Introducing The 2011 NHL All-Concussion Team

There's always plenty of injuries during the course of an NHL season. It's a tough game that's played at blazing high speeds. If you're following hockey this year, the injury du jour is the concussion. With that said, here's your 2011 NHL All-Concussion Team:

Center

 87 - Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins

Right Wing (from center)

28 - Claude Giroux - Philadelphia Flyers

Left Wing

9 - Milan Michalek - Ottawa Senators

Right Defense

58 - Kris Letang - Pittsburg Penguins

Left Defense

20 - Chris Pronger - Philadelphia Flyers

***Miller and Reimer had concussions but are back in action. This is why we don't have a goalie on this team. We could pull a Canseco by throwing Staal between the pipes.***

Honorable mentions:

Marc Savard - Boston Bruins

Marc Staal - New York Rangers

Jeff Skinner - Carolina Hurricanes

Brayden Schenn - Philadelphia Flyers

I'm not trying to make light of this, because it's terrible. You wouldn't have heard about concussions 5 years ago, which is very alarming since these injuries were not properly diagnosed.

Call it part of the game. Call it a string of bad luck. It's unfortunate that the NHL (and hockey in general) is getting attention because of cerebral injuries, and not the great story lines that are developing this season like Minnesota's surge to the top of the league or Brian Elliott's massive comeback in St. Louis.

In the end, I'm pissed off that I CAN create an All-Star All-Concussion Team with so many amazing players out of the game indefinitely....which REALLY sucks for my pool.

-Paqman