[thefoss1957]

The 'Hawks appeared to pick up a couple of injuries in game 7 vs. the Ducks...Bryan Bickell, either undisclosed, or simply Q's doghouse, was stapled to the bench for much of the game...for 'Hawk fans, this is addition by subtraction. Although the team leader in the dubious "hits" stat, his hits didn't lead to much offensively OR defensively...and the team really seemed to spark once Kane was moved AWAY from him. If he is gone for any period of time, Versteeg will dress and skate in the slot...Versteeg gives better speed, more offensive threat in transition, but less "net front" presence on the PP. (Shaw or Saad seem better at finishing from there anyway). The major NEGATIVE Versteeg might bring, is more "bad" PIMs. They would be a wash in zone entry turnovers.

The MAIN injury concern, is, oddly, our 4th liner, Marcus Kruger, who took a late hit from dirtbag Kesler, even though the puck had been long played. Kesler hit him onto the bench, and Kruger did not return to the ice, appearing to favor his right elbow as he remained on the bench. Kruger, who plays with far more heart than talent, is the #1 PK center, and usually leads the team in TOI in shorthanded situations. Q uses the 4th, often to shut down opponent #1 lines, when he wants to direct our #1 lines energy to offense. Desjardins/Kruger/Shaw were often the best line out there in forechecking and creating chances, though, not necessarily finishing those chances, in each of the prior series. Their play, as much as anyone's ground down the Ducks #1 line, and can take some credit for Getzlaf's games 6 and 7 failures. If Kruger is down, Joakim Nordstrom skates in, bigger, willing, but less experienced, much worse in the dot, and lacking the chemistry with Desi/Shaw, Nordstrom would be a notch below what the team had been getting from Kruger.

It remains to be seen if these two starters just had temporary "dings" or something more serious.