Concussion keeps Andreas Lilja's career on hold

[I Red Wings I 40]

MLive

CALGARY, Alberta -- His head is pounding constantly, he is bored out of his mind and his conditioning level is slipping.

This is not how Detroit Red Wings defenseman Andreas Lilja was hoping to prepare for the playoffs, but he has no choice. Lilja is not allowed to work out, on or off the ice, until the headaches he has been experiencing for 3 1/2 weeks subside.

"I'm really concerned. I never had headaches before. It's a really weird thing for me," Lilja said. "Have them every day, have them all the time.

"You get used to it. I don't think about it, I just feel it."

Lilja sustained a concussion on a punch from Nashville's Shea Weber on Feb. 28. His inability to exercise adds to the pain.

"It's really, really frustrating," Lilja said. "It's not just a job, it's a lifestyle. Usually if you hurt a knee or something, you can work your upper body. If you hurt your upper body, you can work your legs. I can't do anything. I look at the guys, I get tired. It's really, really boring."

He is concerned about his shape.

"I eat like I usually do, and obviously that's not good," Lilja said. "I'm going to try to cut back."

Lilja, who has not yet consulted a specialist, believes he can start working out off-ice as soon as he's free of headaches for two days.

Even though there was little chance he would have been able to skate during this two-game western Canada trip, he was happy to be with the team.

"I miss hanging out with the guys," Lilja said. "It was a nice change of pace to get out of the house for a little bit."

Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood said Lilja brings many elements the team is missing.

"Lils is important. He kills penalties, he blocks shots, he gets the puck out for us and he's a big guy," Osgood said. "That's why it's been so huge that (Jonathan) Ericsson has come on and played like he has."

The future of fighting has come under scrutiny this season, but Lilja has not changed his view.

"I still think fighting should be in the game," Lilja said. "It was just bad luck; (Weber) got in a good punch, it happens. If I could take it back, I wouldn't fight him."

MLive

[Phazon 24]

yeah we need lils for the playoffs.

[Guest mindfly]

What happens if you play games with headaches? could the blood-vessel's in your head explode and damage the brain? Just wondering....

[Guest micah]

He hasn't seen a specialist yet? I've eaten a few punches, I've had a few concussions, but I'd be scared as hell if I was still having headaches 3 days later, much less 3.5 weeks. Lils, see somebody, man. Granted there might not be much they can do, but still. For the good of your carreer, and much more importantly, for the good of your life over the next 60 or so years, see somebody.

[Guest mindfly]

That also got me wondering, isn't the medical staff on the detroit team very caring of their players, letting them rest extra days, always precautionary, and lilja has yet to see a specialist? dont make sense

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

MLive

CALGARY, Alberta -- His head is pounding constantly, he is bored out of his mind and his conditioning level is slipping.

This is not how Detroit Red Wings defenseman Andreas Lilja was hoping to prepare for the playoffs, but he has no choice. Lilja is not allowed to work out, on or off the ice, until the headaches he has been experiencing for 3 1/2 weeks subside.

"I'm really concerned. I never had headaches before. It's a really weird thing for me," Lilja said. "Have them every day, have them all the time.

"You get used to it. I don't think about it, I just feel it."

Lilja sustained a concussion on a punch from Nashville's Shea Weber on Feb. 28. His inability to exercise adds to the pain.

"It's really, really frustrating," Lilja said. "It's not just a job, it's a lifestyle. Usually if you hurt a knee or something, you can work your upper body. If you hurt your upper body, you can work your legs. I can't do anything. I look at the guys, I get tired. It's really, really boring."

He is concerned about his shape.

"I eat like I usually do, and obviously that's not good," Lilja said. "I'm going to try to cut back."

Lilja, who has not yet consulted a specialist, believes he can start working out off-ice as soon as he's free of headaches for two days.

Even though there was little chance he would have been able to skate during this two-game western Canada trip, he was happy to be with the team.

"I miss hanging out with the guys," Lilja said. "It was a nice change of pace to get out of the house for a little bit."

Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood said Lilja brings many elements the team is missing.

"Lils is important. He kills penalties, he blocks shots, he gets the puck out for us and he's a big guy," Osgood said. "That's why it's been so huge that (Jonathan) Ericsson has come on and played like he has."

The future of fighting has come under scrutiny this season, but Lilja has not changed his view.

"I still think fighting should be in the game," Lilja said. "It was just bad luck; (Weber) got in a good punch, it happens. If I could take it back, I wouldn't fight him."

MLive

And this is the reason why many Wings fans, myself included, have been screaming for this team to get bigger, stronger, tougher and adding some players who really know how to fight. All the talk of our PP being our enforcer only works until it doesn't work anymore. And when Lilja gets his brain wrecked by Shea Weber....and when Jim Vandermeer drills Johan Franzen with a straight right, sending him to the ice.....we are flirting with disaster.

IMO, a heavyweight fighter is not going to do the trick. You need to fill out the roster with 1-2 forwards and at least 1 dman that can throw punches. In his prime a guy like Jason Smith comes to mind. Guys like Ethan Moreau, Mike Brown, Maxim Talbot, Jamal Mayers, etc....contributing, regular shift players who know how to fight and defend themselves.

I hope Lils is ok. Its so frustrating to watch one of our guys get beat up like that and not even throw a single punch in return.

[ManLuv4Clears 7]

And this is the reason why many Wings fans, myself included, have been screaming for this team to get bigger, stronger, tougher and adding some players who really know how to fight. All the talk of our PP being our enforcer only works until it doesn't work anymore. And when Lilja gets his brain wrecked by Shea Weber....and when Jim Vandermeer drills Johan Franzen with a straight right, sending him to the ice.....we are flirting with disaster.

IMO, a heavyweight fighter is not going to do the trick. You need to fill out the roster with 1-2 forwards and at least 1 dman that can throw punches. In his prime a guy like Jason Smith comes to mind. Guys like Ethan Moreau, Mike Brown, Maxim Talbot, Jamal Mayers, etc....contributing, regular shift players who know how to fight and defend themselves.

I hope Lils is ok. Its so frustrating to watch one of our guys get beat up like that and not even throw a single punch in return.

I'm with you GST, hopefully this unfortunate incident raises some eyebrows. Get better Lils, and I pray that you have no long term repercussions from this.

[stevkrause 1,247]

He hasn't seen a specialist yet? I've eaten a few punches, I've had a few concussions, but I'd be scared as hell if I was still having headaches 3 days later, much less 3.5 weeks. Lils, see somebody, man. Granted there might not be much they can do, but still. For the good of your carreer, and much more importantly, for the good of your life over the next 60 or so years, see somebody.

my thoughts exactly, when I was a teen I took an aluminum stick cross-check to the side of my exposed head (helmets were dropped to fight) during a line brawl and got a compound concussion - lights out.... my headaches only lasted for a little over a week...

SEE SOMEONE LILS!

[Guest E_S_A_D]

And this is the reason why many Wings fans, myself included, have been screaming for this team to get bigger, stronger, tougher and adding some players who really know how to fight. All the talk of our PP being our enforcer only works until it doesn't work anymore. And when Lilja gets his brain wrecked by Shea Weber....and when Jim Vandermeer drills Johan Franzen with a straight right, sending him to the ice.....we are flirting with disaster.

IMO, a heavyweight fighter is not going to do the trick. You need to fill out the roster with 1-2 forwards and at least 1 dman that can throw punches. In his prime a guy like Jason Smith comes to mind. Guys like Ethan Moreau, Mike Brown, Maxim Talbot, Jamal Mayers, etc....contributing, regular shift players who know how to fight and defend themselves.

I hope Lils is ok. Its so frustrating to watch one of our guys get beat up like that and not even throw a single punch in return.

This is why you carry an enforcer. If I remember correctly this game was out of hand score wise. Lol at Lilja's statement, 'I would not fight him'.... That's because Lilja is not a fighter, but Babcock/ Holland have forced him to fight and Babock publicly praised his 'sticking up for teammates with fights'. Unfortunate, this can ruin a guy's career.

[VM1138 1,921]

And this is the reason why many Wings fans, myself included, have been screaming for this team to get bigger, stronger, tougher and adding some players who really know how to fight.

Having a bunch of goons and tough guys isn't going to prevent a lucky punch that causes a concussion. Seriously. It was a fight. Nothing dirty. The punch was just insanely unlucky for Lilja.

[Wombat 26]

Am I understanding this correctly that some of the vehemently pro-enforcer posters are upset that Lilja was in the fight that got him hurt? I think in this case, an enforcer would not have helped. The fight occurred because Lilja pulled Weber down by his face and Weber came up swinging. It was one of those heat of the battle fights that I love and hope never go away. I'm happy that Lilja fought him and it's just unfortunate that he got his bell rung badly. I think it's trying to be revisionist history if someone is upset Lilja fought only because he ended up getting hurt. Hell, I loved that Hossa fought too!

These are the types of fights that the NHL needs to preserve. I could do without the staged fights when two gorillas decide to drop them for no particular reason after a faceoff. I think the Wings need more guys like Lilja that are willing to fight when necessary but can also play... a heavyweight is not necessary but guys like GS&T mentioned that can take a regular shift, grind, and drop them when it's needed in the heat of the moment.

I just wish that guys like Maltby, Sammy, Franzen, Stuart, Kronwall, Kopecky and Cleary would be a little more willing to fight when they start s***, just like Lilja is.

[ManLuv4Clears 7]

Having a bunch of goons and tough guys isn't going to prevent a lucky punch that causes a concussion. Seriously. It was a fight. Nothing dirty. The punch was just insanely unlucky for Lilja.

Way to practice "selective reading."

GST = "You need to fill out the roster with 1-2 forwards and at least 1 dman that can throw punches"

VM1138 = "Team full of goons"

Edited March 24, 2009 by ManLuv4Clears

[Guest micah]

I just wish that guys like Maltby, Sammy, Franzen, Stuart, Kronwall, Kopecky and Cleary would be a little more willing to fight when they start s***, just like Lilja is.

Off topic, but I don't have a problem with meek little *******, and I don't have a problem with toughguys. I have a problem with meek little pussied that act like toughguys. If you're going to chirp or facewash or shove after the whistle, you should be willing to fight. If you aren't a willing combatant, please skip that stuff, look at the ice and skate away with your tail between your legs. The instigator rule allows people to act tough without being tough. Guys like Sammy wouldn't get away with their schtick on a playground, they wouldn't get away with it in a bar, it sucks that the league lets them get away with it.

I applaud Lilja for following through on the fight he picked with Weber. I just hope he gets better.

[HenrikRules40 14]

What happens if you play games with headaches? could the blood-vessel's in your head explode and damage the brain? Just wondering....

Yeah actually all sorts of horrible things can happen. Your brain can start bleeding and cause swelling which causes brain damage and you become a vegetable.

And for those of you who believe he hasn't seen a specialist yet, that's BS. I get the feeling Lilja isn't gonna be back for a while...if he ever does come back.

[thedisappearer 291]

Can someone explain to me how having an enforcer would have stopped Lilja from getting beat down in a situation he started?

[Wombat 26]

Off topic, but I don't have a problem with meek little *******, and I don't have a problem with toughguys. I have a problem with meek little pussied that act like toughguys. If you're going to chirp or facewash or shove after the whistle, you should be willing to fight. If you aren't a willing combatant, please skip that stuff, look at the ice and skate away with your tail between your legs. The instigator rule allows people to act tough without being tough. Guys like Sammy wouldn't get away with their schtick on a playground, they wouldn't get away with it in a bar, it sucks that the league lets them get away with it.

I applaud Lilja for following through on the fight he picked with Weber. I just hope he gets better.

I don't think it's really off topic at all. Lilja is actually a tough guy. He's not a great fighter but he can handle his own usually in a scrap. Weber just caught him with a really good one. I hope Lilja can make a full recovery and by next season can play is exact game, including a fight every 10-20 games. Despite Lilja being hurt, a lot of Red Wings could learn a lesson from him and be more willing to step up physically when needed.

[Guest micah]

Way to practice "selective reading."

GST = "You need to fill out the roster with 1-2 forwards and at least 1 dman that can throw punches"

VM1138 = "Team full of goons"

LOL

[Wombat 26]

Can someone explain to me how having an enforcer would have stopped Lilja from getting beat down in a situation he started?

You can't. It's simply bad luck, like when Kronwall caught a rut in the ice in pregame a few seasons back and broke is leg.

[Blueliner 69]

Off topic, but I don't have a problem with meek little *******, and I don't have a problem with toughguys. I have a problem with meek little pussied that act like toughguys. If you're going to chirp or facewash or shove after the whistle, you should be willing to fight. If you aren't a willing combatant, please skip that stuff, look at the ice and skate away with your tail between your legs.

Like Samuelsson against Atlanta? He starts all that s*** and when the other guy drops the gloves, he graps on for dear life.

I like it when guys stick up for their teammates. Much like when Cleary fought Pronger. He knew he was going to get his ass kicked, but he still did it.

[Guest micah]

Can someone explain to me how having an enforcer would have stopped Lilja from getting beat down in a situation he started?

I suppose it's not impossible that Lilja would have skated away and made sure Downey (or whoever) took care of Weber. Would that have happened? I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. Certainly, in this case, there was nobody on Detroit's bench who would have been capable of standing up to Weber, so maybe Lilja figured "well, I gotta stick up for myself, because my team isn't willing to hire anyone to do it for me."

My employer has a nice security force and a team of crack lawyers to protect me from all sorts of maladies. They value me:) It's a good feeling.

[Guest micah]

Like Samuelsson against Atlanta? He starts all that s*** and when the other guy drops the gloves, he graps on for dear life.

Yup. It's chickens*** garbage, and guys like Sammy and Maltby should be ashamed of themselves.

I like it when guys stick up for their teammates. Much like when Cleary fought Pronger. He knew he was going to get his ass kicked, but he still did it.

I agree. There is no shame in losing a fight you aren't expected to win, but standing up says ALOT, win or lose. It ain't about fighting skill, it's about willingness to stick up for yourself and your teammates.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

It sucks how so many enforcers have had their careers cut short by injury or tragedy.

Guys like Tony Twist, John Kordic and Behn Wilson just to name a few. I hope the same doesn't happen to Lilja.

[RedWingAbner 13]

I hope Lilja gets better soon.

If not, we'll have to lean on that veteran defenseman Kenny picked up at the deadline. Oh wait.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I hope Lilja gets better soon.

If not, we'll have to lean on that veteran defenseman Kenny picked up at the deadline. Oh wait.

You mean Jonathon Ericcson.

[Guest mindfly]

Ericsson needs a better and more relieable guy in the back end than lebda to play with so ericsson can use his offensive potential and join the rush and score goals

Edited March 24, 2009 by mindfly