Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Roster Cuts, Line Combos, Prospects in Action

I think Lecavalier is going to do wonders for this team.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Roster Cuts, Line Combos, Prospects in Action
- bmeltzer

Really tough for Bourdon. Hope he gets healthy enough to resume his career.

Really tough for Bourdon. Hope he gets healthy enough to resume his career.
- Jsaquella

And I hope other players take note of how he handled his concussion situation, and not follow it. Might have cost himself a long-term NHL career for a few extra weeks of games.

Heading to Florida in a few weeks and was thinking of catching a Lightning Game...it won't be the same since Vinny was bought out.

Always nice to catch up on the Flyers with Bills Blob

TGIF

Excellent write up as usual Bill! Is G skating with Jake and Simmer, not Hartnell?

From personal experience I know that the effects of concussion are cumulative. The more you get, the easier you get them. If he had reported the first concussion instead of playing through it, he may have avoided the following concussions altogether.

I say MAY have, because you never know exactly, as it is not an exact science. But in my experience, it is not really reaching to say that it had an effect moving forward.

From personal experience I know that the effects of concussion are cumulative. The more you get, the easier you get them. If he had reported the first concussion instead of playing through it, he may have avoided the following concussions altogether.

I say MAY have, because you never know exactly, as it is not an exact science. But in my experience, it is not really reaching to say that it had an effect moving forward.
- MBFlyerfan

I feel bad for the guy. He was on his way to becoming a regular in the NHL. I liked the physical edge to his game. I think it's difficult to deal with, as the player is close to reaching what was likely a dream and goal he set for himself. Lot's of pressure also to deal with. If you sit out, you may lose your spot, and never get it back. I hope he fully recovers.

I think Lecavalier is going to do wonders for this team.
- GirouxForTheShow

I think so too. Helps with size in the forward corps and leadership. Not only should he be motivated and re energized with a new team, there's a lot of depth around him and I suspect teams will key on Giroux and Jake before him.

I feel bad for the guy. He was on his way to becoming a regular in the NHL. I liked the physical edge to his game. I think it's difficult to deal with, as the player is close to reaching what was likely a dream and goal he set for himself. Lot's of pressure also to deal with. If you sit out, you may lose your spot, and never get it back. I hope he fully recovers.
- MJL

As do I, and cant say that at his age I wouldn't have done the exact same thing.

From personal experience I know that the effects of concussion are cumulative. The more you get, the easier you get them. If he had reported the first concussion instead of playing through it, he may have avoided the following concussions altogether.
- MBFlyerfan

Pronger probably should have have sat out for a full month or more after his eye injury. But he returned after just two weeks

Pronger probably should have have sat out for a full month or more after his eye injury. But he returned after just two weeks
- Feanor

Yep, same thing. He obviously wasn't recovered and or misdiagnosed from the start.

Pronger probably should have have sat out for a full month or more after his eye injury. But he returned after just two weeks
- Feanor

Someone should of stepped in and forced Pronger to sit. He said it himself that he's the last person to ask whether or not he can play.

Yep, same thing. He obviously wasn't recovered and or misdiagnosed from the start.
- MBFlyerfan

Crack medical staff...

Someone should of stepped in and forced Pronger to sit. He said it himself that he's the last person to ask whether or not he can play.
- JFlyers00

Hindsight is 20/20. No one knew this was going to happen. The medical staff relies completely on the players to tell them about concussion issues. The doctor can't tell if a player is lying about a headache.

The culture of old school hockey is to play through anything. Thankfully, we now know at least a little bit about concussions and the culture is changing a bit in that regard.

Hindsight is 20/20. No one knew this was going to happen. The medical staff relies completely on the players to tell them about concussion issues. The doctor can't tell if a player is lying about a headache.

The culture of old school hockey is to play through anything. Thankfully, we now know at least a little bit about concussions and the culture is changing a bit in that regard.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's not really hindsight. Two weeks after nearly having his eye gouged out of his skull it's a safe assumption that Pronger shouldn't have been playing in NHL games.

It's not really hindsight. Two weeks after nearly having his eye gouged out of his skull it's a safe assumption that Pronger shouldn't have been playing in NHL games.
- PLindbergh31

The question is how long then? He says he's fine at 2 weeks, do you make him sit 2 more weeks? Another month? A season?

At some point, you just have to rely on the player's self-diagnosis. Simmonds was concussed by that Erskine elbow last season and came back after 3 games. Unfortunately, there's no exact medical test for PCS so you just have to go witht he player.

I think teams are finally getting better with this stuff. Marc Staal sat out two full months after getting hit by a puck against us last season.

It's not really hindsight. Two weeks after nearly having his eye gouged out of his skull it's a safe assumption that Pronger shouldn't have been playing in NHL games.
- PLindbergh31

If he's examined by qualified physicians including an eye specialist, and cleared to play. How is it a safe assumption. I seriously doubt the Flyers would have let Pronger play without Medical clearance. But the Doctor's and Pronger don't have the luxury of hindisght to sit back and assume after the fact.

Thanks for the extensive write up, Bill. I love hearing about the prospects in such detail.

Hopefully, Hagg is able to work through his inconsistency and that aspect of his game becomes a thing of the past. Although, playing in a system with wide gaps between dmen and forwards may be preparing him well for the Flyers I kid I kid!

Sucks to hear about MAB. He seems like the type of player who really wants to make it and is willing to work really hard to get there. Those types of guys are great to have around. His game was really coming together. Played physical and could really bring a heavy shot from the point. I wish him all the best and hope he can one day pick up right where he left off.

The question is how long then? He says he's fine at 2 weeks, do you make him sit 2 more weeks? Another month? A season?

At some point, you just have to rely on the player's self-diagnosis. Simmonds was concussed by that Erskine elbow last season and came back after 3 games. Unfortunately, there's no exact medical test for PCS so you just have to go witht he player.
- jmatchett383

I agree with what you are saying. But the initial injury wasn't diagnosed as a concussion if I recall correctly. Pronger's eye received severe trauma. Any type of eye injury involving athletes who play contact sports the utmost caution should be taken. When I saw that play happen, I immediately thought Pronger's career was over. It turns out it was. I really wonder what would have happened if the Flyers intervened and said you are sitting out for the rest of the year and come back to camp next year and see where we are at, if he would still be playing today.

I agree with what you are saying. But the initial injury wasn't diagnosed as a concussion if I recall correctly. Pronger's eye received severe trauma. Any type of eye injury involving athletes who play contact sports the utmost caution should be taken. When I saw that play happen, I immediately thought Pronger's career was over. It turns out it was. I really wonder what would have happened if the Flyers intervened and said you are sitting out for the rest of the year and come back to camp next year and see where we are at, if he would still be playing today.
- PLindbergh31

There would have to be a Medical basis for telling Pronger to sit out the rest of the year. At the time there wasn't.

I agree with what you are saying. But the initial injury wasn't diagnosed as a concussion if I recall correctly. Pronger's eye received severe trauma. Any type of eye injury involving athletes who play contact sports the utmost caution should be taken. When I saw that play happen, I immediately thought Pronger's career was over. It turns out it was. I really wonder what would have happened if the Flyers intervened and said you are sitting out for the rest of the year and come back to camp next year and see where we are at, if he would still be playing today.
- PLindbergh31

If he was told to sit out a year and he kept saying he was fine week after week, the entire fanbase would be calling for Snider's head for keeping our best defenseman out of the lineup even though he was fine.

Everyone saw the video of the Barch vs Gallant fights where they get around the you cant remove your helmet rule..

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...3/09/19/fight-no-helmets/

I agree with what you are saying. But the initial injury wasn't diagnosed as a concussion if I recall correctly. Pronger's eye received severe trauma. Any type of eye injury involving athletes who play contact sports the utmost caution should be taken. When I saw that play happen, I immediately thought Pronger's career was over. It turns out it was. I really wonder what would have happened if the Flyers intervened and said you are sitting out for the rest of the year and come back to camp next year and see where we are at, if he would still be playing today.
- PLindbergh31

At the end of the day, I'm not blaming the Flyers or the medical staff for Pronger's career ending. Who knows how many concussions he's played through in his career? Career ending concussions are usually a cumulative thing.