It’s very rare to see more than three or four players fall victim to injury at the same time in a given season on a professional hockey team. Usually different players get injured at different times, and most are short-term except for those one or two unlucky guys that endure season-ending casualties.
You never expect something that horrific to happen to your favorite hockey team right in the middle of the regular season. Whether your team is defending first place or in the middle of a playoff push, the last thing you want to see is the lineup falling apart.