For all you hockey-heads out there, today has already brought news of several significant injuries across the NHL. But it looks like there's at least one more to be added to the docket - and this one's a biggie.
Pavel Datsyuk, the Detroit Red Wings forward and arguably best player in the NHL, has suffered a separated shoulder injury and will reportedly miss 4 to 5 weeks.
Datsyuk had an MRI and Detroit GM Ken Holland announced the results to reporters today.
Datsyuk suffered the injury on a hit from defenseman Rob Scuderi during Detroit's pre-season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Entering the offensive zone, Datsyuk tried to squeeze by Scuderi board-side, but Scuderi closed the gap quickly and ended up riding Datsyuk's shoulder into the corner of the glass at the end of the Pittsburgh bench.
The Red Wings and Datsyuk had a tough go of things last season. Datysuk appeared in only 45 games, and missed extensive time following the Winter Olympics in Sochi. He returned for the playoffs, but the Red Wings lost in the opening round to the Boston Bruins.
Despite the difficult nature of last season, Detroit fans were hopeful again, though the optimism in the fan base regarding the potential of a new campaign will, no doubt, be somewhat dampened by this news.
Luckily for Detroit (and unlike New York), they have a plethora of possible options to, at least temporarily, replace Datsyuk. Darren Helm will most likely move back to center after starting the pre-season on the wing on Datsyuk's line, but Stephen Weiss, who himself suffered through an injury-plagued campaign last year, could also provide an answer via an increased opportunity.
There are also several promising younger players that could potentially thrive, if given the chance.
Here's to hoping that Datsyuk can come back fairly quickly, and that today winds down without any more major hockey injury news.