If there is any silver lining to the impending NHL lockout, it is that defenseman Erik Gudbranson will have time to heal after surgery as a result of a training injury suffered at the Saveology.com Iceplex last week. Details are sketchy as to how it happened, but Gudbranson could be out for up to four months. Considering his bone-crushing style of play, this will not bode well for his immediate future, and he might want to think twice about dropping the gloves during the upcoming, shortened season.

Fellow Panther Jack Skille had a similar injury and didn't see the ice for 3 1/2 months, so it will be interesting to see how long it takes Gudbranson to be ready. The Panthers certainly will not expose him to the toughness of the game until they are certain he is ready.

Gudbranson had a solid rookie year despite his -19 rating, and he continuously got better as the season went on, including the playoffs. According to George Richards of the Miami Herald, the Panthers were planning on sending Gudbranson to the San Antonio Rampage to continue to work as the NHL spins its wheels during this labor strife. Obviously those plans are now on hold, as is Gudbranson's season.

Another silver lining is due to GM Dale Tallon's superb drafting and managing organizational assets, the Panthers are loaded on the blue line so there is no need to panic while Gudbranson recovers. This is just another situation that proves how valuable it is to still have Keaton Ellerby around, and the window of opportunity is a bit wider for promising prospects Colby Robak and Alex Petrovic. Either way this is still tough news for an organization coming off its first division title in franchise history and first playoff berth in over a decade. Here is the official press release from the Panthers on Gudbranson:

D Erik Gudbranson Undergoes Successful Surgery

SUNRISE, FL – Florida Panthers Executive Vice President & General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that D Erik Gudbranson underwent successful shoulder surgery on Thursday, Sept. 6 at Doctors Hospital in Miami. The procedure was performed by Dr. Uribe and a full recovery is expected.

Join the Discussion: » 26 Comments » Post New Comment

» Goodbye To Hockeybuzz

» Aleksander Barkov Finally Gets His Due

» Marchessault Stings

» Are The Panthers A Tease?

» The Legacy Jagr Left Behind...