Oshie Out at Least Three Months

The diagnosis isn’t pretty. T.J. Oshie will miss at least the next three months after needing surgery to repair a fractured left ankle. As if the Blues weren’t dealing with enough injuries, the news regarding Oshie is pretty miserable. Now the team will require someone to step up and fill the 2-way abilities Oshie brought to the ice.

There really isn’t much of a bright side to this one. Oshie will be re-evaluated three months from now and will attempt to make his way back then. Even under the most ideal conditions, he will likely need a large chunk of time to return to 100%, so don’t be surprised if he is actually out a bit longer than the current projection of three months. An injury with an ankle can easily act up and delay a skaters return.

Oshie may not have brought much to the table in the way of scoring goals this season, but he has been the catalyst behind a huge portion of the team’s offensive chances. His nine assists led the team when he suffered the injury. What the stats won’t tell you is that Oshie is dynamic as a forward and is extremely talented in playing solid, fundamental hockey. He hustles on every shift, throws his body around, makes checks that opponents won’t soon forget and hustles back on defense, preventing chances at the other end of the ice. Simply put, Oshie really is a one of a kind.

Oshie can not be replaced, but hopefully the youngsters and the veterans will all give that little extra like we have seen Oshie do on every shift.

Two of the three youngsters from the infamous “Kid Line” are now dealing with injuries. David Perron’s is not nearly as serious as Oshie’s, but concussions and injuries dealing with the head are ones that tend to pop back up and have lingering effects. Let’s hope that’s not the case and Perron can make a speedy recovery. This team needs him.