Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Kings Place Gagne on IR

The concussions are all the rage these days, diagnosis of the head injury is becoming more and more prevalent, but that comes with education. Simon Gagne is the latest player to have one diagnosed, as the Los Angeles Kings have placed him on the Injured Reserve on Wednesday, which will keep him out of the line-up for at least a week, but for now, he will be listed as out indefinitely.

There likely won't be a timetable for a return until next week, but I cannot see the Kings pushing Gagne to return, so he'll be given all the time he needs to heal.

Gagne isn't quite lighting up the scoreboard on a regular basis for the Kings this season, only scoring 7 goals and adding 10 assists in 34 games this year, scoring at only half a point-per-game at the moment.  This is good enough for 216th in pool scoring to this point in the season and that will likely take a good hit, while he is out of the line-up.  Gagne is 5th among forwards for the Kings this year, so despite a slower scoring rate, he will likely be missed for however long he'll be out for.

ImplicationsThis is just another concussion on Kristy and Don's team this season, which currently sits in 10th place, on the right side of a tie in points, with 278.  Their team currently sits 12 points behind 9th and 10 points better than 12th place.  The duo's team has hovered between 7th and 12th for the better part of regular season, but this injury situation will not help their cause to get back up to 7th.  The expectation will be that they fall much closer to 12th without Gagne.

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