Player Discussion Sammy Blais

[Paul Padovano]

any NHL player could tbf

Seriously, be it a current or former NHL player, there were many good ones over the years!

 

[Lion Hound]

When he does return, the big question will be is he going too continue to be the same player? That was a bad injury. He's a physical player. He's was exceptional at timing big hits. Is he stillgoing to play with that reckless abandon style?

 

[Thirty One]

When he does return, the big question will be is he going too continue to be the same player? That was a bad injury. He's a physical player. He's was exceptional at timing big hits. Is he stillgoing to play with that reckless abandon style?

Assuming he signs a 1 year deal, he'll be a pending UFA. If he were also a scorer, he might tone it down a bit next year, but he has 39 career points, so I'd think he'd lean into his strengths.

 

[Lgrsean]

Remember: He's hurt because of a dirty play from PK Slewban.

 

[bleedblue94]

So Sammy is skating with the team in a regular contact jersey? Does he become an option at all for this team in the next couple of weeks?

 

[Raspewtin]

So Sammy is skating with the team in a regular contact jersey? Does he become an option at all for this team in the next couple of weeks?

haven’t seen anything in a contact jersey…..it’s been all no contact. is there something new ?

 

[bleedblue94]

haven’t seen anything in a contact jersey…..it’s been all no contact. is there something new ?

Sorry you're right, it was non contact.

 

[huerter]

Only guy you can justify taking out is Vatrano but I'd much rather stick with Vatrano.

 

[The New Russian Five]

Only guy you can justify taking out is Vatrano but I'd much rather stick with Vatrano.

Panarin-Zibanejad-Kreider
Laf-Chytil-Kakko
Copp-Strome-Vatrano
Blais-Goorow-Motte

 

[huerter]

Panarin-Zibanejad-Kreider
Laf-Chytil-Kakko
Copp-Strome-Vatrano
Blais-Goorow-Motte

Kreider - Zibanejad - Vatrano
Panarin - Strome - Copp
Laf - Chytil - Kakko
Reaves - Rooney - Motte

Goodrow - goes in for Rooney when healthy
Blais - outside looking in

 

[KOVALEV022473]

Panarin-Zibanejad-Kreider
Laf-Chytil-Kakko
Copp-Strome-Vatrano
Blais-Goorow-Motte

Now That’s a GREAT looking fourth line!

 

[Ola]

Now That’s a GREAT looking fourth line!

Yeah, if we want to go deep and really do some damage -- something like this is what we would need. We are competing with Carolina no doubt. But we are really wearing on our top guys.

I think that it is far from a given that Blais can come back and play this year. He needs to be "100%" to like be better than a Gauthier (OK, maybe 80%, but you get my point). He haven't played in a long long time. But he is one option that could help our depth.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Had he still been skating?

 

[rangers1314]

Blais was injured in mid November and had his surgery about a month later. He's 6M out from the injury and 5M out from surgery. The timetable given at the time of injury was 6-8 months.

His skating isn't some sign that he's close to a return. He needs to rebuild the strength in his knee. It's part of his rehab.

He hasn't played a game in 6 months. Where is his conditioning at? Some people want to just toss him into the middle of a playoff series. It's not happening. Focus on the Goodrow news.

 

[Savant]

I mean if he comes back he is on line four and not getting a ton of minutes. Same with Goodrow. Best to treat any games they wind up playing as a bonus. Enjoy the nice surprise when they are back like with Motte

 

[rangers1314]

I mean if he comes back he is on line four and not getting a ton of minutes. Same with Goodrow. Best to treat any games they wind up playing as a bonus. Enjoy the nice surprise when they are back like with Motte

This isn't the time of year to do that. You could say that if a player makes it back to play in the last few regular season games.

In this scenario, you're talking about taking a guy who hasn't played a game since Nov 16th and tossing him in against the 2x defending champions in the Eastern Conference Final. Motte missed what? 3 weeks? Goodrow has been out 3 weeks. Not 6 months.

The "put him on the 4th line" argument also doesn't work. What if someone gets hurt? Now you're left with 11 forwards and 1 of them you know isn't conditioned to play more than 8 minutes? You're risking that in the final 4?

I like Blais, but people need to stop acting like he's some savior that we just gotta get back in the line up at any cost. This isn't some all-star. He's a middle 6 guy. Chill out.

 

[Savant]

This isn't the time of year to do that. You could say that if a player makes it back to play in the last few regular season games.

In this scenario, you're talking about taking a guy who hasn't played a game since Nov 16th and tossing him in against the 2x defending champions in the Eastern Conference Final. Motte missed what? 3 weeks? Goodrow has been out 3 weeks. Not 6 months.

The "put him on the 4th line" argument also doesn't work. What if someone gets hurt? Now you're left with 11 forwards and 1 of them you know isn't conditioned to play more than 8 minutes? You're risking that in the final 4?

I like Blais, but people need to stop acting like he's some savior that we just gotta get back in the line up at any cost. This isn't some all-star. He's a middle 6 guy. Chill out.

I mean the comp is Motte. We’ve seen this. Neither Blais nor Goodrow is a savior but they aren’t going to play if they aren’t ready. Once they get back on the ice then there can worry about it

 

[rangers1314]

I mean the comp is Motte. We’ve seen this. Neither Blais nor Goodrow is a savior but they aren’t going to play if they aren’t ready. Once they get back on the ice then there can worry about it

How is the comp Motte? He missed 3 weeks. Blais is out 6 months. They aren't comparable at all.

 

[huerter]

I mean the comp is Motte. We’ve seen this. Neither Blais nor Goodrow is a savior but they aren’t going to play if they aren’t ready. Once they get back on the ice then there can worry about it

Completely different injuries and recoveries and timetables.

 

[KOVALEV022473]

Blais’s forcheck and board play as well as his physicality, are light years better than hunt, Rooney and even Reeves. No one is saying hes a savior, but a forth line of Blais/Goodrow/Motte is greater than the sum of its parts.

 

[Slaydagnar]

Blais is not coming back from ACL surgery in just 6 months. Maybe if he had another month or two. It’s a rough recovery I’ve had that surgery.
Blais was injured in mid November and had his surgery about a month later. He's 6M out from the injury and 5M out from surgery. The timetable given at the time of injury was 6-8 months.

His skating isn't some sign that he's close to a return. He needs to rebuild the strength in his knee. It's part of his rehab.

He hasn't played a game in 6 months. Where is his conditioning at? Some people want to just toss him into the middle of a playoff series. It's not happening. Focus on the Goodrow news.

 

[2014nyr]

Blais is not coming back from ACL surgery in just 6 months. Maybe if he had another month or two. It’s a rough recovery I’ve had that surgery.
Blais was injured in mid November and had his surgery about a month later. He's 6M out from the injury and 5M out from surgery. The timetable given at the time of injury was 6-8 months.

its not unreasonable, not unheard of with acl's to have guys coming back in the 4.5-5 month window in football. those though have to be pretty clean where theres not more damage in the knee - no idea what blais situation was. blais also having access to the best possible surgeons and physical therapy give him a chance to shave some time off. not expecting him back anytime soon, even if he was cleared for contact hed need a couple weeks of conditioning at least. if by some miracle this run gets to the finals i think theres a good chance hes an option. not sure he gets in the lineup though even if so

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Tom Wilson had a torn ACL that was reported yesterday and the time frame provided was 6-8 months.

Caps' Wilson has ACL surgery, out 6-8 months

Capitals winger Tom Wilson has undergone a successful ACL replacement procedure in his left knee and will require six to eight months of recovery before he returns.

www.google.com

 

[bhamill]

its not unreasonable, not unheard of with acl's to have guys coming back in the 4.5-5 month window in football. those though have to be pretty clean where theres not more damage in the knee - no idea what blais situation was. blais also having access to the best possible surgeons and physical therapy give him a chance to shave some time off. not expecting him back anytime soon, even if he was cleared for contact hed need a couple weeks of conditioning at least. if by some miracle this run gets to the finals i think theres a good chance hes an option. not sure he gets in the lineup though even if so

Yeah that’s the thing. We don’t know what the extent of the injury was or if there was collateral damage. Anyone proclaiming he can’t be ready during this run is just talking out of their ass. None of us has a clue. And yes access to the best of care and rehab as well as being an athlete in your prime don’t hurt.

 

[RGY]

Blais is just under 6 months removed from the surgery in December. It was said his rehab and training off ice had been going well leading up to getting back on the ice. I am not expecting him to play in this series, but I also wouldn’t be surprised. Him returning on the early side of a typical timetable would depend on how bad the grade of the tear was AND that he is a professional athlete. You simply cannot compare the every day person that has a typical timetable recovery. Its not comparable. You don’t have the same everyday access to facilities and resources that Blais does.

Day at a time process at this point.