Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
So we lose Smid because of some half-assed Oilers medical team? We should get some compensation for that.
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Who knows to what extent the damage was made worse by Smid playing an extra 2-3 months (or more; most players ignore bumps and bruises for a while) in 2010 with borderline intolerable neck pain, before the Oilers used an ounce of common sense....actually no, they didn't, Smid himself had to request the MRI, and Smid got the surgery.
But, the hit from Depres was pretty standard.
A combo of Smid trying to play through it for months, and the Oilers either unaware,, and when they became aware of a potential issue, not really caring to investigate further, telling the player "you're probably ok", for a starting defenseman's health.
Given Lowe and his antics, he probably played his part in guilting Smid into playing, regaling old man stories about how in his day, Lee Fogolin played with a charley horse for 6 months and Kevin McLelland played with a dislocated shoulder (and no brain) for his entire career.
Surprised the NHLPA wouldn't have been all over this at the time...as I said, sounds as if the Oilers were deliberately negligent when it came to a players health condition.
And Dr. Nick Riviera is giving the Oilers too much credit....to continue the Simpson's reference, it's more akin to the time Lisa (who drank the water at the amusement park) was given a bunch of pills.
"Thank you doctor"
"Oh, I'm not a doctor"