Around The NHL 2018-2019 Edition: Part I

[Pavels Dog]

I just read it because I was curious, where the hell did you get that from? It said he's been suffering from flaring back issues since he was drafted. What the hell does that have to do with work ethic?

There was more quotes in an article at the athletic.

Gabe Vilardi's back injury weighs on Kings as rookie camp...

“It’s really hard to explain to an 18-, 19-year-old that you have to have daily maintenance,” Blake said

“And I think a lot of us when we played and later in your career you naturally acquire that maintenance but to tell a 19-year-old you have to do a certain routine every day to be able to skate – it takes time to resonate. It’s our strength and conditioning group and it’s our rehab group working with Gabe to get that underlying fact”

 

[Winger98]

There was more quotes in an article at the athletic.

Gabe Vilardi's back injury weighs on Kings as rookie camp...

I'm not sure Blake is being hard on Vilardi there. I think he's saying that the back injury is forcing Vilardi to pick up maintenance habits other younger players wouldn't need until later in their careers, and that it's a hard thing for a young guy to make themselves do.

 

[Frk It]

Yeah I read that as more about pain tolerance than work ethic, personally.

 

[Pavels Dog]

I'm not sure Blake is being hard on Vilardi there. I think he's saying that the back injury is forcing Vilardi to pick up maintenance habits other younger players wouldn't need until later in their careers, and that it's a hard thing for a young guy to make themselves do.

Given that they’ve known about it a long time I read it a little harsher. The normal comments are not about how a guy doesn’t understand the work he has to put in.

 

[Heaton]

Given that they’ve known about it a long time I read it a little harsher. The normal comments are not about how a guy doesn’t understand the work he has to put in.

No, but when I'm 20 years old I don't think about stretching and doing the same things to feel good when you're 35. Most people his age don't need to worry about that maintenance, which is what Blake is saying.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

To be worrying about it at 20 is really concerning then. If he keeps going for a few more years you can expect him to need surgery like most the other guys that have experienced back issues. As we are watching once you do that they are kind of out of options if the problem continues. Yeah Z really made it work for a while, but there are also stories like Daze or other guys that had significant core problems that really impacted their careers.

I don't think this is just down to stretching at this point, hopefully they can find something for him. But this is alarming, I sure as heck wouldn't want to be hearing it about one of the Wings prospects or young players.

 

[Heaton]

To be worrying about it at 20 is really concerning then. If he keeps going for a few more years you can expect him to need surgery like most the other guys that have experienced back issues. As we are watching once you do that they are kind of out of options if the problem continues. Yeah Z really made it work for a while, but there are also stories like Daze or other guys that had significant core problems that really impacted their careers.

I don't think this is just down to stretching at this point, hopefully they can find something for him. But this is alarming, I sure as heck wouldn't want to be hearing it about one of the Wings prospects or young players.

Didn't Joe Thornton have similar back issues when we was younger?

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Didn't Joe Thornton have similar back issues when we was younger?

I don't remember that, not having any luck googling it either.

I really only remember Lindros hurting him badly in a fight when he was younger, but perhaps I have missed that. Thornton has played a lot of games in the league though it does look like he missed some in Boston. I mean some guys get lucky, but to be having this kind of problem this young for a guy that already is borderline in terms of athleticism is concerning to me.

 

[Winger98]

I don't remember that, not having any luck googling it either.

I really only remember Lindros hurting him badly in a fight when he was younger, but perhaps I have missed that. Thornton has played a lot of games in the league though it does look like he missed some in Boston. I mean some guys get lucky, but to be having this kind of problem this young for a guy that already is borderline in terms of athleticism is concerning to me.

I thought that was Shawn Thornton that Lindros tossed around for awhile?

Agree about it being concerning for him as a player, I just disagree that Blake is really calling the kid out. At the same time, we've seen guys get hit with chronic health issues that altered their training and just simply gutted it out for quite awhile. Z had issues before the back surgery. Yzerman had a messed up knee since, what, 1988?

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I thought that was Shawn Thornton that Lindros tossed around for awhile?

Agree about it being concerning for him as a player, I just disagree that Blake is really calling the kid out. At the same time, we've seen guys get hit with chronic health issues that altered their training and just simply gutted it out for quite awhile. Z had issues before the back surgery. Yzerman had a messed up knee since, what, 1988?

 

[Pavels Dog]

No, but when I'm 20 years old I don't think about stretching and doing the same things to feel good when you're 35. Most people his age don't need to worry about that maintenance, which is what Blake is saying.

When it comes to high-end NHL prospects you're kind of looking for the ability to put in extra work where it's required. Where other might need to focus on their hands, shot, skating etc., Vilardi has to put in extra work to maintain his back from the sounds of it. I may be off, but I sense frustration in Blake's comments. 2nd straight offseason where he is plagued by these issues, and if they have a routine that he needs to follow and he's not doing it I don't think it reflects great on his work ethic.

 

[lomekian]

I think there is a hint of frustration from Blake, but tempered with the understanding that a 20 year old is extremely unlikely to have the maturity, knowledge and sense of perspective and priorities of a 35 year old. Not sure there's much of a story here, but it does possibly explain why, along with his comparatively mediocre skating, so many teams passed on such a talent in the draft.

 

[lhsgolf19]

Whoa

 

[Claypool]

Tatar is going to get eaten alive in Montreal.

 

[ottawa]

Tatar is going to get eaten alive in Montreal.

Realistically, can he score 25+?

I think most habs fans are hoping we retain and flip him for picks.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Realistically, can he score 25+?

I think most habs fans are hoping we retain and flip him for picks.

He can and should. Just didn’t seem to fit in Vegas, but he’s still a good player.

 

[Heaton]

I don't think Tatar can do it on his own, he'll need a good center. His play dropped dramatically when the pieces around him went away.

 

[drwings40]

Yzerman reportedly stepping aside as a GM to an advisory role. Brisebois taking over. Wow!

 

[izlez]

The GM in Tampa that inherited an elite #1 defenseman, an elite #1 center, and high draft picks, that had mediocre success and no Stanley cups, is stepping down into an "advisory role"

Speculate away Detroit.

 

[Frk It]

The GM in Tampa that inherited an elite #1 defenseman, an elite #1 center, and high draft picks, that had mediocre success and no Stanley cups, is stepping down into an "advisory role"

Speculate away Detroit.

 

[lhsgolf19]

Seguin 8 year extension

 

[lhsgolf19]

Looks like Erik Karlsson is being traded all the way to SJ

 

[lhsgolf19]

Man the Sens got fleeced

 

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

Lmao, I would have to divorce myself from hockey if I was a Senators fan. Absolutely, brutal.

 

[Say Hey Kid]

Thursday, Oct. 4th Blue Js at Wings. I'd love to see a Wings win for Fugu.