Drafting Your Defense Just Got Tougher

A couple of quick injury notes:

Erik Johnson to miss entire season with torn ligaments. Golf Carts To Be Hunted as Criminals in St. Louis.

Erik Johnson, THE future of the St. Louis Blues tore the ligaments in his knee stepping out of a golf cart at a team sponsored event. Holy shit. That has to rival Theodore injuring himself slipping on a patch of ice outside of his house... not in the irony department but definitely in the randomness one. St. Louis President John Davidson when asked for a comment said, "Whoa Baby!" We agree John. This one hurts.

Johnson is expected to miss the entire season so obviously don't draft him unless you like having inactive players on your bench. I don't know maybe you're weird. Masochists play fantasy game too right? In fact it's arguable whether anyone BUT masochists play fantasy games but...

Sergei Gonchar dislocates shoulder... recovery time uncertain.

It now appears that Gonchar's mysterious injury in the Penguins first preseason game was a dislocated shoulder. The Penguins have been quiet about it up until now as there was too much swelling to determine whether surgery would or would not be necessary. Now according to Pens GM Ray Shero, Gonchar is considering surgery. A dislocated shoulder is a strange injury in the NHL. Malkin missed just four game from a dislocated shoulder in the preseason last year... but Malkin was 20 and Gonchar is well into his 30's. Of course it all depends upon the severity. I would move Gonchar down several spots in your draft. He will miss the beginning of the season even under the best case scenario and could be out until December under the worst.

With Whitney out until at least December the Pens powerplay situation becomes murky at best. Expect everyone with a pulse on that team to be trying their hand at the point for the first few games of the season. The early edge looks to go to Daryl Sydor (experience) or Alex Goligoski (potential).

This is a gut check for Pittsburgh. Their depth is being tested ad every weakness is being exploited. Rememer this is still the team that held onto their division lead without Crosby... but with Hossa... and Malone... and Whitney and Gonchar. Uh oh. I'd say the Rangers and Flyers odds in Vegas just went up. In related news this is apparently video of the most recent Penguins practice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0paUfGmB-Q