Abundant NHL Injury Bug: Causing Problems for Some; Solving Others

While Canadiens coach Jacques Martin was audibly cursing on the bench last night, he must have been silently wondering if injured, star blueliner Andrei Markov could have made any difference in Vancouver's 7-1 drubbing of Montreal.

In another Province, Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson found a blessing in disguise.  He no longer has to practice his "I  don't make goaltending decisions to please the fans" speech, as "The Monster" Jonas Gustavsson was placed on IR.  Wilson gets at least a one week  reprieve from the oh-too-early goalie controversy brewing in Toronto.

Gustavsson's injury is just the latest in an alarming amount of boo boos that have claimed a myriad of players this season. Before the pre-season was underway, we knew that stars Marian Hossa and Phil Kessel were going to miss time... even Game 7 "Superstar" Max Talbot was expected to be out after surgery.

Yet, since then we have seen the likes of  Markov, Erik Cole, Adam Burish, Mike Commodore, Andreas Lilja, Derek Boogaard, Ryan O'Byrne, Colin Wilson, Sean Avery, Joe Pavelski, Pavol Demitra, etc, etc, etc... miss chunks of time.

Some injuries take a long time to manifest. Consider Atlanta defenseman Boris Valabik who is expected to miss four to six weeks after having surgery to repair a high ankle sprain. Thrashers fans will remember back to last season when Pittsburgh Penguins megastar Sidney Crosby attacked Boris by attempting to punch him in the "high ankle" area! (47 second mark) These injuries worsen over time...




Of course that wasn't what really caused the injury, but seriously, is it me, or are the Boys of Winter surprisingly fragile thusfar?