Here was reporters’ exchange with Terry Murray this morning, regarding Ryan Smyth’s new injury timetable…
Question: On Smyth’s timetable, is it still four weeks from the time of the injury?
MURRAY: “Four to six weeks.”
Question: Four to six? I don’t recall the “six”…
MURRAY: “Well, here it is today. It’s four to six weeks. It will be a minimum of four weeks. I didn’t hear the announcement on the first one [estimate], but it is a minimum of four weeks from the time the injury happened.”
Question: Knowing that you have that week off, in a couple weeks, are you more likely to have him sit out and give him that extra week, rather than maybe just come back for one game?
MURRAY: “As soon as he is cleared to play, he is going into the lineup, whether it’s one game or two games. The sooner the better, for the team, for him. He’s anxious. He’s out there, and he’s almost doing a little too much when he does get on the ice in the `public skating’ sessions. We’re all eager to get him back and get him ready to go.”
Question: Inititally it was four weeks, and now it’s four weeks. This is a change?
MURRAY: “This is a change. Four to six weeks.”
Question: Because?
MURRAY: “Because I’m playing doctor. I want to make sure that he’s 100 percent on this. There’s no way that players need to go back in if they’re not cleared and ready to get going. It will be four weeks, minimum, before he’s going to get cleared.”
AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
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so what t.m.’s saying is that he’s not just playing a doctor on t.v…
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I’m amazed we are still playing pretty well without Smyth and Scuderi.
On the positive side we got some guys getting some valuable ice time should we need them somewhere down the line.
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Sounds like a very mean spirited answer by TM. Not going to go over real well with the Kings fans with an response like that. Seems similar Allison/Deadmarsh answer Liewicke was giving in 2002.
Terrible.
Get in there Ryan, we need ya!!
GO KINGS!!
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Couldn’t we get, like, an unlicensed doctor in Mexico’s opinion on this? I’d really like to have Smytty back already… ugh.
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Injury recoveries are not an exact science, whoever the reporter was should know that and not continue to ask the same question over and over and over again about why it changed.
Please don’t let him play until he’s 100%
Another Deadmarsh and Allison comparison. i was scarred by that experience just as bad as the rest of you but drawing a parallel from this to that is just dumb (IMO)
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Rumor has it is a concussion…
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When players are that far away from being ready … everyone can only guess, even the team doc.
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reporter’s question…:
“On Smyth’s timetable, is it still four weeks from the time of the injury?”
t.m…:
“define weeks”
reporter…:
“well…traditionally it’s considered a sunday to saturday thing”
t.m…:
“historians don’t know who or when mankind invented the first calendar, probably early man when he first carved a notch into a stick or a bone which marked the passing of each full moon….based upon this theory, since keith ballard went bonzai on vokoun and the amount of uncalled slashes during our ducks victory, the new timetable is six weeks…”
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Smyth has flat-out said it’s not a concussion, Nick. So unless you believe him to be lying, I’m not sure why you’d want to spread that.
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It’s a lower back injury
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Woah, I didn’t even realize that Rich read the comments!
Hey Rich, is the top banner ever going to be clickable? You mentioned it before, but it hasn’t changed. Regardless, this blog is awesome!
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That’s a relief. Thanks Rich.
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I dont get why so many people seem to think that any other coach/GM would handle this differently.
Sometimes when you get hurt, you dont know how long it is going to take to heal. I dont imagine when you cut your arm you say “well, looks like i have to wait 3 hours and 40 minutes before the scab starts to form.”.
To the complainers.. yes, it sucks that Smyth and Suderi are not back in the game. But how do you blame DL/TM for them not being ready? I guess some people will find someone to be mad at no matter what the situation is.
DL and TM.. Learn to predict the future, cause this is ridiculous!
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When was the last time ANYONE was 100% on the ice?
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Yes, thank you Rich! Nick, not funny!
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If he needs 6 weeks then give him the full 6 weeks. If he needs 8 weeks then give him that too. We’ve already seen what he can do at full clip. Why bring him back early if it just increases the chances of him aggravating the injury and has him sit out later this season?
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I’ll say it again, I bet it’s a clavical. Broke mine in 03, you feel great like you can play, but if you get hit wrong, you’ll be on the shelf again.
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A fan said the other day it was a “twisted nut”.
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If it’s a shoulder injury he needs time. So the the 4-6 weeks sounds like that type of a injury if you ask me.
Plus if the Kings score more than 4 goals in a game, they are 11-0.. score less well thats a different story.. 5-10-2.. So Kings go and score alot of goals..
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exactly…
it’s more important for him to be healthy than not…
do some of you have bets vs. the spread in the upcoming weeks…?
why would some of you want a player who is hurt…as tough and gritty as smytty is…come back any earlier than he could/should…?
knowing that he’s already chomping at the bit and gonna tell you anything you want to hear to get back out there, who should provide the voice of reason…(hines ward anyone…???)…?
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Hey Rich, I didn’t mean to start rumors, a buddy of mine plays pick up with some former pro’s and that’s what they were saying…but if that’s what Smyth says then I believe him.
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I agree with Pat. Let him have as much time as he needs to be as close to 100%. When he comes back, I want him available to play until JUNE if necessary!
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I agree Irish Pat. Let the man get as healed as possible, keep in mind, we need him as close to 100% for our playoff push come spring. I know that this is a first for Kings fans, but our season is not going to be over by the end of December. With him back fully healthy come January, our best is yet to come. Stanley Cup Playoffs here we come.
BTW, rumor has it it’s his ribs (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/around-the-rinks/article1372547/ )
, so those need time, and if not healed properly, he’ll be back on the IR. Give the man his time, we’re going to be fine.
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‘i am not a doctor nor do i have any experience/training for dealing with injuries, but i am going to voice my opinion anyways.’
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that was meant for the commentors
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6 weeks
8 weeks
10 weeks
who cares
HEALTHY …SOLID .. taaakkkee yyyooouuurr ttiimmee Smittie
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Concussion is not right. Lower back is also wrong.
I know what it is but I’m not sure if Mr. Hammond would appreciate me posting it on his blog. He seemed to get a little short with Nick earlier.
Rich knows. He’s just holding out on you boys.
If he says it’s OK, I’ll be more than happy to fill you all in.
What do you say Rich?
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Its lock jaw, ofcourse. Unless Datsyuk’s chafed nipples are contagious. That would be back.
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whoops, ‘bad’, not ‘back’
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In Nick’s defense..
He was reporting on Terry Murray.
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Given the type of player Smyth is, with the way he battles in front of the net, it seems only logical to give him as much time as it takes to get him fully healed. If you bring him in too early, the injury could be aggravated and then he’s out even longer. In this case it’s best to go with a low risk option, especially since the Kings are playing pretty well at the moment.
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well Helene Elliot has already reported in the Times that it’s “rumored” to be a rib injury….so not sure what the secrecy is all about…
Given that it is a rib injury, I do hope that he stays away until he’s ready. With the kind of punishment that he takes every game, that rib will be hit all game long, so there’s no way he should come back too early!
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Seeing how it’s already been reported and LB just came out with it. It is indeed a rib injury.
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I’m trying to imagine that exchange with reporters with Keenan, Sutter, or Bowman in place of Murray.
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Eyeskater, not a shoulder or collarbone. Saw him at meet the players, was looking at how he moved to see if that might have been it. If the rumor is rib, it would make sense. Also nice that it’s not like some of the injuries we’ve seen some other teams take lately (broken legs, broken jaw, legs cut by skates…) 4-6 weeks is a nice amount of time to get properly healed for something like that.
Nick, I know how the rumors can be down there – flashbacks of high school…
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Calling Dr Fine, Dr Howard, and Dr Fine… (Larry, Moe, and Curly)… Some people should not play Dr…
I have resigned myself to the fact that he will be back when he’s back.
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Hey Rich
What was the tone of TM’s comments?
Did he seem angry or annoyed, or just the way he usually answers questions?
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@nykingfan: Does Murray ever have a mood other than slightly cranky?
Well, the “good” news if the rumor is true is that it’s not a joint or his head, back or neck, and when he is recovered, it will be complete. It won’t be chronic, forever. I can deal with him playing after the Christmas break or perhaps the Calgary road game before the break, but we’re gonna miss him a lot in January if it comes to that.
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