[News] UPD: Peters says Bennett is fine after Kings game & will play again in the reg season

[calumniate]

The good part from my non-clinical point of view is that there wasn't much whiplash involved. I am hopeful

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Old time hockey!

No...old time hockey would have seen him right back out there without any base line testing from medical professionals and making a diagnosis off of that rather than a super slow mo replay.

But nice drive by.

[Racki]

I wiped out as a youngster one time swinging from a pipe that lead to my basement. Wind got knocked out of me and my legs went to spaghetti. Full on panic because i couldn't get them to work for about thirty seconds. I also had a five mile stare going according to my pal that was with me.

[Flash Walken]

"What possible motive could a head coach have that would lead him to less than truthful about the health of his most physical player 4 games out from the most physical time of the year? I can't think of a single scenario in which a coach would want to protect his players over being dishonest with a member of the media.

Truly, a coaches responsibility is to the beat reporters of the team and not to his players."

That's what I like about the NHL. In the history of the game, no coach has ever covered for their players. The integrity of the injury reporting process has never been in question. It's what makes the NHL what it is.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Scrap that thought Sabourin is on an AHL deal. That last game worries me a bit. Edmonton is going to be running around for sure. Kassian is one of the biggest morons in the league. Not much to gain in that game for the flames and bit of an injury risk. Hopefully goes smoothly.

April 6th will be a nothing game. The Flames will shoot high glove side a couple of time in the first, and the rest will be a Sunday skate. It takes two to tango, Kassian and Lucic will find it difficult to make the game greasy when the Flames will clearly be getting ready for a bigger deal.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

"What possible motive could a head coach have that would lead him to less than truthful about the health of his most physical player 4 games out from the most physical time of the year? I can't think of a single scenario in which a coach would want to protect his players over being dishonest with a member of the media.

Truly, a coaches responsibility is to the beat reporters of the team and not to his players."

That's what I like about the NHL. In the history of the game, no coach has ever covered for their players. The integrity of the injury reporting process has never been in question. It's what makes the NHL what it is.

So his responsibility to the player leads him to lie to reporters and not just pull the player out? It's not as if he's saying "maybe he's in, we have to see what the doctor says". When coaches mislead about injuries they aren't as unequivocal.

[cracher]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

April 6th will be a nothing game. The Flames will shoot high glove side a couple of time in the first, and the rest will be a Sunday skate. It takes two to tango, Kassian and Lucic will find it difficult to make the game greasy when the Flames will clearly be getting ready for a bigger deal.

i would anticipate the same thing. The McD interview yesterday just oozed IDGAF. When the heart and soul of the club gives the soundbite of "it was never in question" in relation to being eliminated, the only thing those knuckledraggers will punch is their timecards.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by transplant99

And again, a player "looking" concussed, does not mean a thing either.

We either have the protocol (that the NHLPA are heavily involved in as well BTW) and follow it or we don't.

If we are just going to point at the past as "proof" things can't be trusted then anytime someone gets hit, and it "looks" bad, then that player will have to be benched for a few days..or weeks...or something.

What possible motive would Bill Peters have to state what he did, unless he was advised by the medical people (that apparently we cant trust now) that Sam is fine?

Meanwhile thousands of miles away while watching on TV someone says..."hmmm that looks like a concussion and he needs to sit"....and that's going to be the decider?

The NHLPA being involved doesn't give me any more faith in the protocol. The players want to play, period. Have a look at what former players like Dan Carcillo think of the concussion protocol. It's a joke.

I'd argue to say there are visual signs that are indicative of concussion that would outweigh someone 'acting normal' being an indication they're ok.

A player that is knocked out, or struggling to stand on account of a high impact blow, wobbly legs, etc., there are loads of concussion specialists that would call these tell tale signs, in as much as there are tell tale signs today. The issue is the science is lacking a way to indisputably diagnose concussion on the spot.

That doesn't mean the concussion protocol is ok.

I think it's time to hold the league to a higher standard than a protocol that has failed hundreds of players. The Flames are no more guilty of this than any other team in the league, but I do think it's time for fans (and players) to start demanding more and question the come back period for a hit of this nature.

[Split98]

Let's not forget that Bennett was supposed to play sometime over the weekend according to Peters. He'll make a statement about how it's looking, but he isn't rushing the players out there to meet his estimates.

There's no reason to risk anything for the last 2 meaningless games of the season, and I doubt they will. All Peters told us was that (at the time he was asked), there's no reason to think he won't be ready for the next game.

[Bingo]

Just love seeing people on both sides with these fierce opinions and literally zero actual information.

[Robbob]

My wild speculation is clearly more relevant than all the others.

[howard_the_duck]

Fair point, lacking critical information.

But, I'm trying to remember the last time fans or the media have been given proper information on a concussion.

I suspect 'upper body injury' will be keeping Benny out of the next game or two, and that's about the extent of it.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

The NHLPA being involved doesn't give me any more faith in the protocol. The players want to play, period. Have a look at what former players like Dan Carcillo think of the concussion protocol. It's a joke.

I'd argue to say there are visual signs that are indicative of concussion that would outweigh someone 'acting normal' being an indication they're ok.

A player that is knocked out, or struggling to stand on account of a high impact blow, wobbly legs, etc., there are loads of concussion specialists that would call these tell tale signs, in as much as there are tell tale signs today. The issue is the science is lacking a way to indisputably diagnose concussion on the spot.

That doesn't mean the concussion protocol is ok.

I think it's time to hold the league to a higher standard than a protocol that has failed hundreds of players. The Flames are no more guilty of this than any other team in the league, but I do think it's time for fans (and players) to start demanding more and question the come back period for a hit of this nature.

Oh I get what you mean, but here's the thing.

The protocol in place NOW, is not the same one that failed players in the past. Spotters alone are at every single game and have the authority to pull players from games if they suspect a head injury. Trainers can pull players. Its happened countless times. Then the professionals take over and make determinations.

I fail to see where there is a problem with that order of events .

Is it sufficient? I don't know nor does anyone else. But we have to at least believe that what is in place is as good as we have based on what is understood this far.

As a fan of the game I dont want guys getting injured in any way and more so something long term (even though it will always be part of the game. Its part of why they are compensated so well and why contracts are guaranteed). Thats not for me to decide though, I leave that to those that actually have training and experience with such things.

The PA HAS to be at the forefront of this though and as of recently are and have been.

My question is this...if pulling a player and having baseline results to compare against in a test are achieved, you have medical staff saying things are ok to go ahead, but the guy looked wonky 20 minutes earlier coming off the ice....what/who should be the determination of when he can return?

Clearly its not the player, nor the coach, and (if im reading correctly from some) not anyone associated with the team.... who in the world should it be?

[Flash Walken]

I guess i'm old enough to remember when Monahan was pulled from the game against new jersey due to the concussion protocol, Peters said he was fine, and then monahan played just 9 minutes the next day before being pulled and missing a week's worth of hockey due to 'illness'.

Oh well.

[transplant99]

Anecdotes are awesome and should determine every situation going forward cause everyone is exactly the same.

[Rick M.]

I missed the game. Is there footage of the hit?

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

I missed the game. Is there footage of the hit?

in the first post

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Just love seeing people on both sides with these fierce opinions and literally zero actual information.

I mean, a player almost stumbling over the ice after getting hammered is kind of information.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Tin foil hat lol.

What did your eyes tell you?

I’m glad I’m not your kid. “Get in there billy two meaningless regular season games left”

We have doctors for a reason. The eye test is meaningless for this... Bennett isn’t a child, he’s a full grown man and a professional athlete, if there isn’t a concussion why would you sit him?

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by nik-

I mean, a player almost stumbling over the ice after getting hammered is kind of information.

Yes, not relevant information, but information nonetheless.