Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Gonchar - Sydor - Recchi

High-scoring defenseman Sergei Gonchar is currently nursing a sore groin that left him in the dressing room for the third period of the Thrashers game. Luckily for him, and the team, a five day break followed. Chances are he'll return to action Monday against the Coyotes. I'm sure the team won't risk further injury to their top scoring blueliner this Friday against the Stars.

In the mean time, Kris Letang and Ryan Whitney have been working on the power play together. The left/right combination on the blue adds to an even sided attack with the man advantage. Expect a lot of one-timers.

Recent news, and evidence of the players' performance, have left the futures of Daryl Sydor and Mark Recchi a bit hazy. Some suggest being scratched from the line-up is Coach Therrien's way of intimidating players to step up or ship out. Others suggest he's had his run with them and that's that. Perhaps it's too early to say. Rumor has it the Columbus Bluejackets are looking into acquiring the Penguins' regularly scratched Recchi and Sydor. Not many notables on the Bluejackets that would benefit the Pens in the trade, unless they can somehow manage a way to get Nash or Leclaire.

See also: Impossible.

To top it off, if Mark Recchi does in fact go to the BJs (couldn't resist), then he and Sergei Federov will combine for 78 years of "experience."

Recchi + Federov = retirement home.