Paul Stastny Out At Least Five Weeks With Broken Foot

Deja vu, all over again. Last year, after four games, Paul Stastny wrenched his shoulder and was out for eight games. He never seemed to regain his full form, being placed on the third line with Patrik Berglund and Dmitrij Jaskin - though perhaps being placed on the third line was also part of not getting his full form back.

Last week, Stastny was injured while blocking a shot against the Vancouver Canucks. He had earlier been part of a highlight-reel Alexander Steen goal; Stastny has been centering Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko in a line that had been clicking since the pre-season.

Of course, nothing gold can stay. Stastny was examined by team doctors and placed on the IR. Today, it was released that he will be re-evaluated in five weeks, which means the Blues may miss him for up to a fifth of the season. Ken Hitchcock had this to say about the loss to Jeremy Rutherford:

"It's an injury that affects all three aspects of our team," Hitchcock said. "One person is not going to be able to absorb that. We have to find a way to absorb that in our group."

More time for Scott Gomez for now seems to be the move. Fortunately, according to the same article from Rutherford, Robby Fabbri appears close to returning and Patrik Berglund also has been skating. Perhaps that will help the Blues soften the blow of their top center.