Injury Report: Dustin Byfuglien (Warning in OP)

[King Woodballs]

If his ankle injury was hockey related...
Why would you turn down 8+ million dollars by not going on LITR, have the team/insurance pay for your surgery and the rehab required....
Something doesn’t pass the smell test here.

 

[kylbaz]

This isnt going to end well.

 

[puck stoppa]

So let me get this straight? The only thing that makes sense is Buff lied and got hurt worse in summer, which is why he didn’t report to camp cause he knew the ankle would look worse than the exit medical.
Or
His ankle was mis diagnosed in exit, never healed up right, and he came to camp saying it’s not healed and Jets said it was fine in Spring. So he left ticked off that they didn’t believe him.

 

[puck stoppa]

I don’t really understand what the arbitration is about. What are they arbitrating and why?

See my thoughts. He said she said.

 

[cbcwpg]

Not sure how the NHL compares to the NFL, but I watched an interview today from an ex-NFL player who was basically saying that given the pressure teams feel to get players playing ASAP , the doctors will sometimes “misdiagnose” players.

but I just can’t see a doctor saying a player is fit to play when they aren’t...but I could just be out to lunch on this.

 

[None]

So let me get this straight? The only thing that makes sense is Buff lied and got hurt worse in summer, which is why he didn’t report to camp cause he knew the ankle would look worse than the exit medical.
Or
His ankle was mis diagnosed in exit, never healed up right, and he came to camp saying it’s not healed and Jets said it was fine in Spring. So he left ticked off that they didn’t believe him.

If the latter were the case then there's procedures to follow if the player disagrees with the assessment of the team's medical staff. The player can get a second opinion and if that second opinion differs from the team's then the doctors can talk and see if they can come to an agreement for a diagnosis. If after the second opinion they can't come to a consensus then they (the two doctors) can choose a third doctor to give a final binding diagnosis.
It doesn't sound like any of this happened given what the Jets said after the news came out that Buff had surgery.

 

[puck stoppa]

If the latter were the case then there's procedures to follow if the player disagrees with the assessment of the team's medical staff. The player can get a second opinion and if that second opinion differs from the team's then the doctors can talk and see if they can come to an agreement for a diagnosis. If after the second opinion they can't come to a consensus then they (the two doctors) can choose a third doctor to give a final binding diagnosis.
It doesn't sound like any of this happened given what the Jets said after the news came out that Buff had surgery.

Maybe Buff figured it would heal, and in hindsight realized maybe he should’ve got that second opinion?

 

[puck stoppa]

Buff missed his exit meeting and media session. Could he also have skipped this exit medical? Or did they confirm he had it?

 

[roccerfeller]

He had it

Brian Burke said at first intermission 3 people, including the player, sign off on the exit physical

 

[puck stoppa]

He had it

Brian Burke said at first intermission 3 people, including the player, sign off on the exit physical

I know I heard that but is that confirmed? Burke also said they don’t have all facts yet.

 

[None]

Maybe Buff figured it would heal, and in hindsight realized maybe he should’ve got that second opinion?

During the exit medicals the player has to sign off on the diagnosis by the team doctor, if that happened then Byfuglien won't really have any recourse if he didn't report any lingering issues at that time. If the injury came as a result of off-season training then he needs to report to the team for treatment, if he did and didn't agree with the diagnosis the same process applies as I posted above.

The Jets statement saying they weren't directly involved in his decision to have surgery tells me the last time he was diagnosed by the team would have been the exit physical or they weren't given an opportunity to reassess him. In either case Byfuglien still has no recourse because the procedure laid out in the CBA wasn't followed.

Now if the Jets are lying that's another whole can of worms, but the timeline of events doesn't lend itself to the claims by Byfuglien's camp in my opinion based on what we know.

 

[puck stoppa]

During the exit medicals the player has to sign off on the diagnosis by the team doctor, if that happened then Byfuglien won't really have any recourse if he didn't report any lingering issues at that time. If the injury came as a result of off-season training then he needs to report to the team for treatment, if he did and didn't agree with the diagnosis the same process applies as I posted above.

The Jets statement saying they weren't directly involved in his decision to have surgery tells me the last time he was diagnosed by the team would have been the exit physical or they weren't given an opportunity to reassess him. In either case Byfuglien still has no recourse because the procedure laid out in the CBA wasn't followed.

Now if the Jets are lying that's another whole can of worms, but the timeline of events doesn't lend itself to the claims by Byfuglien's camp in my opinion based on what we know.

I get it. But everyone knew he played through the injury in the playoffs. So maybe they said it would heal no surgery and he agreed, but maybe now realizes he should’ve got a second opinion cause it didn’t heal. Not sure why there was no surgery after the playoffs.

 

[sting13]

So let me get this straight? The only thing that makes sense is Buff lied and got hurt worse in summer, which is why he didn’t report to camp cause he knew the ankle would look worse than the exit medical.
Or
His ankle was mis diagnosed in exit, never healed up right, and he came to camp saying it’s not healed and Jets said it was fine in Spring. So he left ticked off that they didn’t believe him.

If he had a broken bone at the end of last year, the Jets would have had instructed him to have surgery at the end of April and he would have 5 months to recover for this year. The big thing will be why did he walk out basically a day or so before the medical at training camp?

 

[jetsforever]

Adding to my previous thoughts, if Buff wants to be paid, doesn't that mean he has to play when he's healed?

 

[None]

I get it. But everyone knew he played through the injury in the playoffs. So maybe they said it would heal no surgery and he agreed, but maybe now realizes he should’ve got a second opinion cause it didn’t heal. Not sure why there was no surgery after the playoffs.

It really doesn't matter how Byfuglien felt if the team's last assessment of him deemed him fit and he signed off on it. If it didn't heal he needs to tell the team and let them reassess him; he can't unilaterally choose his own treatment plan with his own doctor. As far as the team is concerned in this scenario if they weren't given the opportunity to assess the injury who can say it was hockey related?
They key is that Byfuglien would have signed off on the team's last assessment of him and without reassessment they can't be sure that the injury is hockey related.

 

[Spock]

Adding to my previous thoughts, if Buff wants to be paid, doesn't that mean he has to play when he's healed?

Players can retire at any time. So he can stop getting paid on his own terms.

As far as back pay or compensation - I suppose that's where the arbitration process would come in.

 

[GumbyCan2]

If his ankle injury was hockey related...
Why would you turn down 8+ million dollars by not going on LITR, have the team/insurance pay for your surgery and the rehab required....
Something doesn’t pass the smell test here.

Unless you are at lake in the fish-cleaning shack. It smells "kind of fishy"?

 

[GumbyCan2]

His medical records from the end of the season will determine everything from the perspective of the Jets. If he left last season with a healthy foot/ankle the medical records would show that.

All of the player reactions prior to the season to me say that Buff told them he was done and it didn't sound medically related. If he wanted to play but had a nagging foot injury he needed to get it reassessed in camp by the team. Because he didn't have it reassessed during the off-season or at the start of camp casts some doubt on the claims by his camp that it's hockey related.

From Byfuglien's perspective it may have been a factor into his decision to retire, but I feel like a lot of procedural things weren't followed to have it diagnosed and I think the Jets will come out on top in any kind of arbitration because of that.
There's procedures to follow if a player disagrees with the diagnosis by a team's medical staff. The way the Jets responded to the news that he had surgery and now that the NHL has told the Jets to be silent tells me that those procedures probably weren't followed.

I'm inferring a lot here, but I think you can make a lot of the same conclusions that I've come to based on the small amount that has been said publicly about this situation.

Edit: Typo

I think in retrospect the red flags are that the Jets suspended him all of a sudden ( seemed like to the public anyways). Realistically this only happens when a contracted player commits "some kind of misconduct" against their contractual bounds. Announces a pending retirement is not a "cause for applicable suspension". More to this for sure!
Seems kind of a poor decision by Byfuglein and his "advisers/camp" to then have a surgery not initiated or approved by the Jets medical staff and management, with the discovery of a broken bone in his foot, not previously known at season-end medical (April 2019)? And then to claim I'm not retiring and this injury is hockey related and should be insurable under his contract by Jets org.
The "full story, outcome" will reveal what has really gone on for Buff and his hockey future and his future with the Jets.
I can unequivocally recall,Chevy declaring Buff's "leave of absence" having nothing to do with his health or an injury?? Very interesting now that there was a surgery for Buff and a claim now that he should be be covered by the team for insurance! Bat-my-eyes, wink-n-blink a bit, and both eye-brows raised simultaneously. Somebody is covering up something, somewhere, somehow?

 

[GumbyCan2]

This isnt going to end well.

Somebody is walking the "shame-lane track", eventually!

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

It sounds like Buff has already retired in his mind, and now he’s trying to play the system for financial benefit.

 

[HPsauce]

This sounds like a grievances with how the team handled Buffs health.

I’m guessing there will be an in-depth audit of the teams medical assessments and diagnosis, treatment plans, and so on.

This is seriously fishy, and I’m willing to bet that the Jets are at fault one way or another, otherwise it would be all good.

It’s pretty obvious that team doctors cut corners, sign off on a players health so the team can get their money makers back on the ice. I’ve even heard the excuse “pro athletes heal extremely fast because they’re in such peak physical condition”.

The paper trail is going to be looked into heavily here and this one stinks big time.

 

[GumbyCan2]

If he had a broken bone at the end of last year, the Jets would have had instructed him to have surgery at the end of April and he would have 5 months to recover for this year. The big thing will be why did he walk out basically a day or so before the medical at training camp?

A known discrepancy would have surfaced without due cause for explaining, so...he panicked? took the "high" ( good meds led to poor decision) road? got the wrong advice? forgot the Jets have legal advisors, probably even actual lawyers? Hmmm...very interesting.

 

[GumbyCan2]

I love the Big Guy and all he has done, accomplished and his efforts given to the Jets team and us fans. Kind of a precarious and potentially sad way to go out, if it comes that. The Jets sure miss The best of Buff on the ice right now!
All the best to you in recovery, Buff! Miss you...and maybe we haven't seen the last of you in an NHL rink, hopefully ours still!

 

[KingBogo]

This sounds like a grievances with how the team handled Buffs health.

I’m guessing there will be an in-depth audit of the teams medical assessments and diagnosis, treatment plans, and so on.

This is seriously fishy, and I’m willing to bet that the Jets are at fault one way or another, otherwise it would be all good.

It’s pretty obvious that team doctors cut corners, sign off on a players health so the team can get their money makers back on the ice. I’ve even heard the excuse “pro athletes heal extremely fast because they’re in such peak physical condition”.

The paper trail is going to be looked into heavily here and this one stinks big time.

I'm curious how it is obvious how team doctors cut corners and signed off on players health?

 

[HPsauce]

I'm curious how it is obvious how team doctors cut corners and signed off on players health?

Players returning back to playing professional hockey a few weeks after a high ankle sprain? If that happened to you or I your doctor would be suggesting you not have any strenuous activity for likely 6 weeks.

Separated shoulders. Nik Ehlers returned back from that in hmmm... 2 weeks?

This is all off the top of my head, unless surgery is required these guys are back out on the ice playing through injuries constantly.