Breaking: Team loses to players for over a month, perhaps more.

This is devastating news to start the season.

According to a report from the Nashville Predators official website, the organization has lost not just one, but two players for what appears will be over a month in both cases.

The first injury and perhaps the least damaging is to defenseman Anthony Bitteto, who will miss an estimated four to six weeks. Bitteto is a journeyman who in a depth role split time between the American Hockey League and the NHL last season, appearing in 28 contests for the Predators. 

The most significant injury is to former second round pick Miikka Salomaki who will miss an estimated six to eight weeks as a result of his injury, a significant portion of the season. Salomaki took a big step forward in his career last season appearing in 61 games for the Predators, and this injury has to feel like a major setback.

There's no doubt that losing two players on your roster for this length of time, regardless of their role on the team, will be a tough blow to the Predators.

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