STOP WITH THE SHENANIGANS: Pens Injuries and Expected Returns (NEW POLL)
Another Pensburgher posted a list of our injured players in a fanpost, and I decided that I wanted more information: like what's wrong with them, and when we might start seeing them come back to our lineup. So I made a list. I have also included their current point-stats in order to help give some sense of what they have contributed to the team so far. That obviously doesn't tell the whole story, but it's a start. And besides giving us regulars the whole depressing picture in one (fan)shot, hopefully it will help to give random passersby a better sense of what the Pens are dealing with.
Or at least it did. Today (February 18th) we got a superfantastic update from Head Coach Dan Bylsma who let us know that while Kunitz and Letestu hit the ice sans gear, they, along with Jeffrey, "won't be playing this weekend".
And for all you suckers who voted in the previous version of our poll (Results: roughly 40% of you thought Asham would be back first, while the rest of you were split pretty evenly between Letestu, Tangradi and Crosby), it turns out that Asham has a concussion-like. That's right: a concussion-like! Word is that Dupuis was in the background during Bylsma's press conference, snidely remarking about how they'd fooled us all. It's a good thing we had our helmets on ...
And finally, Nick Johnson, he of 4 NHL games and 1 NHL goal this season, sustained some sort of upper body mojo during practice and will not likely be available this weekend. You know, the Pens should really consider skipping practice altogether. Although it's not likely that he got hit in the hand with a slapshot, or got stuck in a rut and twisted his knee: because that clearly never happens.
Follow me after the jump for a list of our injured players, roughly sort of kind of in order of when they are expected back. ...
| Player (GP-G-A-P) | Injury | Date of Injury | Status | Expected return |
| Chris Kunitz (52-18-18-36) | Lower Body | 6-Feb | IR (Feb. 8th) | Feb. 16th? ("day-to-day") |
| Dustin Jeffrey (13-4-3-7) | Lower Body | 10-Feb | IR (Feb. 11th) | Feb. 20th??? |
| Matt Cooke (54-10-13-23) | Being Matt Cooke | 8-Feb | Suspended | Feb. 20th |
| Sidney Crosby (41-32-34-66) | "Mild" Concussion | 1-Jan & 5-Jan | IR (Jan. 6th) | Any day now. Seriously. C'mon! |
| Arron Asham (36-5-5-10) | Upper Body | 1-Feb | IR (Feb 5th) | ??? |
| Mark Letestu (50-10-10-20) | Lower Body (knee?) | 25-Jan | IR (Feb. 1st) | March 8th? (4-6 weeks) |
| Eric Tangradi (14-1-1-2) | Concussion-like | 11-Feb | "Day-to-Day" | "At least a week"? |
| Mike Comrie (16-0-5-5) | Hip | 24-Nov | IR (Dec. 10th) | Playoffs? (3-4 months) |
| Eric Godard (17-0-1-1) | Goalie Interference | 11-Feb | Suspended | March 12th |
| Evgeni Malkin (43-15-22-37) | Shredded knee | 4-Feb | IR (Feb. 10th) | Next season (6 months) |
Nick Johnson (4-1-2-3) Upper Body 18-Feb Cursed At some point
So, basically, the relief we're looking for is going to come even more slowly than we thought. Perhaps the up side is that the Pens just play on Wednesday & Sunday this week, so they have some time to rest, some time to work their myriad of call-ups into the game, and some time to whip their defense back into shape. There's no upside. If you're playing well, you're going to get hurt. DO YOU HEAR THAT, J-STAAL? DO YOU HEAR THAT?!
And, of course, Ray has a few days left to think about potential trades (our prospects are getting a nice chance to showcase themselves!). But Mario will be busy explaining to people about how the NHL shouldn't be such disciplinarian pansies, so we should probably leave him alone.
As for Ray and Mario: I heard something about a first rounder to Boston for Tomas Kaberle, Ian White, and Blake Wheeler. And also Rick DiPietro. They have a bet about how things could in fact actually be worse on the injury front.
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Haha It’s possible you’re overstating, but I’m glad you liked it :) My favourite part has to be Godard’s “injury”.
My feet are wet.
Is it wrong that I first read her comment as “you are a flawlessly human being”?
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Follow me on twitter, Picasa or at Pens Through My Lens. Or don't. Whatever.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Feb 14, 2011 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
I voted Sid just to be hopeful
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
I want to be a Toronto Maple Leaf forever - Phil Kessel
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
yes
except for polls on the most overrated player, biggest baby, whinest whiner, etc.
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
I want to be a Toronto Maple Leaf forever - Phil Kessel
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
Have to go with Asham
Never bet on concussions, so that automatically rules Tangradi and Sid out. We know that Letestu is going to be out until at least the middle of March. Asham is the only choice
Letang Clan - ain't nothin to puck with
We don't devote nearly enough scientific research to finding a cure for jerks.
You might be right, but the trouble is that we don’t really have any information about what’s wrong with Asham, which makes it difficult to predict when he’ll return. Although if it were something requiring surgery (and therefore likely a longer recovery period), there’s a remote possibility we would know what it was.
My feet are wet.
I voted Letestu. He’s really the only guy who we have a timetable for. Asham has done this at least twice already this year. He’s gone down with a day-to-day injury that nobody saw and has missed significant time. Bottomline, I don’t really see the Pens getting healthy anytime soon.
by StripesForLife on Feb 13, 2011 11:20 PM EST up reply actions
very nice
I voted Letestu for the simple fact that we actually have an expected date on his return.
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!
Hey PopRox, hope you don’t mind but I touched up the headline so I could toss it up on the front page.
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Isn't it funny
I’ve noticed on many of the Islander’s blogs lately how they’re complaining about all their injuries and how the Pens don’t have it anywhere near as bad as they have it. Do they have a Crosby or a Malkin out? not even close! Just because games missed due to injury to Weight, DiPietro and other scrubs (apologies to Streit and Eaton) is adding up, it doesn’t mean they have it worse.
DiPietro is always going be on the IR. I fail to see how this can be a cause of concern for Islanders fans.
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by FrankD on Feb 14, 2011 12:48 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not to turn this into an Islanders-Pens re-cap thread, but I think this is the most puzzling piece of Islanders fan reactions after Friday’s game (and to a lesser extent, the players): could anyone really have been surprised when DiPietro ended up injured after picking a fight with Johnson (or a feather, for that matter)? More to the point, how can anyone have really felt it was appropriate to blame Johnson for Dipietro’s injuries, or to think that any “payback” on Johnson was necessary? All things considered, it doesn’t track.
My feet are wet.
The Islanders have had their fair share of injuries to their top line guys. To paraphrase what someone mentioned elsewhere, the impact of a less-than-Crosby loss is fairly significant when your lineup is as thin as the Islanders is. For instance, Okposo was injured during training camp, and didn’t return to the lineup until mid-January. He’s a guy who makes a difference on their team.
That said, I don’t agree that they’ve had it worse than the Pens, but I think we should be careful not to minimize the injuries they’ve had to deal with this season (after all, isn’t that what they’re doing to us?!). They weren’t about to be Cup contenders or anything, but the hope was that they’d at least be in the running to be in the running for a playoff spot. Their injuries impacted that dream significantly. At the moment the only thing they’re in the running for is the draft lottery.
My feet are wet.
Call Ups
I suggest we get Mario to strap the skates on, get Errey out of the booth, and get Granato in there too. Its gotta be better than what we got going on now.
by Octavio Masset Cardoso on Feb 14, 2011 4:31 PM EST reply actions
He’d also be the only player in the league who could actually benefit from a hit to the head.
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by FrankD on Feb 14, 2011 5:18 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Depressing list
Wow, it’s hard to look at the list of wounded Pens and not cringe. Never seen it this bad before on the injury front.
Proud fan of Pittsburgh's professional sports teams and the Pirates too.
by Black&GoldTrain on Feb 15, 2011 1:36 AM EST reply actions
Weary on the crosby situation
To be frank, I would rather crosby be passed by three doctors than to see him come back prematurely. I want to see crosby play till he’s forty, or at least high thirtys. The last thing we want to see is repetitive concussions in the next couple of years. The worst thing is that he’s sidney crosby and he has a target on his back to be hit hard every time he touches the puck.
So, I say Letestu or Tangradi. Unless tangradi also has a “real” concussion.
We're Not Dead Yet!
Also, I’m vaguely unhappy that they said Sid had a mild concussion after the WC… What the hell is a mild concussion? There are no mild concussions. Just painful ones.
If Hell freezes over, I'll play hockey there too.
Mild is the medical term and refers to symptoms at time of injury, level of consciousness and other assessments including anticipated recovery in terms of ability to fully recover. It is mild based on medical criteria, which is good and certainly better than a medical professional calling it moderate or serious, but shouldn’t be taken to mean not concerning.
I’ve had one or two concussions before. They always suck.
If Hell freezes over, I'll play hockey there too.
A friend of mine had a concussion and didn’t know it, so he slept it off and didnt’ see the doctor. He now claims Sid is a wuss >:(
I want to be a Toronto Maple Leaf forever - Phil Kessel
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
also.. morning!
How’s my fave nurse type pens blogger?
If Hell freezes over, I'll play hockey there too.
Crosby out for season?
I don’t know, but the roster report this morning is anything but good news:
“C Sidney Crosby has not progressed from concussion symptoms and is not close to resuming exercise activities. Penguins coach Dan Byslam said Crosby, who hasn’t played since Jan. 5, remains bothered by symptoms, which include headaches. There is no timetable for his return.”
To have not progressed so long after a “mild concussion” is very troubling indeed, although, if he’s suffering from headaches they might try sending him to a chiropractor. The way he was hit in the second instance, might well have knocked his neck/back out of alignment. I know that I get a lot of headaches when my neck is out of whack.

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