It would be a major overreaction to sell simply because of Levesque and Crosby's injuries they announced today. With Crosby, him being listed as day-to-day is a setback but he was just coming back from injury as it was (I think the Cape Breton game was his first one back. He'll most likely be back quite quickly but they'll give him time to heal from whatever he had happen in the Sunday game. In the case of Levesque- it's unfortunate given how well he was playing- but it was a bonus with how well he's been playing given he's a rookie in this team that wasn't expected to go on the tear he's been going on. We still have a roster that is the Top in the CHL right now and is playing insanely well even when they haven't had a full roster until Sunday. Given that we expect Cam will likely find a way to add to what we have- there's nothing here that would change them being contenders this year.
My guess is that you'll see someone like Kilfoil (especially given he missed time because of the World Junior A Challenge) or Fournier step up in Lou's absence and be major offensive contributors over the next few months on that 2nd/3rd line. Ideally, the "significant period of time" would be potentially a few months and we get him back in mid to late January (as usually they use that term for anything beyond a 10 game forecast.
Every team has injuries - and every team has depth. Sell? I don't think so.
I don't see the big line even needing to play any more minutes than they have already been doing with the current Moose depth.
Crosby is day to day.
Levesque will be out for awhile from the sounds of it, but the Moose only have 14 games until the Christmas break (December 16) and will definitely be adding a couple of pieces at that time (or before). Dumais (and anybody else invited) would not leave before then for the World Junior tournament - but I'm not 100 percent on that - just going by tournament dates (December 26 - January 5th inclusive).
In the meantime:
Cataford - Vidicek - Dumais (Fournier when Dumais leaves)
Crosby - Kilfoil - Fournier (Peitzche when Dumais leaves)
Todd - MacPhee - Peitzche (Ponzetto when Dumais leaves)
Ponzetto - Moser - Welsh (Bent / Makinen) for the 6 games Dumais might be gone)
All games with Dumais gone are scheduled to be played in the Maritmes - Charlottetown (2); Cape Breton (2), Acadie-Bathurst and Moncton. The trade deadline closes on the 6th with Halifax playing on the 7th and 8th against Moncton and Charlottetown.
The Gold Medal game is on the 5th - but guessing Dumais wouldn't play the 7th or 8th - and the Moose not playing again until the 13th (at home vs. Quebec).
No need whatsoever for any knee-jerk additions, unnecessary trades or even the use of an AP from Quebec.
Once a couple of players are added at the deadline - Levesque will become this year's bonus add when he returns.
As far as the injury - nobody has been mentioning cast - which would have been on a day after it happened.
According to what I can find - most "broken wrists" in young hockey players are usually a "buckled cartilage soft plate" and not actually a broken bone. Using the Hockey Doc guidelines - players can often play with extra protection after 4 to 6 weeks:
hockey doc - wristThe bigger concern might be on how he (Levesque) plays when he returns. Will there be hesitancy where there didn't used to be, etc.?
I could be wrong with that assessment - just going by what sounds to be the most common injury for young hockey players when it comes to wrists. For all I know though - it might be a severe break and a 3 to 4 month period of recovery.
Crosby is still iffy. I like his play - but it seems when he adds that hard forecheck - puck battle element - he's a bit injury prone. He seems to be knocked down and lose his footing fairly easily - which really increases the chance of injury. I don't know if it's reasonable to expect him to become a top six forward this season. IMO - they need to
add two solid 2nd line forwards - and Henneberry and Horth (or Roelens or Denis) would work for me.
In the meantime - the Moose have depth who are more than ready to step up. I'm looking forward to see how they do. Just my 2 cents.