Penguins' Gonchar Out Indefinitely with Shoulder Injury

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Wednesday that defenseman Sergei Gonchar will be out indefinitely with a dislocated shoulder. Gonchar suffered the injury on September 20 in the Pittsburgh Penguins' preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gonchar scored 12 goals and added 53 assists for 65 points in 78 games last season with the Penguins. He scored one goal and added 13 assists for 14 points in 20 games during the 2008 playoffs. The injury to Gonchar is a serious blow to the Penguins' defense, as he averaged nearly 26 minutes of ice time per game last season and is a large contributor to the team's power play. The Penguins could likely elevate one of their young defensemen, such as Kris Letang or possibly Alex Goligoski, to fill Gonchar's place. The Penguins could also look to the remaining available free agents or the trade market for depth until Gonchar returns from injury.