Player Discussion Elias Pettersson Talk | Also Chiropractors, the Medical Staff, and You

[F A N]

They were not going to shut him down. The rest he would have actually needed would have been closer to months than a week off and thats if he would have been healed in time for the playoffs.

I do think they should have rested him as soon as he got it... but once they didn't they really were not in a spot to do much. As people who know more about this injury than myself have said it is an injury where if you don't wait for it to heal 100% it just comes back and hurts just as much.

Game 1 was April 21st. Petey said his knee started hurting in January and got worse. Regardless, are you saying that, more likely than not, resting Petey for even a month prior to the playoffs would make absolutely no difference to how much the knee would be bothering Petey in the playoffs? I have a hard time believing that.

 

[racerjoe]

As i said… i would have rested him… I think the team didn’t know/think it was serious until too late.

 

[F A N]

As i said… i would have rested him… I think the team didn’t know/think it was serious until too late.

That's kind of the point of discussion. This is the team's star player and asset the team is willing to give over $90 million to. It's concerning if "the team didn't know/think [his knee injury] was serious until too late."

 

[arttk]

That's kind of the point of discussion. This is the team's star player and asset the team is willing to give over $90 million to. It's concerning if "the team didn't know/think [his knee injury] was serious until too late."

We did play Mik like half a season with a torn ACL… I think we need to hire a new medical staff.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

That's kind of the point of discussion. This is the team's star player and asset the team is willing to give over $90 million to. It's concerning if "the team didn't know/think [his knee injury] was serious until too late."

No its more complicated than that.

Likely first misdiagnosed as the symptoms often start as unspecific knee pain. And pro athletes rarely get to do anything completely pain free.

Also I dont have a ton of faith in our medical department until they give me reason to change my mind.

 

[RobertKron]

FWIW, I had tendinitis in my knee a billion years back when I was still playing, and if I remember right it was just kind of a nagging soreness thing that I figured wasn't really an issue for a good while and then suddenly it became pretty awful seemingly out of nowhere.

 

[F A N]

FWIW, I had tendinitis in my knee a billion years back when I was still playing, and if I remember right it was just kind of a nagging soreness thing that I figured wasn't really an issue for a good while and then suddenly it became pretty awful seemingly out of nowhere.

Petey said it got worse and worse which is consistent with how Dr. Google says about the injury. I think it's reasonable for those of us who play sports at a (much) lower level to take a see how it goes approach to nagging injuries. Especially when we're teenagers. Who wants to go see a doctor or go for rehab? But Petey is a professional athlete who should know that his injury was different and was impacting his game on the ice. With free and easy access to team doctors and treatment specialists, I would assume he wouldn't ignore his knee tendinitis for long especially since it became worse and worse.

 

[VanJack]

Petey's relationship with the Canuck front office can by mystifying at times. Like at the end-of-season presser, when he said he'd been playing through a knee problem since January.....which may or may not have been a shock to the Canucks training and medical staff.

Then at the start of the season, when he said he wasn't going to talk contract with Vancouver until the season was over and seemed pretty firm about it. But when rumors surfaced that the Canucks were talking trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, it seemed like his new $11.7m contract extension happened almost overnight.

Were the Canucks actually serious about dealing him? I guess we'll never know. But sometimes this guy marches to the beat of his own drummer, and keeps even the front office on its toes.

 

[RobertKron]

Petey's relationship with the Canuck front office can by mystifying at times. Like at the end-of-season presser, when he said he'd been playing through a knee problem since January.....which may or may not have been a shock to the Canucks training and medical staff.

Then at the start of the season, when he said he wasn't going to talk contract with Vancouver until the season was over and seemed pretty firm about it. But when rumors surfaced that the Canucks were talking trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, it seemed like his new $11.7m contract extension happened almost overnight.

Were the Canucks actually serious about dealing him? I guess we'll never know. But sometimes this guy marches to the beat of his own drummer, and keeps even the front office on its toes.

k

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Petey said it got worse and worse which is consistent with how Dr. Google says about the injury. I think it's reasonable for those of us who play sports at a (much) lower level to take a see how it goes approach to nagging injuries. Especially when we're teenagers. Who wants to go see a doctor or go for rehab? But Petey is a professional athlete who should know that his injury was different and was impacting his game on the ice. With free and easy access to team doctors and treatment specialists, I would assume he wouldn't ignore his knee tendinitis for long especially since it became worse and worse.

Pro athletes will look to play through injuries. Especially in team sports where taking time off is (can be) viewed as not being there for your team mates.

There are very few players playing a regular season NHL game who isn't playing through something.

The medical team should be responsible for making decisions to shut down players. If its left up to the players they will keep playing. This is how its always been. They didn't get to be at the peak of their respective sport by playing it safe and conservative with their bodies.

 

[Vector]

FWIW, I had tendinitis in my knee a billion years back when I was still playing, and if I remember right it was just kind of a nagging soreness thing that I figured wasn't really an issue for a good while and then suddenly it became pretty awful seemingly out of nowhere.

My exact experience as well. Like, it kind of just sucks and there’s not really anything you can do about it.

 

[F A N]

Pro athletes will look to play through injuries. Especially in team sports where taking time off is (can be) viewed as not being there for your team mates.

There are very few players playing a regular season NHL game who isn't playing through something.

The medical team should be responsible for making decisions to shut down players. If its left up to the players they will keep playing. This is how its always been. They didn't get to be at the peak of their respective sport by playing it safe and conservative with their bodies.

I don't disagree. Players want to play. But I think if the coaching staff and management team are insistent, Petey would sit and rest his knee. His teammates would understand as it would be explained to them and they likely have seen it for themselves.

 

[theguardianII]

Did we mess up by handing out a franchise contract to Pettersson? We overpaid Pettersson at 11.6 M considering Guentzel got 9M & Reinhart who scored 57 goals and won a Cup got 8.5M both Superstars were excellent in the playoffs whereas Pettersson was terrible. If this franchise wants to win a Cup Pettersson has to be absolutely dominant in the post season at that high salary number.

The fact that there was trade talk with Carolina seems to indicate that Pettersson and Tocchet don't get along together. Nah but EP doesn't look the same under Tocchet.

If there was trade talk then it should have been done because there was doubt. When in doubt, trade it out.

They still can, no trade protection until next July 1.

The last time EP played this bad there was trade talk and he kept playing this bad until Green was fired, then he caught fire.
Green - Tocchet they both heap praise on each other and compare that they coach the same way. Is that a hint? Maybe EP style of hockey is not compatible with Green and Tocchet's coaching systems.

 

[theguardianII]

He had a knee tendinitis for ~4months.

I agree thst its not likely to hinder his career but it absolutely explains his slump.

Undiagnosed knee tendonitis. Right!

He is negotiating a massive contract with the team and the team knows nothing about the tendonitis? Really?

The other funny thing about tendonitis, it doesn't require rehab right? So it makes for a very convenient excuse to use.

And the only person or the first person to use the word "tendonitis" just happens to b the same guy who has been saying the team needs more from ....... Pettersson just a week before?

I bet tendonitis comes up a lot more now because it doesn't need to be rehabbed.

I guess he had "tendonitis" when playing under Green too.

 

[Nick Lang]

Petey said it got worse and worse which is consistent with how Dr. Google says about the injury. I think it's reasonable for those of us who play sports at a (much) lower level to take a see how it goes approach to nagging injuries. Especially when we're teenagers. Who wants to go see a doctor or go for rehab? But Petey is a professional athlete who should know that his injury was different and was impacting his game on the ice. With free and easy access to team doctors and treatment specialists, I would assume he wouldn't ignore his knee tendinitis for long especially since it became worse and worse.

I think you're assuming too many things here and trying to lay blame where maybe it's not necessarily warranted. I've played through some pretty serious (abductor / high ankle sprain) injuries when I was in university. I spent 2 - 4 hours a day for months on end getting ultra sound massage, ice baths, heat therapy, wrapping, stretching, exercise, ect..

All in an effort to get me ready to go every weekend, which I could albeit with some definite difficulty. We had a new coach from overseas and as a 4th year player they just wanted me to play no matter what. Now, obviously pro players with 8 year 11.6 mil dollar contracts should be treated better/different but I can absolutely see the team and Petey trying to navigate through an incredible (and important) season to keep him on the ice. Especially with what seems to be a a non career threatening situation and a definite lack of suitable replacements.

A simple google search gives the following: If a person has mild tendonitis, they may be able to return to their normal activities in 3 weeks. In more severe cases, it may take 3 months or more to recover.

Now if it were to be a 3 month recovery I can see why they didn't shut him down as we didn't have the luxury of having a replacement capable of keeping our perch at the top of the division/playoffs.

It's pretty easy to make judgements in hindsight but I think he probably deserves some credit for fighting through a lot of pain and loss of mobility. He's shown to be a fantastic player and he probably deserves some leeway, appreciation, trust, and understanding.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

I don't disagree. Players want to play. But I think if the coaching staff and management team are insistent, Petey would sit and rest his knee. His teammates would understand as it would be explained to them and they likely have seen it for themselves.

Oh but its not rational. And its not so much how his team view it is as it is about the player sitting games with injuries who feels he is not there for the team.

You need to give them an alibi to miss the games.

 

[F A N]

I think you're assuming too many things here and trying to lay blame where maybe it's not necessarily warranted. I've played through some pretty serious (abductor / high ankle sprain) injuries when I was in university. I spent 2 - 4 hours a day for months on end getting ultra sound massage, ice baths, heat therapy, wrapping, stretching, exercise, ect..

All in an effort to get me ready to go every weekend, which I could albeit with some definite difficulty. We had a new coach from overseas and as a 4th year player they just wanted me to play no matter what. Now, obviously pro players with 8 year 11.6 mil dollar contracts should be treated better/different but I can absolutely see the team and Petey trying to navigate through an incredible (and important) season to keep him on the ice. Especially with what seems to be a a non career threatening situation and a definite lack of suitable replacements.

I'm not trying to make assumptions. I'm asking questions. Petey said he got hurt in January and it just became worse and worse. A poster here posted stats that clearly showed a decline in point production that coincided with Petey being injury (and that's before Petey confirmed his injury).

Like most here, I am frustrated that Petey was essentially non-existent in the playoffs. We lost to Edmonton in 7 games with 3 of those losses being 1 goal games. Do you not think that a healthier Petey could have made a difference?

A simple google search gives the following: If a person has mild tendonitis, they may be able to return to their normal activities in 3 weeks. In more severe cases, it may take 3 months or more to recover.

Now if it were to be a 3 month recovery I can see why they didn't shut him down as we didn't have the luxury of having a replacement capable of keeping our perch at the top of the division/playoffs.

It's pretty easy to make judgements in hindsight but I think he probably deserves some credit for fighting through a lot of pain and loss of mobility. He's shown to be a fantastic player and he probably deserves some leeway, appreciation, trust, and understanding.

It doesn't have to be 100% recovered or not at all. Simple google search suggests that you really can't do anything with knee tendonitis but rest it. This isn't a case where there's no risk that it would get worse. It absolutely can and does get worse if you keep aggravating it. Petey confirmed that it got worse.

Tocchet was saying Petey needed to be more dynamic. Needed to move his feet. Well how is he suppose to do that if his knee is hurting?

As for having a replacement, we had Lindholm. Of course, as it turns out, he was banged up too. He did miss 7 games and looked a lot better upon his return. There's also the possibility of placing Petey on LTIR and acquiring another piece.

 

[Nick Lang]

I'm not trying to make assumptions. I'm asking questions. Petey said he got hurt in January and it just became worse and worse. A poster here posted stats that clearly showed a decline in point production that coincided with Petey being injury (and that's before Petey confirmed his injury).

Like most here, I am frustrated that Petey was essentially non-existent in the playoffs. We lost to Edmonton in 7 games with 3 of those losses being 1 goal games. Do you not think that a healthier Petey could have made a difference?




It doesn't have to be 100% recovered or not at all. Simple google search suggests that you really can't do anything with knee tendonitis but rest it. This isn't a case where there's no risk that it would get worse. It absolutely can and does get worse if you keep aggravating it. Petey confirmed that it got worse.

Tocchet was saying Petey needed to be more dynamic. Needed to move his feet. Well how is he suppose to do that if his knee is hurting?

As for having a replacement, we had Lindholm. Of course, as it turns out, he was banged up too. He did miss 7 games and looked a lot better upon his return. There's also the possibility of placing Petey on LTIR and acquiring another piece.

Yeah I get what you're saying. We probably weren't getting a healthy Petey no matter what. Maybe if they shut him down in Jan for a couple months ... didn't seem prudent at that point I suppose. It sucks he was injured and I guess we'll always question if it could have been handled better. Especially with our track record. I was just pointing out how tricky and challenging it is to make these decisions. It seems like some folks, not you necessarily, are out to point fingers and lay blame, but I'm sure this wasn't just a bunch of bumbling fools making snap decisions either. Now that I'm older and coach I find it amazing how athletes just refuse to sit out ... even when the games are almost meaningless.

Lindholm was hurting ... and struggling, as was the team ... relative to their start. In that sense I can understand their temptation to not sit their young "star" forward. They were afraid the season could fall apart.