Nashville's defensive depth tested as Grebeshkov will miss "several weeks"

In what Nashville Predators fans hope isn't a return of the late-season injury bug that has plagued the team for several years now, newly acquired defenseman Denis Grebeshkov is expected to miss the next several weeks after taking a puck to the groin in Sunday's game against Vancouver. As Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reported, he required surgery afterward.

Perhaps what's most amazing is that Grebeshkov suffered the injury early in the game, but continued playing throughout the second and third periods. It was only when he was examined after the game that he went to the hospital.

UPDATE: John Glennon's afternoon blog addresses the uncertainty of the recovery timetable, with input from Preds assistant GM Mike Santos.

Denis Grebeshkov

#37 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-0

Weight: 209

Born: Oct 11, 1983

Shea Weber, of course, is already going to miss tonight's game at Atlanta, but the team is optimistic that he'll return to action later this week. In recent years, however, it has seemed like injuries have hamstrung the Predators in their efforts to qualify for, and succeed in the playoffs...

2007

Steve Sullivan began his two-year absence from the lineup with a back injury in February, and Martin Erat & Scott Hartnell were hobbled by lower body injuries late in the year. Erat missed two games of the playoff loss to San Jose, and Hartnell was clearly not up to speed.

2008

Foot injuries and the flu cost David Legwand more than a dozen games down the stretch, including three games during the Preds' playoff matchup with Detroit. Jason Arnott was concussed by Alexander Radulov in the "2 goals in 9 seconds" celebration, and missed two games as well.

2009

Jason Arnott missed 11 games in March and April due to a concussion, but returned earlier than expected and scored 6 goals in the final four games. David Legwand missed the final 9 games of the season after a deflected Weber shot broke several bones in his face, and another Weber blast broke Martin Erat's leg, causing him to miss the final games as well, as the Preds fell just short of the playoffs.

2010

We know that Grebeshkov is out until the very late stages of the regular season at least, and hopefully Shea Weber gets back in the lineup later this week. Can the Predators survive any more injuries like this, however???