Fischer: What's the situation?

[arno 0]

Looking at all the threads abouf FAs, next year changes.... I was wondering what is the status of Fischer? Is there any chance he's gonna be back playing?

[Guest Agalloch]

He's almost assuredly done with the NHL.

[mikey_j 0]

He's almost assuredly done with the NHL.

That's really a shame.

I'm still a bit of a youngster myself (30) and was diagnosed with a similar condition (v-tach) in my mid 20's. Fortunately for me I've never gone into cardiac arrest (and never plan to) and, after a few years of frustrating medical consultation, was cleared completely for all activities by my doctors.

I'm hoping for the best for Jiri.

[scotzman 29]

My thing is, I just think no matter what happens, no one is going to want to risk it after seeing Jiri go down like that at the Joe. I love the guy and would love to see him on the team again, but I would rather that he lives a long fruitful life. After all is said and done, it's just a game...

God bless you Jiri.

[Opie 308]

He is one of my top 6 d-men on NHL 07 for xbox 360, he is definitely still good on that game and I have to play him.

For some reason in my mind if he is on the roster on my xbox he will have a chance to make it back. But like it has been said on this board a million times, I would much rather see him live another 80 years and never skate again, then see him go down like that again.

[martyrme19 73]

I dont know....i gotta say that all this talk of no one wanting to risk anything is hogwash. I dont really think its working like that. Fischer has never said hes giving up on the nhl, at least no interview i've ever seen of him. And i dont think im being too optimistic when i say that they'll be able to get to the bottom of whatever is happening. The guy has played hockey his whole life and it was just some freakish accident. Its like sayin, i'm never going to walk outside again cus last time i got hit with a meteorite. There is always someone that will be willing to "take a chance" imo. If not the wings, then someone as long as fischer wants to play. Just like someone will always take a chance on TO in football ragardless of the fact that his constant debaucharies will kill the whole team and not just himself.

[Opie 308]

Your analogy of getting hit by a meteorite is a little of base, unless you are talking about a guy who lives in a meteorite belt. This man would be taxing his heart of day of his life, and putting a lot of UNNECESSARY stress on his heart just to be playing hockey.

I agree with you though if doctors give him the thumbs up I cannot wait to see him in the winged wheel!!

[#19=Legend 29]

God thats such a shame. he was so young and a bright future.

But the wings organization will take care of him. But still such a shame that he will most likely not play anymore.

[#19forPresident! 1]

Yeah I agree, he was dealt a strange hand by the man upstairs, it really is a shame because of his talent on the ice but at the same time its a great thing that he is alive and well with or without hockey. While he was shaping up to be a future star in the league, good health and family is way more important than a game. Its sad, he pours his life's work into something, and sees the success, and knows that there is only more great things to come. Just to have it all cut short by something he has zero control over, and worse yet has it threaten his life.

I would guess there is a mix of things surrounding his status as far as playing again. Some is probably physical, some is probably liability as far as team responsibility for his safety, and some is probably his own choice. Since I personally don't know him or what the intimate details of his condition are, my educated guess is that he probably has a significant chance of future problems if he puts his body under the load required to play professional hockey again. Knowing this he is probably waiting for the docs to tell him his chances of repeating that scinerio are slim to none, which probably won't be anytime soon.

Real bummer, Fisch was that great presence on the ice that handles things that need to be handled, in spots where we seem to have a void at times right now. He would drop the golves in a heartbeat, and he could throw, on top of being a fantastic defenseman who could really skate and lay the body on. I'm just happy he's in good health and spirits, many people would be wallowing in self pity in his shoes. Yet every interview I see him in since his accident he has nothing but positive things to say. Good for him

Who knows, maybe he'll have some breakthrough down the road, he is sorely missed and would be more than a welcomed face back on the bench.

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

I dont see him comming back. Id love to see it but I just dont see how he could get medical clearance of any sort unless somehow they were able to fix his heart.

[toby91_ca 620]

I dont know....i gotta say that all this talk of no one wanting to risk anything is hogwash. I dont really think its working like that. Fischer has never said hes giving up on the nhl, at least no interview i've ever seen of him. And i dont think im being too optimistic when i say that they'll be able to get to the bottom of whatever is happening. The guy has played hockey his whole life and it was just some freakish accident. Its like sayin, i'm never going to walk outside again cus last time i got hit with a meteorite. There is always someone that will be willing to "take a chance" imo. If not the wings, then someone as long as fischer wants to play. Just like someone will always take a chance on TO in football ragardless of the fact that his constant debaucharies will kill the whole team and not just himself.

Sorry, but I think you are way off base here.

[Nightfall 871]

I wish the best for Jiri thats for sure. I know there are some people that are wondering why he is trying to hard to get back into the NHL. It really comes down to one thing, and thats for the love of the game. I am sure the paycheck doesn't hurt either, but you can tell he love the game of hockey and he is good at it.

The NHL will probably never take a chance on him, and the Red Wings will support him, but they don't want his heart problems looming over them like a cloud. Personally, if I was in his situation, and I got opinions from doctors to start playing again I would. Even if it was rec league hockey. The Red Wings organization will take good care of him, that is for sure, but it still doesn't mean he doesn't have the fire to compete still in his system. Imagine having that fire to compete and play, but unable to at that level that you were playing at before. Thats gotta hurt.

I have always supported Jiri and always will. Even if he tries to return to the NHL. Mainly because I consider myself to be a competitor and I would know how it felt if I was unable to play hockey. Its the greatest sport thats for sure.

[Guest jaytan]

Unfortunately, he will probably never play again. But you never know....

[Wing Nut 0]

Forgive me I'm new to the boards. What was the diagnosis? I live in Ohio and the only games I can see are when they play the Blue Jackets.

[Firehawk 305]

That's really a shame.

I'm still a bit of a youngster myself (30) and was diagnosed with a similar condition (v-tach) in my mid 20's. Fortunately for me I've never gone into cardiac arrest (and never plan to) and, after a few years of frustrating medical consultation, was cleared completely for all activities by my doctors.

I'm hoping for the best for Jiri.

Wow it's amazing someone else around here can relate sorta. While you have the more serious of the two, i had Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosed at age 23. I only had 3 epsiodes, about 1 year apart and finally after the third i opted to get an ablation procedure done when i was 26 which cured me (so far, 1 1/2 years later). Mine was not life threatening but it felt like you were going to die.

Anyways, I had the surgery and was in my hospital bed on that night watching the wings game when Fischer went down. It really hit home with me. I wish he could come back but unless they can cure him of that, he's probably done. It's too risky.

I dont know....i gotta say that all this talk of no one wanting to risk anything is hogwash. I dont really think its working like that. Fischer has never said hes giving up on the nhl, at least no interview i've ever seen of him. And i dont think im being too optimistic when i say that they'll be able to get to the bottom of whatever is happening. The guy has played hockey his whole life and it was just some freakish accident. Its like sayin, i'm never going to walk outside again cus last time i got hit with a meteorite. There is always someone that will be willing to "take a chance" imo. If not the wings, then someone as long as fischer wants to play. Just like someone will always take a chance on TO in football ragardless of the fact that his constant debaucharies will kill the whole team and not just himself.

It's not some freak thing that just happened. Your heart doesn't just start fibrillating for no reason. He has a defect that in and of itself may be a freak thing but what happened to him is because of his defect which isn't going away unless they cure it (if they can, i'm not sure).

I believe his diagnosis initially was Ventricular Fibrillation which is fatal if immediate medical response isn't present. He's lucky he didn't have that when he was sleeping or something.

Edited May 24, 2007 by Firehawk

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

here is a question if he doesnt return to NHL will the Wings put him on as a coach in Grand Rapids to develope are young players?

[toby91_ca 620]

here is a question if he doesnt return to NHL will the Wings put him on as a coach in Grand Rapids to develope are young players?

"develope are" ?? Just kidding....but I couldn't resist.

Anyway, I do not think anyone will be able to answer this question other than by speculation. I certainly have not heard about any such thing happening down the road, but it isn't impossible.

[martyrme19 73]

All I am saying is that its a little premature for people to say he's never going to play again. The Red Wings still own his rights and have him listed as "long term IR". Clearly by now it would be determined if it was impossible for him to ever return, and that hasn't happend which gives me reason to believe they may have better control over this then we can all speculate.

[mikey_j 0]

Wow it's amazing someone else around here can relate sorta. While you have the more serious of the two, i had Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosed at age 23. I only had 3 epsiodes, about 1 year apart and finally after the third i opted to get an ablation procedure done when i was 26 which cured me (so far, 1 1/2 years later). Mine was not life threatening but it felt like you were going to die.

Glad to hear you had a successful ablation. That's really great news.

I mostly just have occasional PVCs but on some occasions have a run of them which becomes non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Thankfully my heart is in good shape and it's actually caused by nerve signal "noise" from my vagus nerve and no actual defect in the heart's pathways. It took quite a while for my doctor's to puzzle it all out.

V-tach itself is usually very concerning because, as in Jiri's case, it went straight to ventricular fibrillation (where the heart's just quivering in an uncoordinated fashion and not actually pumping) and effectively stopped.

My guess is that Jiri has a genetic heart defect which makes him susceptible to sudden cardiac death (long QT syndrome, Brugada, etc). If he hasn't been cleared by now, I assume he has a diagnosis in hand and is likely an ICD candidate (if he hasn't gotten one implanted already).

It's scary stuff. I wish him nothing but the best.

[Firehawk 305]

Glad to hear you had a successful ablation. That's really great news.

I mostly just have occasional PVCs but on some occasions have a run of them which becomes non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Thankfully my heart is in good shape and it's actually caused by nerve signal "noise" from my vagus nerve and no actual defect in the heart's pathways. It took quite a while for my doctor's to puzzle it all out.

V-tach itself is usually very concerning because, as in Jiri's case, it went straight to ventricular fibrillation (where the heart's just quivering in an uncoordinated fashion and not actually pumping) and effectively stopped.

My guess is that Jiri has a genetic heart defect which makes him susceptible to sudden cardiac death (long QT syndrome, Brugada, etc). If he hasn't been cleared by now, I assume he has a diagnosis in hand and is likely an ICD candidate (if he hasn't gotten one implanted already).

It's scary stuff. I wish him nothing but the best.

I'm sorry to get off of the topic of Fischer...

I had a 48 hour heart monitor done about 6 months ago to count the number of PAC's and PVC's i have (since i had the surgery they went away but came back a bit). I have many less now and feel them much less, but still feel them on occasion (PAC's). The PVC's I have are about 7 per day. That's what the average person has pretty much. So I have no worries there and am so happy that it was a successful operation. When i'd get an attack, i could barely breathe and my heart rate was irregularly irregular. It felt like I was for sure going to die.

If you haven't ever experienced something like this it's very tough to describe, but it just makes you feel like total crap.

To have something more life threatening I'd imagine would be even tougher to get over. It took me a good year or so to not be afraid to get my heart rate over 140...and now that I've conditioned my heart alot better and come off all beta blockers, I feel like a new person.

I think on occasion I do feel a PVC when they happen...and they kinda make me do a double take...like 'what was that?' lol.

Edited May 24, 2007 by Firehawk

[RainingBlood 8]

well his salary comes off the books leaving a lil more cap room for the offseason.