Jan 9, 2015 3 min read

The 2013-14 NHL season ended for the Pittsburgh Penguins with another devastating playoff loss in the Eastern Conference semifinals. After their series loss to the New York Rangers, the Penguins organization made some much needed changes. Head coach Dan Bylsma was replaced by Mike Johnston just days after Jim Rutherford took Ray Shero’s position as general manager.

Even with the changes, the Penguins remain consistently strong in the regular season. They proudly stand atop of the Metropolitan Division. But so far, this season hasn’t all been good for the Penguins.

Early in the season, 20-year old defenseman Olli Maatta received a startling diagnosis from the team’s medical staff. A cancerous tumor was found in his thyroid gland. Maatta made a speedy recovery and was back in the lineup just two weeks after having surgery to remove the tumor. Unfortunately, he suffered an upper-body injury in early December, and has yet to return.

Soon after Maatta was diagnosed with a tumor, top-line winger Pascal Dupuis received alarming news of his own. He was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung. He’ll be out at least six months.

In addition to massive health issues, the Penguins also experienced an array of typical sports-related injuries. Chris Kunitz, who typically plays on the first line as a left wing, fractured his foot in early December, just days after Marcel Goc injured his foot. Forward Blake Comeau injured his wrist. Robert Bortuzzo and Patrick Hornqvist recently suffered undisclosed injuries.

With so many players injured, the Penguins called many of their AHL players up into the big leagues. Players like Bobby Farnham, Derrick Pouliot, Bryan Rust, and Scott Harrington made their NHL debuts. Scott Wilson, unfortunately, was injured in his NHL debut this season, and remains on injured reserve.

Beau Bennett, another Penguins player bit by the injury bug, realizes the injuries area big issue. His New Year’s resolution was to play 10 consecutive games without getting hurt.

And to add insult to injury, the NHL had an outbreak of the mumps. Team captain Sidney Crosby was the Penguins player to be diagnosed with mumps, and from there it spread like wildfire. Bennett, Downie, Greiss and Maatta all tested positive for mumps shortly after.

Already this season, the Penguins lost 108 man-games to injury. Thankfully, the team’s depth saved them so far, keeping them at the top of the division. Hopefully, Bennett’s New Year’s resolution to stay healthier will come true not only for him, for the entire team.