Flyers rushing injured players back too soon?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Flyers rushing injured players back too soon?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers said yesterday that high-scoing center Danny Briere will miss four or five weeks because of a "significant" groin strain.
They also said the injury had nothing to do with rushing him back to action.
Maybe. But something sure looks fishy.
Earlier this season, Briere had abdominal surgery and missed six games. He then returned to the lineup much quicker than expected, played two games and suffered a groin strain. Originally, the club said the groin injury was not related to the abdominal problem.
Yesterday, Briere said doctors told him the injuries WERE related.
I'm not a doctor, but I can connect the dots. When you connect them, it screams that the Flyers brought Briere back too soon.
After the initial groin-strain injury, Briere missed nine games, then returned and played briefly Tuesday in a 4-3 OT win against Tampa Bay. He lasted less than half the game before re-aggravating the injury.
Briere said doctors told him that, even if he didn't return to the lineup Tuesday and sat out another week or two, the injury could have resurfaced.
Maybe. But it says here the Flyers need to start taking a more cautious approach before a player returns from an injury.
In addition to Briere, defenseman Ossi Vaananen was re-injured in the early stages after his return. Earlier this season, Vaananen missed three games with a broken finger. In his first game back, he tore the stitches in his finger and had to sit out four more games.
The latest injury to Briere opens cap space and will enable the Flyers to activate defenseman Randy Jones, who is recovering from hip surgery. Jones may be ready in mid-December. The defense is playing well, however, and they would be wise not to rush him back.
In the meanwhile, with Briere out until sometime in January, one wonders if the Flyers will make inquiries again about free-agent Bendan Shanahan. The guess here is that they will ride out Briere's absence by using one of three hard-working, impressive players who have spent most of the year with the AHL Phantoms: Darroll Powe, Jared Ross or Jon Kalinski.
Down the road, when Jones and Ryan Parent both return from injuries, they will have to make a decision on whether to keep 18-year-old Luca Sbisa or send him to juniors.
Nobody asked me, but.....Sbisa needs to stay. He has become a valuable defenseman (and power-play contributor) and is playing beyond his years. Sending him down will only stunt his development.
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In case you missed it, Phil Sheridan wrote a terrific column on Scott Hartnell's glove-throwing escapade in Tuesday's bizarre 4-3 overtime win over Tampa Bay.
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Jones had hoped to be ready for Saturday, but is now aiming for mid-December.
“There were some more issues with the hip and it’s not 100 percent,” he said after yesterday’s practice. “It has to be 100 percent for at least a week or two for me to come back. It’s just starting to turn around a little bit.”
Jones estimated the hip was 80 percent healthy; he may be able to return Dec. 16 against
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Marty Biron (2.95 goals-against average) will be in goal tonight for the Flyers. Scott Clemmensen (2.55 GAA) and Kevin Weekes (2.87) have filled in for New Jersey because future Hall-of-Famer Martin Brodeur (2.16), whom the Flyers defeated twice this season, is sidelined for at least a couple more months with an elbow injury….In the fans’ vote, the Canadiens are leading for all six starting spots for the Jan. 25 all-star game in Montreal. Flyers center Jeff Carter, who has 18 goals and is tied for the
_ Sam Carchidi
"The fact that they had Briere serve Upshall's penalty the other night really says a lot." It says nothing other than the fact that someone on the ice at the time of the penalty must serve the penalty. You're not going to put a defenseman in the box while short-handed and since a forward got the penalty and was ejected, that leaves just Briere and, I guess it was, Lupol to pick from. Briere has never really been a penalty killer so why not have him serve the penalty. So all that having him serve the penalty "says" to me is that our coach is smart.— toph314- The league put Scottie on notice for a "major boarding" call? They should have put the referee on notice for mis-calling a clean hit on the boards. Head shotting Gagne is legal but Upshall's hit is a game misconduct... shame shame.— Bazalite
- What happenned to the ten game limit for Sbisa? It is my understanding that if a junior-eligible player plays more than ten games on a tryout that the parent team is obligated to keep him on the roster for the entire season. The only way he can get sent to the minors is on a reconditioning assignment. Have the rules changed?— cbecko
- Hextall's prime? What was that the rooike season of 86-87? Because other than that he was pretty marginal. Remember Claude Lemieux's wrist shot from the blue line beat him in Game 5 with series tied at 2, with less than a minute left in regulation to basically win the series vs NJD in 95? Or against Detroit in 97 Finals when Yzerman scored from outside blue line. Hextall = over rated, and couldn't carry Pelle Lindbergh's jock.— BobbyD
- Everyone complaining about Lupul not being worth the money should check the facts. His new contract starts next year. He's making the same now that he made last year. Briere needs to get healthy, the stats show the Flyers are fine without him, so there's no need to rush him. I'd like to see Briere moved because he's only taking time away drom Richards and Carter, but he has a no trade clause and a ridiculous salary for absolutely no defensive skill. I say bump either Alberts or Vaananen when Jones comes back, and depending on how Parent is playing, send the other one to the minors. We need a goalie, but that's been the case for the last 10 years. Holmgren put together a great team but over paid for a lot of the talent (see Hartnell/Biron). Flyers have all the pieces to make a great run this year, Carter/Richards/Gagne are looking incredible. The D looks good for the most part, Coburn took a small step back from where he was last year, but he'll regain last year's form before the playoffs. I'd like to see the D get a little more physical in the slot. How did Recchi get to the crease last game essentially untouched?— brkawy
- Can anyone give me an update on Giroux? Is he ready to step in with the injury to Briere?— mactad
- Parent is a first round draft pick. In another year, add Parent to Coburn, Carle and Sbisa (three other 1st round draft picks), and the Flyers' blue line is sick. I'd trade Randy Jones to shed cap space, and with Briere on LTIR, we'll have a few bucks to spend at the trade deadline. That said, Lupul needs to pick up his game. Apparently he doesn't play well with job security. Start a trade rumor and get him off his duff. I like how this team is lining up for the playoff run and the post-season, though. That said, we've got two UFA goalies next year, so maybe next year is the year we finally sign a blue chip goalie.— kprimo25
- RichardsC08 - I think you are quick to hit the panic button with Biron. He has played himself into the role #1 goalie (again) after a shaky start (no coincidence to the lack of depth at "D" to start the season?). He asserted himself last year - and mark my words - the Flyers don't get to the Final Four last year without him in between the pipes. Nitti has proven to be a more than admirable backup, too. Lest not forget, the NHL season is a marathon, not a sprint. How many years were the Flyers tops in the league during October, November, December - only to see things fall apart as the weather warmed and the games got more intense? This team has depth and character, and in my opinion, it has a starting goalie in Biron.— mebphila
Hey, Briere is a grown man, if he felt like he was being rushed back too soon, then he needs to speak up and say I don't feel healthy enough.— jamarder
Biron is going to be fine - when he is squared to the shooter controlling rebounds he can get us a Cup - unless you can really upgrade - Luongo last year or Brodueaur a few years ago, Hasek in his prime, Roy - I mean a top, top hall of fame goalie - unless we can get a hold of that we aren't going to do much better than Biron. I've always marveled at the Hexy = great goalie fans - awesome rookie year - huge, huge heart, bled orange and black but Bobby D is right. Stevens is a smart coach I second that completely - he'll get Lups going - Sbisa is second only to Timmo - totally agree. Phillies and Flyers, two pretty good home town teams - maybe it is Always Sunny in Philadelphia!- Rich, I couldn't agree with you more. Biron is a solid back up guy but not the guy that will be spectacular on a regular basis. Last year's playoffs were a good example of getting on a hot streak at the right time.Take the end of the year and the very beginning of the year away and he was very below average. I like the guy but I'm tired of watching other team's goalie highlights every night. Give me a real goalie and then the stupid mistakes in front of him aren't as harmful.— dj.curly
- Sam, are you serious? Why would the Flyers have "rushed" Briere back at all when they were 6-1-2 in the last 9 games without him? Knuble and Gagne certainly haven't missed their centerman very much.— bsp119
