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Injury Impact Scale: Jason Spezza, Joffrey Lupul

Dec 16, 2009 – 6:00 PM
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Christopher Botta

Christopher Botta %BloggerTitle%

In the National Hockey League, where they play a collision sport four times a week, the players continue to drop. Let's look at the latest pair to add to their teams' man-games lost to injury.

Joffrey Lupul, Anaheim F: As if the Ducks were not struggling enough, they lose Lupul for the next 6-8 weeks. On Thursday the speedy wing will have surgery on a herniated disk in his back. Lupul, who has 14 points in 23 games this season, had been playing through the pain since the start of the season. Serious back issues on a hockey player? Figure on this one being closer to eight weeks than six.

Injury Impact (out of 10): 7.0 -- Although he has played just 23 games, Lupul is fourth on the team with 10 goals. If Anaheim continues to lose players and games, they could be big sellers in the trade market in February.

Jason Spezza, Ottawa C: The Senators' top-line center and world-class playmaker will be out 6-8 weeks after suffering a torn ligament in his right knee during a 3-2 loss in Toronto. Spezza told reporters on Wednesday he hopes to be back sooner and the 6-8 weeks was just a "timeline" set by the medical staff. Believe him.

Injury Impact: 8.5 -- Especially during this down season for Spezza (5-14-19 in 30 games), some folks around Ottawa have wondered if their Sens would be better off without him. They will find out that they are not. On his worst nights Spezza plays more than 20 minutes a game and makes the Ottawa power play go.
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