What do Steve Yzerman, Mike Dunham, Brad Isbister, Jeremy Roenick, Richard Zednik, Brian Boucher, and Sergei Federov all have in common? They are all currently out with groin injuries. As Charley Walters reports in the St. Paul Pioneer Press today, the Wild players are complaining of softer ice than usual, and Willie Mitchell yesterday, on the P.A. and DuBay show on KFAN radio, said the ice problems are widespread around the league. The USA Today reports that nine total goaltenders have already been injured, mostly with groin injuries. Curtis Joseph blames the ice as well.

"I'm no ice expert, but it's an awful coincidence that it's so hard to push around in there," Joseph said.

Hopefully the league can figure out a way to get ice conditions to a high standard, lest they be subject to half a season without many of its top stars.