Vegas Golden Knights: Luca Sbisa Placed On Injured Reserve
Luca Sbisa is back on the Vegas Golden Knights injured list for 6-8 weeks after rupturing a hand ligament.
When the Vegas Golden Knights recently got Luca Sbisa back from injury, it was a sigh of relief. However, he did not play much of any games due to the long eight-game winning streak the Knights were on. Head Coach Gerard Gallant didn’t want to tinker with the lineup if they didn’t have to during the 12-game point streak.
When the Knights finally lost to St. Louis on Thursday night, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to bring Sbisa back in the lineup for Chicago on Friday. Especially on the second end of a back to back, it made too much sense not to play him when he’s been ready. And that’s what the coach ultimately decided on, but no one expected what would happen next.
When things got testy during the second period in Chicago, the Ozieri, Italy native decided to drop the gloves with John Hayden. Even though he got the clear victory in the scrap, it came at a considerable price. Sbisa only played 10:49 due to injuring himself during the fight with Hayden.
On Wednesday, the Vegas Golden Knights announced the team placed the 27-year old on the injured reserve for the second time this year. The team expects Sbisa to miss 6-8 weeks of game action that should keep him out until late February. Sbisa underwent successful surgery to repair a ruptured a ligament in his left hand.
That’s a big blow to the Knights in two ways. The first being for his on-ice abilities and his leadership skills with the younger defensemen. And the second being his trade value dips substantially due to this injury, and it may be tough to net a prospect or pick back for an injured Sbisa.
Aside from the unfortunate injuries, this is the best Sbisa has looked in his NHL career. His one goal, nine assists, and ten points are nothing to sneeze at, but don’t let his numbers fool you. He always makes the right play and hardly ever turned the puck over when healthy.
Jon Merrill and Brad Hunt are going to be the ones fighting for that Sbisa spot in the lineup until he returns. I would like to see how both would fare with extended playing time as neither one of them have reached the 20 game plateau at the halfway point in the regular season. Both players will get their chances to prove themselves, but no one can just replace what Sbisa brings on a nightly basis.
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Overall, this is terrible news for the Vegas Golden Knights blue line. They racked off eight straight wins in his absence, but when does it all start to catch up? All six defensemen will have to step up to the plate with no Sbisa for the foreseeable future.