Uni Watch Blog.

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.

by Lavender on Oct 27, 2009 1:43 PM EDT reply actions

I'm actually working on a piece on the new M11 helmets

If you go to there website, and look at the difference between the M11 insert and one from a regular RBK or Easton, it’s amazing. I think more and more people will switch to this helmet. I hope all of the companies will adopt this great technology.

Windy City Hockey

by The Admiral on Oct 27, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the lone thing that works against it, apart from player perhaps having contracts, is the bulky track/ratchet system for the helmet, from an aesthetics view. But in all honesty it just makes sense what cascade is trying to do when you compare helmet manufacturers. Seems like some protect small patches of skull to aim for helmet lightness, moisture wicking, or air vent accessability.

I certainly think this will become a household product for all college programs, and should be strongly recommended below that. I just feel certain company ties will keep players on, so they need to get on it themselves.

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.

by Lavender on Oct 27, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

If it is adopted by more and more colleges...

then more NHL players will become accustomed to wearing it. It just looks weird because it’s new. It’s got 20 freakin’ vents, is 646 grams, but I’m not sure on the moisture wik system. I played lacrosse from high school through college, and I can say that Cascade makes a damn fine helmet. It’s all they do, it’s their niche. It kinda reminds me of TACKLA with hockey pants (although Tackla does make gloves, etc…)

But I can’t believe guys like Brian Pothier, Niklas Hagman, etc… are not using this helmet? It blows my mind. On the other hand, you have Avery (a guy who realizes there is a life after hockey) protecting his brains from being scrambled. As a Hawks fan, I hope Toews and Seabrook consider using this helmet when they recover from their “concussion-like symptoms.” Toews is locked-up with Easton, so that’s a “no”, and Seabrook…….doubtful.

Windy City Hockey

by The Admiral on Oct 27, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I actually caught that Toews had swapped to Bauer helmet’s a few games into the season, and Warrior sticks. He could perhaps be out of that contract and be up for a try out. Either way, just like how Nicklas Lidstrom went to a visor after a puck to the face, you have to wonder about why a player wouldn’t want to try it out as a matter of not wanting to be the next Eric Lindros.

Side not, SBN thinks using more than five links in a comment is spam. Silly SBN, this is spam.

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.

by Lavender on Oct 28, 2009 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions