After announcing that they have recalled LW Luca Caputi from the Baby Penguins, the parent club also announced today that LW Chris Kunitz would have abdominal surgery and would be sidelined six (6) weeks.
Kunitz will have surgery tomorrow in Philadlephia, but will rehabilitate back in Pittsburgh under the supervision of strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar.
In revealing the injury, Pens' GM Ray Shero indicated that Kunitz has been suffering from the injury for some time and could have played through it, but stated that everyone now felt it would be best if Kunitz got the procedure done so he could be at full health down the stretch.
This news was very interesting, and has several implications to those in Penguin Nation.
The first consequence of Kunitz's injury is that it opens up a roster spot for Caputi for potentially an extended period -- depending on how he performs.
The second thing -- which is tied into the first -- is that it could impact what the Penguins do at the trade deadline this year on or before March 4.
With Kunitz on injured reserve, they save some of his salary, and if Caputi plays well, team brass might deem Kunitz expendable.
Time will tell, but there certainly has been a lot of news in Penguins' camp today.
We'll see how things play out on the ice tonight.
BTW, Brent Johnson is expected to start in goal.
Let's Go Pens!
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