Habs77 Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=54095 The Montreal Canadiens received some bad news on the injury front on Tuesday, as forward Chad Kilger has suffered a multiple fracture in his left orbital bone and was hemorrhaging because of the injury.Kilger required stitches on Monday after being caught in the left eye with an errant stick in practice. TSN's sister station RDS reports that because of the severity of the hemorrhaging, the team's doctors cannot carry out thorough examinations. I was there... it was just such a harmless play, but the kind of thing that can happen on any play. Kilger was playing defense in a 1 on 1 drill... Beauchemin had the puck in the corner and had to get to the net, Kilger had to stop him from getting there. Beauchemin tried to slide the puck between Kilger's legs and slip by him... after pushing the puck he had to lift his stick over Kilger while racing past him, Kilger is quite a bit taller than Beauchemin and got the inadvertent stick in the face. It was a one handed high-stick that didn't seem to hit very hard, but hit at the worst possible spot. Kilger fell to the ice grabbing his face. Nobody reacted at first, all expecting him to get back up after a few seconds. Then after 5-10 seconds Kilger let out a scream, and now everybody one the ice took notice and rushed over... the trainer came running onto the ice, while Souray went to grab a towel. After a minute or two he was escorted off the ice, a player supporting him on each side... and you could see Kilger had trouble walking on his own even once off the ice, he still had to be helped to get to the locker room or in this case the ambulance. That's why I was sure the eye was hit. To me it's a wonder that it doesn't happen more often... all players should wear at least partial visors if you ask me. If you want to fight, then remove the helmet and go at it. I hope they can save his eye. [Edited on 17-9-03 by Habs77] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sakiqc Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Thanks habs77 for the description. That's very sad for Chad. The management should impose a visor to their players. Players are stupid sometimes. It's not the first incident like this.. and not the last. But players don't want to put a visor for bad proud feeling... even players who were cut at the eyes still don't put a visor after their long and suffering rehab. I mean, management should protect more their investment! Players also! Why take the risk to lose an eye! WTF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habs77 Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 Players have always been too man proud for their own good. Back in the day goalies took some time after the first goalie mask was invented before they all adopted it... there were afraid they wouldn't see the puck properly. Then players resisted when the league wanted to make helmets mandatory. And now the players complain they don't see the puck well enough with a visor... that's bull. You see fine. Others say they can't wear one because they're more physical... and what prevents them from taking their helmet off when they decide to fight?.. They rip it off each other's head anyway, so don't give me that crap of an excuse. The league doesn't help any, by giving a double minor for high-sticking if there's blood... rewarding the dumbasses that don't wear a visor. I find it hard to feel too sorry for them when they're being so damn stupid about it. When Don Cherry agrees with you, that's a sign you might want consider re-thinking your position on the issue. Idiots. I can't play in my hockey league if I'm missing as much as a neck guard... they were all kids once who played with full visors, there's NO reason they can't play wih one now. [Edited on 16-9-03 by Habs77] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAussiePosse Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Does this give Higgins or Gratton a chance now? 4th line centre/LW... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habs77 Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 Originally posted by TheAussiePosseDoes this give Higgins or Gratton a chance now? 4th line centre/LW... Gratton is out a few weeks with a knee injury... so that takes care of that. As for Higgins, I saw him and he's not ready IMO. Especially don't take him only to let him rot on the 4th line... thats crazy wrong. We have 4 centers... Koivu, Perreault, Ribeiro, Juneau. We should go with a balanced line approach... 3 equal lines and then the 4th: Hossa-Koivu-Audette Bulis-Ribeiro-Zednik Sundstrom-Perreault-Ward Dwyer-Juneau-Ryder That's the lineup I'd start with... take it from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puck7x Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Ahhh damnit , just when I was starting to not hate Kilger he goes and gets injured. Kilger was finally given a role this year , the 3rd line centre... Kilger is basically our only forward who is physical AND has size , we have other forwards with size who arent physical (Hossa) and other forwards who are physical without the big-size (Zed , Saku) , but Kilger was the only one who combined both... ... Oh wait , I guess Ward counts too Oh and about Higgins not being NHL ready , from what I saw from him over the weekend he looked very very close to being NHL ready , and who knows ... maybe after a few weeks of training camp and a few exhibition games he will be NHL ready... As for Kilger , I hope his injury isnt too serious. Hopefully he makes the start of the season (doubtful though when you have a fractured bone near your eye) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habs77 Posted September 17, 2003 Author Share Posted September 17, 2003 No chance of Kilger starting the season... even if we get good news on the eye itself, the orbital bone fracture means 1 month minimum before he could - knock on wood - come back. As for Higgins, maybe he just had a bad day... but aside from his goal he was invisible on Monday. And given the fact he needs to get used to an 80 game sched... let alone playing the NHL's best... I see him as a mid-season callup at best. Bringing him up too soon, and with this sorry bunch, would be a mistake IMO... I really hope he starts in Hamilton. And I think he will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montreal Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Savard said teh other day that he expect Higgins to start the year with the Habs unless things go really wrong from now till the start of the season. Of course it's not up to him anymore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habs77 Posted September 17, 2003 Author Share Posted September 17, 2003 Originally posted by montrealSavard said teh other day that he expect Higgins to start the year with the Habs unless things go really wrong from now till the start of the season. Of course it's not up to him anymore! Savard boosting HIS draft pick, what a shocker. LWers: Bulis, Hossa, Sundstrom, Dwyer Centers: Koivu, Ribeiro, Perreault, Juneau Exactly where do they plan on playing him? No way you let a kid make the team to make him play 4th line duty... and there's no way he'll center one of the top 3 lines with our crowded center situation. That leaves LW, where it would only make sense to demote Sundstrom... but Dwyer is on the 4th line so does Sundstrom go? No room for him, plus he's not ready... I can't see him making the team & really hope that he doesn't. If no trades are made, I'd bet big money Higgins has no shot of making it from the get go... later in the year perhaps. P.S. Unless Hossa is traded.. which I doubt will happen before the start of the season. THe good thing about Gainey is that I have a feeling he won't let an over-crowded situation fester all year and disrupt the team like last year... after seeing a few games (or perhaps even before that) he'll make his choice and move the unwanted out. Or so I hope [Edited on 17-9-03 by Habs77] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zowpeb Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Well I would hardly say Savard is merely boosting his pick over one of a previous regime...Higgins has been one of the best young players in camp, if not the best. I can easily see Hossa starting the season in Hamilton and possibly getting traded... We have a lot of versatility with some of our forwards. Sundstrom can also play RW... Perhaps a Sundstrom-Juneau-Dackell line is going to be our overly expensive 4th line...although I doubt it. There is no doubt in my mind that we need to make some trades and clear out some more bodies...Audette and Perreault are the usual suspects but Dackell is quickly finding his name on that list as well. Especially with Ryder performing well. I'd like to see Ryder get a shot with Koivu and Zednik if he keeps playing this well. I think Bulis could fit in nicely on a line with the defensively poor Ribeiro...Bulis-Ribeiro-Ward could work nicely. I can also see a Sundstrom-Perreault-Audette line for a 3rd line(but only if we match line for line and don't use a primary checking line). That leaves Higgins and Hossa in the AHL for now... If Ryder doesn't cut it or Sundstrom continues his struggles from last year then a call up of Hossa or Higgins would be in the works. They would also get call ups if Dackell or Audette were moved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CerebusClones Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 THe good thing about Gainey is that I have a feeling he won't let an over-crowded situation fester all year and disrupt the team like last year... after seeing a few games (or perhaps even before that) he'll make his choice and move the unwanted out. Or so I hope I personnally think it was a good thing. It really speaks volumes on which player can perform under additional pressure, and which players are warriors. It was obvious that guys like Audette, Czerkawski, Brisebois, and Perreault are not such players, are not ready to fight, and therefore will never take us anywhere. However, guys like Koivu, Zednik, Bulis, and Markov took their game up a notch to become go-to guys. Even Ribeiro managed to shine from the crowd, and is now seen as the potential number 2 center for the team. So, IMO, last year wasn't all that negative... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krushing Komisarek Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Well, to get Higgins in for some playing time, we need to get rid of (trade, waiver wire, demotion to AHL) Dackell (fat chance we can trade or give away Audette and his contract). As for the D, we'll let their pre-season play sort out that mess. If Hossa proves he deserves to stick, we'll have to deal away Dackell and Perreault (at least teams might want him for his faceoff abilities) somehow before the reg. season. How I hope things shake down by Oct. 9. Zednik-Koivu-Audette Hossa/Higgins-Ribeiro-Dagenais/Ryder (the two can compete for this 2nd line spot without Perreault in the picture) Sundstrom-Bulis-Ward Dagenais/Higgins/Hossa-Juneau-Dwyer/Ryder Y'see, we can't possibly send Juneau, Dackell or Perreault down to the minors because of their price and experience, so they'll be gone except Juneau. But his position will be easily filled if he gets injured. AHL-bound to start the season (w/possibility of callup): Perezhogin, Milroy, Ferland, Plekanec, Balej, Gratton, Blouin, Marois. Now those are a lot of what-ifs, but I'd like to see a lineup that works in a way like this, it all depends on their play too. The young guys Higgins, Hossa and Ryder can be alternated between the 2nd and 4th lines and Hamilton with injuries/quality of play pending. Ward will stick I think, but the other three are the ones I'm most comfortable with to use right away. Any spares can be found in Hamilton quite accordingly.:/) [Edited on 2003/9/17 by Krushing Komisarek] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habs77 Posted September 17, 2003 Author Share Posted September 17, 2003 Ryder looked VERY good... not too tall but very stalky, solid frame... didn't hesitate to take a run at Komisarek every chance he got. He should really make the team IMO. But we still have too much dead-weight on this team, so he probably won't be used as much as he should. That whole line of Sundstrom, Juneau, Dackell is useless... and all are in their last contract year so I hope we don't re-sign any. And hopefully dump a couple this year. Defense alone is not enough to win a spot on my team, anybody can play defense. You have to either bring some offense too, or physical play, to be useful. Audette we're stuck with, for now... This would be my lineup without them: Hossa-Koivu-Audette Bulis-Ribeiro-Zednik Ryder-Perreault-Ward Dwyer-Kilger- Blouin - I think Koivu is the only one who can hold Hossa accountable out there... and as I said we're stuck with Audette for now. - Bulis & Zednik have looked great with Ribeiro, they're the kind of wingers he needs. - Ryder & Ward are both physical... will get the puck in the corners so Perreault can concentrate on putting it in the net. - 4th line?.. I just like the idea of having 2 fighters out there, because sadly each one is only as good as half a fighter by NHL standards. Maybe they can fight 2 against 1 they could actually win a fight. Next year... Higgins takes over for Perreault at center, and Perezhogin takes over for Audette. That still leaves Kastitsyn as a bonus. [Edited on 17-9-03 by Habs77] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonavistaman11 Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 Dackell, Juneau, and Audette definitely have to be gone from the team, they're only taking away positions from some of the young players that should be in the lineup. Ryder should make the team for sure, he's the type of player that the habs need , Physical and a natural goal scorer. He'll need time on one of the top lines to make an impact. Ribeiro seems to be ready to take on a bigger role and step in as the teams #2 center, with his offensive intelligence he should also get alot of time on the powerplay. my lines would be: (with juneau,Dackell, Audette) Zednik-Koivu-Ryder/Ward Bulis-Ribeiro-Ryder/Ward Sundstrom-Perreault-Audette Dwyer-Juneau-Dackell (Without Juneau, Dackell, Audette) Zednik-Koivu-Ryder/Ward Bulis-Ribeiro-Ryder/Ward Hossa-Perreault-Sundstrom Dwyer-Higgins-Kilger/Dagenais/Blouin :ghg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habs77 Posted September 18, 2003 Author Share Posted September 18, 2003 http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=54177 _____________________________________________ TSN.ca Staff with files 9/17/2003 Canadiens defensive prospect Francois Beauchemin said his high stick in practice - that may cost forward Chad Kilger the use of his left eye - was accidental. Beauchemin's stick caught Kilger on the eye in a battle for the puck on Monday. "Kilger was behind me and, while turning around, I tried to lift my stick over him to avoid hitting him," Beauchemin told Le Journal de Montreal. "Unfortunately, I hit him at eye level. "Right away, I felt bad. It wasn't intentional. It was an accident. Things like that happen during the heat of the action." Kilger remained in hospital on Wednesday. Team doctor David Mulder said it may take a few more days until the bleeding and swelling in the eye have cleared to determine the exact extent of the injury. No news was expected Wednesday on his condition, a team spokesman said. The Cornwall, Ont., native was diagnosed with multiple fractures of the orbital bone around the left eye. There was hemorrhaging in the eye area and the sinuses were also affected. Doctors were worried that Kilger may lose vision in the eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montreal Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 Kilger has left the hospital, the swelling is down. http://www.cyberpresse.ca/sports/article/1...03,433301.shtml [Edited on 2003/9/18 by montreal] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habby1197 Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 Kilger improving... his vision is getting better, I'm happy he can see anything. Finally some good news... keep your fingers crossed. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=54299 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habs77 Posted September 18, 2003 Author Share Posted September 18, 2003 Pulse news last night, even before today's apparent good news, helped put things in perspective. They said a lot of people were comparing Kilger's situation to Brian Berard's eye injury... but that both injury could not be compared. Berard's injuries were MUCH more extensive, and even he had come back. They said Kilger's eye injury, as far as we know now before more extensive tests are done, is more similar to Derek Morris' eye injury. Morris missed about a month. Similar injury for yet another, forget who (Karpotsev?) and he too had apparently missed about a month. A month or 2 would be my guess, if the news stays good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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