Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Well, my world is officially crashing apart.

Ducks forward Samuel Pahlsson will miss 3 to 5 weeks with a sports hernia, Anaheim Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke told media Thursday.

"Sammy went through abdominal pain throughout the playoffs, but the recommendation was rest....We anticipate if he misses any regular season time, it will not be a lot."

Pahlsson hasn't missed a game since 2003, playing in 275 straight regular season games and 58 straight playoff games, plus some international play to boot.

Now regular or even passing readers know my fascination with Pahlsson, but personal grieving aside, this whole situation is starting to look awfully fishy. For various reasons, some key players from the SC Finals are looking to miss the start of the season (which coincidentally starts with a pair of transatlantic flights):

• Sammy Pahlsson, Selke finalist and shut-down center, hernia surgery


• J.S. Giguere, cup-winning goaltender, hernia surgery (same surgeon)


• Scott Niedermayer, Conn Smythe winner and Norris finalist, contemplating retirement


• Teemu Selanne, scoring leader and top-line winger, contemplating retirement


• Dustin Penner, high-scoring rookie, priced himself out of town


• Chris Phillips, cup-winning-goal scorer, turns out he wasn't on our team in the first place

Maybe I'm being too skeptical here, but that seems like a lot of players conveniently finding themselves unavailable for England. But don't worry, Brits! So far as I know, all the main attractions are slated to go.

Anyways, get well soon, Sammy. Prediction: Pahlsson 1, hernia 0.