[News] Huberdeau to undergo hip resurfacing surgery, done for the season

[Knut]

Conroy should have arranged Huberdeau's kidnapping into a panel van to get the surgery done.

[MissTeeks]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2019593135186403333

Link to the full episode.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/960/flames-...nding-surgery/

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

I think you've made a great point here, however, I would argue there is some nuance.

Buffalo was against a NEW kind of surgery that the player was going to try over the old method. The players reasoning was that the new method would be better now and in later life. Buffalo countered that the old method was a known outcome. They blocked Eichel from getting the new surgery on a risk basis.

Both of the above structurally solved the problem.

In the case of Huberdeau, his alternative methods were not a structural fix. They were pain management and mitigation in hopes of solving or delaying a solve for the underlying issue. In a sport where father time is a big factor, as well as timing your rosters contention window or in our case draft window, I'd counter that the team mismanaged their risk of this asset by allowing him to play past November.

Blocking a pain mitigation attempt for a structural fix is different than blocking a structural fix for another structural fix. So I'd say we're more like Buffalo West for mismanaging this outcome.

Unfortunately this is a total irrelevant argument because you’ve missed the completely obvious aspect of players having protected rights under the CBA and protected rights as human beings.

You and anyone else who might forget should keep in mind that these are not “assets” in the same way a piece of equipment is an asset you can just shut down and repair however and whenever you want. Players are actually human beings.

[blankall]

When doctors recommend surgery, they are professionals assessing risk. There's always some risk, with a major surgery, of death. A patient could have an adverse reaction to pain killers or anesthesia or contract and infection. Then there's a probability the surgery makes things worse. Surgery could also do nothing. Ideally it makes things better.

The doctor weighs those risks against the benefits, recovery time, lifestyle improvements/needs, etc..

But this is not a minor surgery. They're going to shave down the head of his femur and drill a hole into it so they can insert a metal cap on the end.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I didn’t say they always make the right decision. Don’t put words in my mouth.

I just think it’s weird to basically accuse the team of medical negligence absent any evidence.

The bar should be higher

Agree. It's not medical negligence.

[mennoknight]

I'm a guy waiting for hip resurfacing as well, I've had one done and now the other needs it. (obviously not a pro athlete). Doctors tried injections, physio, orthopedics...before finally settling on surgery. It's absolutely a last resort, I am not looking forward to it one bit. I cannot imagine skating at ANY level after that surgery. I would put it off if my career might be over after it too.

[Rutuu]

Klintberg and Kane are the success stories with this surgery...Kesler, jovonowski and backstrom are the downside. Reasonable chance we've seen Huberdeau's last game.

Understandable why he tried everything before he shut it down.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

Klintberg and Kane are the success stories with this surgery...Kesler, jovonowski and backstrom are the downside. Reasonable chance we've seen Huberdeau's last game.

Understandable why he tried everything before he shut it down.

This also isn't a torn ACL where you look at an MRI and see its torn. Its an accumulation injury where you can look at scans of two different people that look identical and one is in pain and the other is fine. Its not a 100% you need surgery or 100% you don't need surgery.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

Klintberg and Kane are the success stories with this surgery...Kesler, jovonowski and backstrom are the downside. Reasonable chance we've seen Huberdeau's last game.

Understandable why he tried everything before he shut it down.

There's also a trend there. Earlier surgeries were unsuccessful. The more recent ones were successful. Could be a sign that technique and technology have improved. Huberdeau could be a benefactor of this improvement.

[Roko]

At the same time, I wonder how long this has bothered him and his speed. He has been slow for the whole time he was a flame. Wonder if this was a long time coming, even from his Florida days.

Can imagine he will basically need to relearn to walk and skate after this so it will be wild to see his recovery. Worst case he will end up on LTIR for the contract. Maybe he will come back better

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Roko

At the same time, I wonder how long this has bothered him and his speed. He has been slow for the whole time he was a flame. Wonder if this was a long time coming, even from his Florida days.

Can imagine he will basically need to relearn to walk and skate after this so it will be wild to see his recovery. Worst case he will end up on LTIR for the contract. Maybe he will come back better

Kane was a bit of a pioneer in the recovery portion for this surgery (which gives a hint to how relatively new it is for athletes). They got him on a skating machine to start rebuilding and retraining those muscles right away (within 6 weeks I think).

I guess it’s not just the surgery that causes the need to retrain/rebuild but the injury itself, so the longer a player plays with it the more conventional skating muscles go unused. Pre-surgery Kane couldn’t do crossovers or turn his leg in a certain direction, so he said he’d basically “jump” on his one leg to mimic the same movement.

Not only hoping the best for Huberdeau but also hoping he’s one of the big success cases for this and it totally extends and improves his career.

[Locke]

Well we joked that he'd become allergic to his equipment, this looks like the nearest next thing.

I have ragged on Huberdeau relentlessly but mostly because his play has been abysmal, never wished an injury though.

Also...I have never even heard of 'hip resurfacing' but it sounds genuinely unpleasant. Like it involves a butcher and a belt sander...

[FlamesAddiction]

This type of procedure might be easier to recover from for a small and light player like Kane. Huberdeau is a bigger guy and has a lot more weight on those hips than Kane.

Just saying, I wouldn't use Patrick Kane's success as an indicator for what to expect for Huberdeau. Nick Backstrom had the same procedure and wasn't able to make a comeback.

It could go either way.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Opportunity for a guy like Kerins to step in. Flames need a Huberdeau replacement, so a slow, one-way player, who will drive the fans crazy, seems like a solid fit. I think the team will try a number of players and see what happens, but Kerins is looking at a wide-open door. We'll see if he barges through or if a guy like Stromgren or Suniev takes advantage. If they call up Kirkland or Hunt, I'm going to be very disappointed. Not surprised, but disappointed. Time to tank hard, so bring up those young guys that have some offensive potential and need a chance to see the NHL game and adapt.

[Burning Beard]

Conroy was on the radio yesterday saying its a perfect chance for a kid to prove they can play. If one of them doesn't take this opportunity and it ends up being Kirkland or Hunt that is more on the prospects than the team.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Roko

At the same time, I wonder how long this has bothered him and his speed. He has been slow for the whole time he was a flame. Wonder if this was a long time coming, even from his Florida days.

Can imagine he will basically need to relearn to walk and skate after this so it will be wild to see his recovery. Worst case he will end up on LTIR for the contract. Maybe he will come back better

Huberdeau has always been a below average skater. He's never relied on it even when he was putting up points in Florida.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Conroy was on the radio yesterday saying its a perfect chance for a kid to prove they can play. If one of them doesn't take this opportunity and it ends up being Kirkland or Hunt that is more on the prospects than the team.

Gonna be hard for Kerins to make an NHL impact from the AHL.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I don't think it necessarily has to be a call up grabbing that top 6 role. I think you also look at a guy like Klapka, and give him more opportunity in a more offensive role. I would argue Klapa, Zary, and Gridin all have an opportunity to secure a more FT top 6 role.

And then indeed the primarily candidates from the farm would likely be Kerins & Stromgren. Suniev doesn't seem ready yet.

So for me it's those 5.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

Gonna be hard for Kerins to make an NHL impact from the AHL.

They just put Huberdeau on IR, and there is no reason to call someone up during the break. I suspect coming out of the break we will see at least one call up.

[Toonage]

I actually don't see them calling anyone up after the break in Huberdeau's absence. No need (assuming Beecher is back I should say)

Now, if they make a trade, then sure. Time for a kid to step up.