Not sure if serious.
How about maybe Staal pushed himself to come back too soon last time around and has learned that it's better not to rush these things? How about taking into consideration that it's a positive thing when a player takes responsibility for his health?
He whined last time after coming back to soon? And that wasn't concussion releated? Dude struggled with concussion related issues for almost a full year. Saying that he came back too soon isn't whining, it's just saying it how it is. Who are you to say it wasn't related to his concussion when everything points to the oposite being the case? Not being comfortable on ice, not being confident on his skates, not reacting the way he expects, can all be signs of him not being completely healed, or maybe his body (& brain) needed more to adjust to playing hockey again. Maybe he even felt a bit scared after what had happened to him and needed time to overcome that. With the outcome of that hit from his brother, I wouldn't be surprised, nor would I blame him.
And now he's making speaches? Again, he's just saying how he feels. Being honest. But I guess he should go with "as soon as the doctors say I'm ready" and put it all into the hands of doctors who are paid to get him on ice asap, using heavy painkillers over an extended period if they have to. I think the way Boogaard was handled shows team doctors can't be trusted.
We all want Staal back as soon as possible, but if he doesn't feel ready, we need to accept that. Hopefully the days of players playing through injuries and hiding them from coaches/trainers/doctors are over. Hockey players are supposed to be tough. Doesn't mean they have to be stupid.
This is what I wrote earlier:
...
This is definitely the "new" NHL. I mean, what do I know, maybe thats great. But its definitely a new league.
So I am not saying that you are wrong. Maybe it
is absurd to ask for more. Maybe even we as a team has the best shot at winning a cup
if players takes their time, maybe healthy and comfortable players in the long run is so much better than trashed individuals. Not to even get into the Boogaard, Belak and Rupian problems.
On the other side of the equation the club is over the coming 2 weeks playing its most important games, probably, in the last 19 years. We should contend next season and be a stable successful organization for the coming handful of years atleast. No matter what happend in 93', you do not want to miss the PO's this season. It could cause all kind of problems. The NYR has gone through so much problems to get where we are today. Downright horrible times.
It took Staal almost a full year after he came back from the hit from Eric. Thats a very long time for someone with concussion problems. He never mentioned that he came back too early from the point of view that he still had concussion problems, but from a
comfort point of view he thought it was too early. He had only been cleared to play and take part in contact practises for a full week. From everything I've gathered -- and I could of course have missed something -- Staal is cleared to play now. Its more a thing of getting used to how his eye's feel after the injure, and over time -- with kind of a mixed to him getting used to his eye and the eye possibly healing a little more over time -- get back to 100% normal.
Life is easier when its digital. Black or white. Play when doctors say so, don't play when doctors don't say so. With concussion problems, that is not doable. You cannot afford that luxury. The doctors can't tell (yet) when you can play or not. The players must themselves acknowledge how they feel and let the team know when they are ready. More or less. This is new to the players.
When you are used to see your hero's go out there with broken wrists or broken ribs (its impossible to understand how you could play with a broken rib if you yourself have had like just a deep sore in the rib area), we as fans if nothing else have to adjust to it I guess.
it must have been that empty netter against the Hurricanes
