The injuries just keep piling up for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Paul Martin injury: Penguins defenseman out 4-6 weeks with fractured tibia
The Penguins will be without Paul Martin for the next four to six weeks as he recovers from a fractured tibia.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Coach Dan Bylsma announced on Wednesday morning that defenseman Paul Martin will be out four to six weeks with a fractured tibia. He was injured during Pittsburgh's 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday night.
The Penguins are already without defenseman Rob Scuderi and lost forwards Beau Bennett and Tanner Glass over the last week. Pittsburgh has also spent time this season without forward James Neal and defenseman Kris Letang, though both are currently back in the lineup.
Martin’s injury is a particularly big one for the team as he is one of its best players and a big-minute defenseman that plays in every situation. Along with being one of the Penguins’ top players at even-strength and a regular on the penalty kill, he recently started playing on their top power play unit over Letang. He doesn’t put up huge offensive numbers, but he makes a great first pass out of the defensive zone and is perhaps Pittsburgh’s best defensive player.
In 23 games this season he’s scored two goals to go with nine assists and has played a team-high 25 minutes per game.
The Penguins recalled Simon Despres from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League earlier on Wednesday.
The injury could also impact Martin’s chances of making the American Olympic squad. He was considered a lock to make the 2010 team but had to miss out due to injury.
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