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Does this suck? Absolutely. Time for the "kids" Letang and Goligoski to step up no doubt. In a strange way though, it'll be like free addition near or at the trade deadline when they come back.

He gone ... probably for the season! It will be an interesting year for the Pens. They've lost some good players in the off season.

Yeah, but they still have Crosby and that is all that matters.

The Pens have had a decent pre season, no doubt it will be nice to get these two back fresh before the post season. I don't think the impact will be that great because Whitney was soft last year and Gonch (albeit the Pens PP will miss him) is sometimes a defensive liability.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 11:17 AM ET  09.30 by joefordnproud

Yeah, but they still have Crosby and that is all that matters.

One guy can't win it all the time for you. It's good that they still have Malkin and Fleury and now Satan, (how come he never signed in New jersey anyway?) so they should be okay. They may need to win a few 6-5 games, but I think I'll be seeing them again in April and May (as a NYR fan!)

I was being facetious Spiny

Not a good way to start the season. Losing Gonchar far outweighs any losses they suffered during the summer.

The Pens managed to finish second in the conference last year with Crosby & Fleury on the sidelines for a long stretch each, they will have to do it again.

Hopefully this will allow for the other defenseman to step it up like what happened last season.

It's a hard one for us to take, but they did last year with out two big guns. They'll just have to do it again.

I don't like Pittsburgh but I like Gonchar because he used to be a Cap. Tough loss.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 11:41 AM ET  09.30 by Last Call

Not a good way to start the season. Losing Gonchar far outweighs any losses they suffered during the summer.....

I hear Hatcher might be available!

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 12:51 PM ET  09.30 by DCruiser

I hear Hatcher might be available!

LMAO DC! Good one

Ouch!! Gonchar has always been on my top list of efficient D-men! I'd pay a lot to have him on my team.

The pens are in some trouble. Not miss the playoffs trouble, but combine the injuries to Whitney and Gonchar with the losses of Malone, Roberts, Ruttu, Laroques this offseason - the contributions of these guys goes beyond the score sheet, every team in the league needs the heart and soul warrior type guys to succeed and I'm not sure who the pens have left in that mold - not to mention loosing Hossa and replacing him with Satan, not even close to an even swap. Gonchar may have been a defensive liability in the past, but he has very quietly worked upon and improved his defensive game.

Cooke can be the pest, score more than Ruutu and not take nearly the penalties. Laraque stopped fighting and thought he was a scorer...good riddance to a large waste of cash and lack of deterrant and general waste of space. Roberts? love the guy but too much money and too old. The only guy out of that group the Pens will really miss is Malone.

Remember, the Pens ONLY had Hossa for 12 regular season games. Yeah, he stepped up big in the playoffs and we appreciate what he did, but let's not fool ourselves, he had nothing to do with the Pens getting the second seed last year. Unless you think 3 goals in 12 games secured them that spot.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 11:41 AM ET  09.30 by joefordnproud

I was being facetious Spiny

I know, I was just having a bit of fun

The Pens oughta be all right without Gonchar and Whitney for a while..., I think Gill, Eaton, Orpik and Letang (who really showed the Pens a lot last year!) can hold down the defensive fort in front of Fleury, at least until Whitney returns.

It sounds like the Pens wont finish with home-ice advantage this year. Gonchar is a HUGE loss. Add Whitney to that injury list and it doesnt sound good. They have a couple young kids i know,but who knows how they'll react to teh pressure of being the go to guys.

I just have a bad feeling about this season for the Pens - too many injuries and question marks. Though they could return to form in time for the 2nd half stretch run when Whitney and Gonchar return.

this is probably worse for the pens than if they got news that crosby was out for 4-6 months. gonchar was top 5 defenseman in the nhl last year and with whitney out as well its not like the second defenseman can pick up the load like malkin did last year with crosby out. if i were a pens fan id be very afraid of what their blueline is gonna look like this year especially because fleury is bound to be worse than he was in the playoffs. so basically it moves the rangers n flyers into the top 2 spots in the atlantic for most of the year. sweet deal for us