The toxicity around Kirby Dach is pretty awful in my opinion. I wish he was playing better - I'm sure he does too - but people calling him lazy or unmotivated or soft or not caring is ridiculous. These words have never accurately described him, and it's unfair to apply them now.
I did some reading to try and understand what he's been through in the past year and a bit. An ACL tear is a traumatic injury, and the recovery process is grueling. For context:
- In the first two weeks, patients have limited standing or walking.
- Six weeks post surgery, a primary goal is to step up an 8" stair.
- At 14 weeks, the aim is to step up a 8" stair without pain.
(Source)
The recovery isn't just physical. It takes a toll mentally. Studies show that approximately 1 in 3 athletes undergoing ACL reconstruction self-report depression - a significantly higher rate than the general population (
source). Even those who don't report deperssion probably don't feel like they're thriving. It's a tough road.
And when an athlete does return, they often aren't 100%. Research highlights deficits in strength, balance, joint forces and kinesthesia for up to two years post-surgery. Additionally, many athletes develop kinesiophobia, aka fear of re-injury, post ACL-reconstruction. This hesitation can impact and delay their return to pre-injury levels. (
source,
source) It sounds like something you just have to play through/use to get past that feeling as well.
Given all this, I think the fans should show more patience with Kirby this season. Some of you seem to have forgotten just how hyped he was pre-injury. To jog your memory, here are a few comments from this very thread just weeks before his injury:
There are literally
pages of similar praise.
His entire treatment in this situation reminds me of Andrei Markov when he returned from traumatic knee injuries. Initially, fans were just as impatient and cruel. I used HFboards awful search function to find old Markov threads from when he returned from injury. You can thank me later. Here are some quotes:
There were also many posts saying Markov was cooked, he should be traded, etc. Just a season later, Markov was back to playing at an elite level. So much so that letting him walk in 2017 is now considered to be one of Marc Bergevin's worst moves as GM.
So before you trash Kirby Dach and call him a lazy good for nothing bum. Before you call to trade him and fill that void with some random prospect. Take a deep breath, do some research, try to think it through a little bit. Let's give Dach the time he needs. He's shown us before what he's capable of, let's give him a reasonable amount of time/chance to get back to that point.
Rant over!!!
