Pretty sure you can stick a fork in him for the season. I think he could probably play maybe with a week or so left but we might as well continue to play Ramo and McKenna and see how they perform during these meaningless games.
There is no recent word on his condition. They say he's on a day to day basis, it all depends on how he feels. He has been attending some of the practices, but has only been skating around and practicing with a forward's stick, not in the net. They [coaches and owners] have had several meetings to discuss whether to put Ranger and Smith back on the ice this season, or to let them heal up and get the ready for camp. Since Ranger decided to have surgery its a fact that he wont be back on the ice, but no official word on Smith yet. One can only assume that he's done for the season as well.
There is no recent word on his condition. They say he's on a day to day basis, it all depends on how he feels. He has been attending some of the practices, but has only been skating around and practicing with a forward's stick, not in the net. They [coaches and owners] have had several meetings to discuss whether to put Ranger and Smith back on the ice this season, or to let them heal up and get the ready for camp. Since Ranger decided to have surgery its a fact that he wont be back on the ice, but no official word on Smith yet. One can only assume that he's done for the season as well.
Please provide link/links for the above. I haven't seen any of this anywhere. Just wondering where you get your info.
The Lightning's top two defensemen -- Paul Ranger and Andrej Meszaros -- both will undergo surgery on their left shoulders to repair torn labrums, the team announced.
Quote:
That means its a second straight summer of rehab for Ranger. Both players are expected to be fully healed in six months, meaning they should be ready for training camp.
Tocchet said it is getting closer to a time the team must decide whether to shut down goaltender Mike Smith (concussion). Tocchet said the discussion likely will happen sooner rather than later. At issue: is it worth the risk to bring Smith back considering Tampa Bay is out of the playoff race, or is it better to let him fully heal and be ready for next season? Also a consideration: it might be good for Smith to get a few games under his belt heading into the offseason to get things moving in the right direction. It is a difficult equation. "If you have a knee problem or shoulder, you can kind of see in the sense of, 'Let's get surgery. Let's give it two weeks.' I don't know with concussions," Tocchet said. "It's up to Mike, and how he feels. It's a subjective thing for him."
Lightning goaltender Mike Smith flew with the team to Vancouver to meet with chiropractor Don Grant to see if anything can be done about accelerating Smith's recovery from a concussion. Trainer Tommy Mulligan said Smith, hurt Dec. 2 against the Flyers when run over by teammate Vinny Prospal, is "going in the right direction."
As for Smith's future, it is getting more and more likely he likely will be shut down for the rest of the season. Coach Rick Tocchet said that conversation likely will happen after Wednesday's trade deadline.
Seriously though, supposedly they can adjust health via messing the nervous system.
I'm surprised that the team would use one at all. Chiropractic is generally considered 'alternative' medicine. Probably the most legit practice in it, but with all of the team's millions, I'd think they'd be sending him to someone who's field is proven through high level research.
Seriously though, supposedly they can adjust health via messing the nervous system.
I'm surprised that the team would use one at all. Chiropractic is generally considered 'alternative' medicine. Probably the most legit practice in it, but with all of the team's millions, I'd think they'd be sending him to someone who's field is proven through high level research.
I guess it's the recession for them too.
Yeah, I would most certainly hope so! I don't care how 'legit', I'm not buying into the notion that a chiropractor is in any way qualified to help in treating a BRAIN INJURY! Ugh.
I hope we DON'T bring Smith back this season. Rest him, see what we've got in Ramo and earn that top 3 draft pick.
I agree. Give Ramo more practice time in an NHL goal. Plus, if Smitty came back now, we'd end up with a 5 or 6th pick. Right now we're still headed for a top 3.
I agree. Give Ramo more practice time in an NHL goal. Plus, if Smitty came back now, we'd end up with a 5 or 6th pick. Right now we're still headed for a top 3.
We're #1! We're #1! We're #1!
C'mon guys, lose like you've never lost before. Lose like it's your passion.
The Lightning and Mike Smith believe getting him back in a game this season is a good idea if Smith can 100 percent recover from post-concussion syndrome.
"The mandate is, if you're ready to go, then you're going," GM Brian Lawton said. "If it's the last game of the year, it's the last game of the year. If he's not 100 percent, we're not going to force him to get in a game, but if he is, we're not going to hold him out, either. If he's ready to play, he'll play."
How is Smith doing? He said he no longer has headaches or dizziness or nausea, is beginning to work out on a stationary bike and in the gym. But he said he cannot seem to shake a general "fogginess ... of being in a daze."
Smith last month visited chiropractor Don Grant in Vancouver. Smith said he used Grant after his 2006-07 concussion with the Stars to help loosen up his neck. He said he did not get the same relief this time from Grant. Two weeks ago he visited University of Pittsburgh concussion specialist Michael Collins, who also treated former Lightning forward Rob DiMaio.
Smith said he was told his symptoms will dissipate. It is just a matter of time.
"It's been a lot slower than I expected," Smith said. "I improve a little bit every day here and there."
As for playing again this season, Smith said, "Absolutely. Obviously, there are not a lot of games left, but I'd like to get back on the ice and get in as many games as I can. Any games I can play I can gain experience and that's good for my career."
Smith has not played since Jan. 30. He originally was hurt Dec. 2 against the Flyers when run over by teammate Vinny Prospal. Smith said he aggravated the injury when inadvertently decked by an official during a Jan. 21 game with the Sabres.
Whatever happens this season, Smith said he has no doubt he will be ready for training camp.
Yeah, I would most certainly hope so! I don't care how 'legit', I'm not buying into the notion that a chiropractor is in any way qualified to help in treating a BRAIN INJURY! Ugh.
Get well, Smitty! Take ALL the time you need.
While a concussion is defined as the brain making impact/injury it usually happens in some kind of violent motion that involves the head/neck/spine, so a chiropractor isn't that surprising here.
with 11 games left after tonight, it might be best for him to just sit it out. The last thing we need is for him to come back for a game or two and get injured again. Ramo's doing fine. Let him finish up the season on a positive note.
with 11 games left after tonight, it might be best for him to just sit it out. The last thing we need is for him to come back for a game or two and get injured again. Ramo's doing fine. Let him finish up the season on a positive note.
We don't want Smith coming back and knocking us out of the Hedman/Tavares sweepstakes and we also don't want him injured again. Let him enjoy the press box this season...
While a concussion is defined as the brain making impact/injury it usually happens in some kind of violent motion that involves the head/neck/spine, so a chiropractor isn't that surprising here.
I suppose not, and maybe it could help from that perspective. It just concerns me because there are chiropractors that make over-reaching claims wrt medical treatments, and/or engage in questionable/unproven alternative medicine practices. Even people with access to the best in medical care (as Smith presumably is) can believe in the value of such practices. And if the state of his condition is largely subjective at this point, it seems possible that one could feel better due to a type of "placebo effect."
Of course, I'm not saying that this is the actually the case with either Smith or his chiro...so...ummmm....okay, I'll get off my soap box now!
Smitty, get your neck massaged or whatever REAL GOOD, and I hope it helps! Just remember you only have one brain, so take good care of it!
-Hockey Monkess
-Fake Internet Doctor and Knower of All Things
Oh, and I don't really see much point in putting him back in this season, either, but if he's truly fine and wants to play, what the heck, I guess.
"Originally Posted by BrokeBearMountain
Tell me again where someone said he was an elite goaltender...?
When people throw around names like JVR, Coburn, 1st rd pks, I expect the goalie
coming to the Flyers to be a hell of a lot better than Mike Smith, who is not even in Biron's class. "
Why did they flame our mentally unstable fragile goalie?
