Comments on: Backstrom on concussion recovery: “It’s incredibly frustrating”

By: jpelle82

jpelle82 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:06:43 +0000

there’s just too many variables to adopt that kind of mentality. i think they should stop considering previous fines and suspensions into the decision on the number of games. if someone gives someone a concussion – set a certain number of games for first offense – lets cut out the pussy footing around and drop the hammer

By: danphipps01

danphipps01 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:54:32 +0000

Yeah, Drew’s got the truth of it. The nature of concussions is that they’re immensely variable and tend to build off one another. It makes it too hard to apply something sweeping like that without unfairly punishing a lot of guys past what’s reasonable.

Still, I will say this: five games for a blatant headshot is fucking pathetic. Shanahan doesn’t seem any more willing than anyone to actually take a hardline stance, which is unfortunate, because that’s exactly what we need – hardliners. My thought is, clear headshots and boarding hits start at five games, doubling every subsequent time they happen. If a player has a history, let him suffer for it. Third time nets him twenty games, automatically. Yeah, that’s a hell of a long time and a lot of lost salary. Maybe that might, you know, convince them not to do it. Suspending a jackass like Torres or Bourque for five games or less isn’t going to stop them. Suspending them for large chunks of the season might.

By: drewsylvania

drewsylvania — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:38:37 +0000

Well, there could be some sort of cutoff. But there are problems with the approach. First off, what does the league do for players who already have concussion histories? We hate Matt Cooke for his cheap shot on Savard, but Savard had already had a couple concussions. Having a concussion makes it more likely that you will have another. Do we suspend players for the effects of several concussions, even if they only caused the latest one?

Also, teams could abuse such a rule. If “Monsieur Mediocre” gets boarded and gets concussed, his team might be tempted to keep him out of the lineup indefinitely, in order to keep the guy who cheapshotted him off the ice.

By: hsnepts

hsnepts — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:11:10 +0000

Like Pronger. He is part of the problem. Maybe this is how McAmmond felt.

By: jpelle82

jpelle82 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:10:39 +0000

i understand your frustration as a caps fan (pens fan here) but i dont think any reasonable person tag that kind of open suspension policy as fair in any way. if crosby returns and someone knocks his block off and he never plays again…does that guy never play again?

By: capsfan36

capsfan36 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:46:37 +0000

I truly feel if you injure someone intentionally and league feels that the player should be suspended, they should serve the suspension. And if the player they injured is not back in the lineup by the end of the suspension the suspended played should have to sit out until the player returns.

By: drewsylvania

drewsylvania — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:23:11 +0000

The guys who deliberately cause concussions should get one themselves. Maybe then they’d stop causing them.

By: jpelle82

jpelle82 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:19:17 +0000

its a shame….concussions are ruining hockey

By: capsfan36

capsfan36 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:12:44 +0000

Anyone else still think he is coming back right after the all star break?…not looking good.