Bucket of Pucks

Valtteri Filppula: Out 6 to 8 Weeks with Broken Wrist

The Detroit Red Wings were dealt another blow by injury, when Valtteri Filppula suffered a broken wrist on a Gilbert Brule hit.  The injury happened in the 2nd period during Thursday night's 6-5 shootout loss to the Oilers in Edmonton.

Filppula, a 25 year old center from Finland, has been a solid secondary scorer from the 3rd line on a deep Red Wing squad for the last 2 years.  Used more as a checker in the past, Detroit was looking to Filppula to help pick up some offensive slack and moved to center the 2nd line after Johan Franzen tore his left anterior cruciate ligament and isn't expected back until March.

Filppula is becoming a solid 2-way player, had a career high of 40 points last season and 16 playoff point in last years 23 playoff games.  He had 2 goals, 4 assists with 3 PP points in 11 games this season.  Fantasy analysis after the break.

Evgeni Malkin Out 2-3 Weeks with Shoulder Injury

At practice this morning, Penguin Coach Dan Bylsma announced that C/LW Evgeni Malkin will miss "a couple of weeks" with a shoulder injury that he has been trying to play through.

Malkin apparently strained the shoulder a few games ago and has been playing through it, but the Penguins made the decision to shut him down and let his battered wingbone heal.

Fantasy Analysis after the jump!

*UPDATED* Breaking: Roberto Luongo Injured, Out Indefinitely with Hairline Rib Fracture

UPDATE 3:45PM EST:  Roberto Luongo is suffering from a Hairline Rib Fracture that he originally sustained on a shot during Saturday night's Toronto game. TSN says Vancouver "dodged a bullet" and that he's shelved at least a week, but the Vancouver Province isn't so sure it'll be that short.  Advice below still stands.

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UPDATE 3PM: The Vancouver Province speculates it's a shoulder injury, mentioning Luongo had treatment following last night's game.

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In a nightmare for poolies everywhere, Vancouver Canuck Goaltender Roberto Luongo is apparently injured and will miss an undetermined number of games.  The Canuck's #1 netminder, Roberto missed 24 games last season with a Strained Adductor, and was not in practice today.

Details are sketchy and thin thus far, but it seems Luongo was injured in Tuesday's night's loss to the Detroit Red Wings - a game in which Luongo was repeatedly run by Detroit players crashing the net. 

Fantasy advice after the jump:

*UPDATED* Flyer's Simon Gagne has 2 Hernias; Surgery Possible, Out Indefinitely.

UPDATE 10.28.09 4:30PM : Gagne will indeed need surgery and is seeking a final second opinion before he goes under the knife. Giroux jumped to the top line last night with Richards and Hartnell, while James van Riemsdyk skated with Carter and Briere on the 2nd line. Giroux should be on someone's team in your league, and JVR is at least worth a spot on your watch list.

Oh, and apparently, the Flyers have No Interest in Shanahan either. Just Saying.

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After starting the season with just 1 goal in 9 games, struggling Philadelphia Flyer Left Wing Simon Gagne underwent an ultrasound today where 2 hernias were discovered in the right side of his Groin.

Gagne played just 1 shift in the third period of Sunday's 4-1 loss to San Jose and then he missed practice yesterday.  Concerned this was related to Gagne's off-season hip surgery, the Flyers ordered the tests. Simon also had a slight groin problem at the Olympic Camp earlier this year which led to Gagne leaving the camp after just a day. 

For the Fantasy lowdown on Gagne's diagnosis, join us below the crease.

Avalanche Goalie Peter Budaj has the H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu).

While I still think the media's obsession with the "Swine Flu" is overblown, it has now creeped into hockey coverage, as the first major sports athlete has contracted the H1N1 Virus, and he plays in the NHL.

The Colorado Avalanche have confirmed that back up goaltender Peter Budaj has been diagnosed with the so called 'Swine Flu" and has been segregated from the team since showing symptoms earlier this week.

The Avs have called up minor league keeper Tyler Weiman to backup Craig Anderson who will get his 12th consecutive start in goal. Anderson will continue to start until Budaj recovers and joins the team on their road trip so Weiman has no fantasy value unless Anderson gets injured. Budaj has yet to start a game this season while Anderson has a sparkling 8-1-0-2 record with a 2.14 GAA and a surprising .936 SV%. Continue to start Anderson with confidence.

Waiver Wire Report: NHL Fantasy Free Agents, Week of 10/26

As mentioned in last week's BucketofPucks Quick Hit's NHL Fantasy Injury Report, injuries are starting to pile up at an alarming rate this first month of the season.  Where injuries are a part of every sport, there is a disturbing trend emerging.  That is the increase of concussion related injuries.

In the last few years, there has been a rise in concern and some action related to concussions in most of the major sports.  In hockey alone, we've seen an improvement in head gear for both goalie and skater to better protect players but has that been enough?  In the NFL there has been rule changes penalizing players for blows to the head, not unlike hockey rules relating to stick fouls.  You must always be responsible for your stick, whether it be intensional or not.  With recent injuries to Toews, Tucker, Souray and Booth, it might just be time to consider similar action.

Hits that injure anyone almost always have a debate to them, whether it was dirty and/or intentional.  But with the NHL's "always responsible for your stick" rules in mind, coupled with League offices monitoring all the games for instant replay.  Maybe it's time for the NHL to combine the 2 for a safer game, in an effort to reduce this rising problem.

I watched the replay of Richards hit on Booth and I didn't feel it was dirty.  I did however feel Richards could have made more of an effort to avoid hitting him as he did.  Richards has a bit of a reputation for hitting players in vulnerable positions.  The NHL should look to force players into avoiding these vulnerable hits that expose players.  Whether it been a passing shoulder to the head or a hit forcing a player head first into the boards, like Souray being tripped or Tucker being checked.  What I'm suggesting is have the NHL "War Room" add to it's responsibilities keeping an eye on hits to the head and making players more responsible for their contact.

All this injury talk leads us right into our Waiver Wire picks for the week.  See who we've got on tap for you, after the break:

Darcy Tucker taken off the ice on a stretcher after being hit

Colorado Avalanche forward Darcy Tucker was taken off the ice with a neck brace and strapped to a backboard, after being checked into the boards in the offensive zone early in the second period.

Hit from behind by Carolina Hurricane forward Tuomo Ruutu as Tucker was playing the puck.  Tucker went face first into the boards and fell on his back onto the ice.  He lay motionless for several minutes as Avalanche trainers and doctors attended to him.  Tucker appeared conscious as he was taken off the ice, but there was a pool of blood left on the ice from where he was lying for more than 5 minutes.

There was no immediate word as to the exact nature of Tucker's injury.  Ruutu was assessed an major penalty for boarding and given a game misconduct.

For the Fantasy Impact follow us after the crease:

Quick Hits: NHL Fantasy Injury Report - 10.23.09

At an amazingly prolific rate, NHL players are getting injured in droves in the early going this season.  Some major ligament tears, some concussions and even some Groin injuries to go along with a collection of sprains, strains and bruised appendages - not to mention the battered faces of poolies everywhere from giving themselves multiple facepalms over the injuries decimating their teams.

The latest blow came when Chicago’s Jonathan Toews got leveled on Wednesday night and missed his 2^nd consecutive practice today.  For this fantasy scoop on Toews and the rest of this week’s list of impending returnees and walking wounded, join us below the crease.

Waiver Wire Report: NHL Fantasy Free Agents, Week of 10/19

As most teams have played 8 or 9 games into the season, we're starting to get an idea of how teams are starting to shake out.  Although, it's still to early to definitively determine individual players booms or busts, now is the time to take a chance or two with those weaker "back end" of your fantasy roster spots.

So, if you have a roster spot or two that you can open up by either poor production or injury, this weeks Waiver Wire Report has just what you maybe looking for.  Most of the players on this weeks' list are off to a hot start or taking advantage of some injury opportunity.  Over the next 2-4 weeks these players will prove themselves as the real deal or flashes in the pan.  Either way, they could help those in need for the short term and just might surprise you, as permanent fantasy players for your team.

This weeks' Waiver Wire Players after the jump:

INJURY: Penguins' Sergei Gonchar Breaks Wrist - Out 4-6 Weeks

And another one bites the dust, as another major player gets hurt. Pittsburgh Penguin Defenseman Sergei Goncher, who missed 56 games last season due to shoulder surgery, will miss the next 4 - 6 Weeks with a broken bone in his left wrist.

While he won't need surgery, this is the third injury in little more than a year for the offensive minded Gonchar, and his absence on the Power Play was a major Achilles heel for The Pens last season. Are Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski up to the challenge of filling Gonchar's minutes on the man-advantage?

For the Fantasy Impact, read on below the crease.