More surgeries have been announced bringing the total up to 15.
Shoulders
Michal Handzus
Donald Brashear
Branko Radivojevic
Denis Gauthier
Brian Savage
Hips
Eric Desjardins
Mike Rathje
Robert Esche
Antero Niittymaki
Simon Gagne
Knees
Derian Hatcher
Turner Stevenson
Bicep
Sami Kapanen
Nose
Keith Primeau
Ankle
Peter Forsberg
According to Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin eight of the injuries requiring surgery originally occurred while the players were with different organizations. Are we talking other NHL teams? Gauthier, Savage, Rathje, Hatcher, Stevenson and Forsberg are the only players not with the Flyers organization last year. That’s 6, who are the other 2? Were they injured playing in the Olympics? (As I have said before they shouldn’t be playing in.) Or were they injured last year playing in Europe or in the minors with the lockout? If so why weren’t these injuries noticed last September? The Flyers organization has really stood behind their trainers which they should do up to a point but I think we are at that point if not passed it.
Looking at the amount of surgeries and the countless groin/lower abdomen injuries this year one has to take a serious look at how the training staff is handling the player’s health. I am not calling for heads to roll, but how the players health is managed has to be looked at thoroughly and if need be overhauled.
Kinda a reality check on just how marvelous it was that they even made the playoffs.
Which is why from midseason on I thought Hitchcock should be in the running for the Jack Adams Award.
Show me any other team that suffered from the amount of injuries the Flyers had to deal with this year and I will show you a team that doesn’t come close to making the playoffs.
Surgeries during this past season included.
Joni Pitkanen had a sports hernia and had surgery back in December.
Sami Kapanen had shoulder surgery back in September.
Turner Stevenson had hip surgery back in October.
Eric Desjardins had shoulder surgery back in December.
Branko Radivojevic also had surgery in February, but not really hockey related.
Agreed, hence my calming everyones thoughts about Hitch needing to go, NO way.,