Around the League 28: Expect the unexpected

[sabremike]

So the team is not okay with the treatment recommended by actual specialists but is okay with a different procedure that no doctors but the ones whose opinions are bought and paid for by the team think is the appropriate treatment?

My statement stands.

Also, what about the basic f***ing ethics of medical consent? It's Eichel's body. He is not a slave owned by the Pegulas. His call, end of discussion.

There are clauses in every contract forbidding guys from doing certain activities: for example if a player wanted to do a pro wrestling match they would be blocked from doing so. And while the Pegula Sabres are a joke their medical team is most certainly not: For example one of the consultants is the guy who several years back whose treatment saved a Bills player who had to be carted off motionless from ending up in a wheelchair.

 

[cptjeff]

There are clauses in every contract forbidding guys from doing certain activities: for example if a player wanted to do a pro wrestling match they would be blocked from doing so. And while the Pegula Sabres are a joke their medical team is most certainly not: For example one of the consultants is the guy who several years back whose treatment saved a Bills player who had to be carted off motionless from ending up in a wheelchair.

So why do actual specialists in this field disagree with them?

Sorry, their medical team is taking orders and money from the team. That totally disqualifies their opinion when put up against any well qualified independent voice. As the old saying goes, it is difficult to get a man to understand that upon which his paycheck depends on him not understanding.

 

[Lempo]

So why do actual specialists in this field disagree with them?

Sorry, their medical team is taking orders and money from the team. That totally disqualifies their opinion when put up against any well qualified independent voice. As the old saying goes, it is difficult to get a man to understand that upon which his paycheck depends on him not understanding.

The CBA 34.4 rules on the matter are approximately such that the third opinion from an expert agreed on by the team doctor and the player-chosen 2nd opinion doctor is the final one.

 

[bobc222]

partially true.

team is ok with fusion but doesn’t want him to get the more risky artificial disk surgery.

As I’ve noted on here, I’m an artificial disk replacement patient.

My quality of life is better but I still have enough issues that it impacts my ability to play golf, weight lift, etc.

Problem is that statistically AD replacement is much less risky. The Sabres' team doctor's opinion that it is risky is based on the flawed assumption that the surgery not having been performed on an active NHL players makes it more risky by default. This is inacurate--the surgery is as risky as the statistics indicate.

The surgery has, however, been performed on high impact athletes who use the full range of motion of the neck and the reoperation rates are much lower, with far fewer long term effects than those who get the standard fusion from what I have read.

 

[hblueridgegal]

 

[chaz4hockey]

Sorry if it's too personal but I'm curious if it's pain that still limits you or if your doctor flat out recommends you not doing certain activities?

I'm not super well versed in the operation but from all of the comments about MMA fighters and fighter pilots getting it was just wondering.

Edit: I would guess there's also some variation depending on which disk is replaced.

My issues is that some spurs have grown back and the nerve channel is still somewhat compressed (whether there was enough space provided by surgeon...???).

I can say that ACDF (artificial disk) recovery is faster and that since the devices are inserted through the front of the neck (my wife found that creepy) there is minimal risk that your anterior muscles are disturbed (which is one of the challenges with a traditional fusion that you can get muscle spasms from the surgery that take a while to calm down...Also, with a fusion, cervical levels above and below the often have issues down the road).

Having said all that, Artificial disks are still a relatively new technology with long term data yet to be fully harvested. There are multiple products on the marketplace (mine is the Bryan disk) and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Right now, the gold standard is still to perform a fusion versus Artificial disk but having said that I'm still glad I went with my surgery (just that it hasn't been perfect).

I understand the Sabres reticence re: the surgery.

btw: my Neurosurgeon said it's a big, big deal/challenging surgery to take an artificial disk out and replace with a fusion. So, if he goes down that road, fusion is not an easy pathway.

btw2: when operating on the spine, the key is to minimize the number of Dr. attempts on your body (ask Tiger how that worked out for him).

 

[tarheelhockey]

The CBA 34.4 rules on the matter are approximately such that the third opinion from an expert agreed on by the team doctor and the player-chosen 2nd opinion doctor is the final one.

This seems totally rational and I find it strange that this process couldn’t have taken place without everyone airing grievances publicly.

 

[Lempo]

This seems totally rational and I find it strange that this process couldn’t have taken place without everyone airing grievances publicly.

My read is that no-one is comfortable with some third dude settling up the $50M issue.

 

[tarheelhockey]

My read is that no-one is comfortable with some third dude settling up the $50M issue.

I mean, isn’t the natural response here something like: “too ****ing bad, these are the neutral rules which resolve the conflict with input from both parties”?

Understandable to be nervous about the outcome, but we’re not talking about a kangaroo court here. One either has the valid medical case or one does not.

 

[Lempo]

I mean, isn’t the natural response here something like: “too ****ing bad, these are the neutral rules which resolve the conflict with input from both parties”?

Understandable to be nervous about the outcome, but we’re not talking about a kangaroo court here. One either has the valid medical case or one does not.

Yes, but at the same time it's a 50M dollar toss of coin on if you can get the yet-unnamed third expert to agree with you that the artificial replacement is/isn't the route.

I can ensure you that if it was my prospective 50M I too would have my people in various ways putting some pressure on the other guy, to maybe agree on to some 25M solution.

 

[Tryamw]

This seems totally rational and I find it strange that this process couldn’t have taken place without everyone airing grievances publicly.

Well in this Eichel wants to get the surgery he wants and to get out of Buffalo. if he goes with that he's stuck in Buffalo and might not get the surgery he wants.. It's like filing for arbitration. You can get "stuck" Not saying he's handled it well but I get it.
also that can take a while.. and would potentially mean missing some of the season.

Edit: @Anton Dubinchuk (Below)

I forgot to mention he also doesn't want to lose any of "his" money. Which he would from that path

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

He should get the surgery, which voids the contract, then recover and go sign elsewhere. Buffalo gets nothing for Eichel because they refused to let him get the right surgery.

 

[Lempo]

He should get the surgery, which voids the contract, then recover and go sign elsewhere. Buffalo gets nothing for Eichel because they refused to let him get the right surgery.

It does not void the contract. Buffalo terminating the contract on those grounds would terminate the contract, but it would be interesting to see how Buffalo would play it out. I believe they could just suspend him without pay and leave be.

The signing bonus might be an issue though, but outside of season 2022-23 Eichel has only suspendable base salary on his SPC.

If someone wanted to have Eichel, BUF don't have to and they wouldn't give him away free.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It does not void the contract. Buffalo terminating the contract on those grounds would terminate the contract, but it would be interesting to see how Buffalo would play it out. I believe they could just suspend him without pay and leave be.

The signing bonus might be an issue though, but outside of season 2022-23 Eichel has only suspendable base salary on his SPC.

If someone wanted to have Eichel, BUF don't have to and they wouldn't give him away free.

At this point, Eichel has little to lose by casually saying "I don't care what those stupid losers have to say, as long as they don't void my contract and make me a free agent" into a hot mic.

 

[HisIceness]

Tatar to New Jersey. Thought he'd be a good fit here.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Sources say the Canes were in on Tatar until it dropped that his nickname here would have almost certainly been Tater.

 

[bleedgreen]

Sources say the Canes were in on Tatar until it dropped that his nickname here would have almost certainly been Tater.

What’s Taters, precious?

 

[Lempo]

Enjoy being Devilled Tater, bucko.

 

[Roboturner913]

Feel like we dodged a bullet on that one. Nino is hot and cold offensively but at least when he's cold he plays hard on the boards and defensively. I'm not sure Tatar is good for much of anything when he's not scoring.

 

[bleedgreen]

Was not hoping for Taters. Bigger fish or I might be fine with nothing for now. Don’t do something to just do something. Maybe one of the kids impresses.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Was not hoping for Taters. Bigger fish or I might be fine with nothing for now. Don’t do something to just do something. Maybe one of the kids impresses.

I agree with a bigger fish, but if not I would much rather get a smaller fish than nothing.

 

[Lempo]

Maybe the medium fish would be juuuust right.

 

[Tryamw]

Maybe the medium fish would be juuuust right.

Nope Moby Dick or Nothing!.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

CU^T, SH^T, FU^K

 

[HisIceness]

Problem with fish, big or small, we have a bear on the roster. They uh, like to consume fish.