On the Keith Ballard …
- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Exactly a year ago yesterday, Keith Ballard suffered a concussion, and yesterday he was forced to retire from hockey because that concussion.
“I didn’t want to retire at this time, but with the bigger picture in mind, it was a no-brainer,” Ballard said. “You look at so many athletes and they struggle for so long and I don’t want that to be me. I want to live a healthy life, be there for my wife and kids.”
Ballard hasn’t thought about joining the lawsuit that dozens of former players filed against the league.
“When I came in, I don’t know if the guys 20 years ago have a different story, but you understood it,” Ballard said. “Maybe it’s a byproduct of being a young player and you want to stay in the lineup, you don’t want to be injured, so you might not mention the little stuff.
“If I make a full recovery from this concussion, I’ll chalk it up to good luck because, I’ll be honest, if I was hit like that again, I’m freaked out about what could happen the next time.”
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Post Dispatch: Sergei Bobrovsky will miss the next three weeks with a lower-body injury. Portzline wonders if it’s another groin tear or pull, something he’s dealt with the past two seasons.
On the Colorado Avalanche …
- Terry Frei of the Denver Post: Captain Gabriel Landeskog missed the Avs game against the Penguins due to a back issue. The Avs don’t play again until Saturday in Nashville.
On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
- Erik Erlendsson: Coach Jon Cooper said that Cedric Paquette and Erik Condra are likely at least one week away from returning to the lineup.
- Bryan Burns: Cooper: “Erik’s probably in the same boat as Paquette…He would be (out) for sure a week.”
- Erik Erlendsson: Cooper said they are hopeful that Ondrej Palat will be back on Thursday. Seems like they are preparing as if he’ll be in the lineup.
On the Philadelphia Flyers …
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Defenseman Radko Gudas is expected to return to the lineup tonight against the Blues.
On the Washington Capitals …
- Chuck Gormley: Coach Barry Trotz said that surgery is not an option for defenseman Brooks Orpik. Off-ice therapy is the next option for him.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
- Jonas Siegel: Joffrey Lupul is expected to practice today and return from his lower-body injury next week.
On the Panthers …
- George Richards: Coach Gerard Gallent said that Nick Bjugstad is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury. He’s not travelling with the team to Boston, but hopes to join them at some point on their trip.
On the Calgary Flames …
- Pat Steinberg: Jonas Hiller only lasted about 15 minutes before leaving practice. Wes Gilbertson: He left because he was sick.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
Kristen Shilton of the USA Today: Defenseman Dan Hamhuis broke his jaw and had some teeth dislodged after being hit by a slap shot.
here’s what happened to Hamhuis. still cleaning blood off the ice pic.twitter.com/ko0l8C2hV3
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 10, 2015