Ryan Miller admits to late-season concussion

[Guest Save The Octopus]

These concussions are starting to become a huge problem for the NHL. Really unfortunate that Miller couldn't be at his best during that series.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller revealed Thursday that the injury that sidelined him late in the regular season was a concussion.

Miller told reporters there were four shots in a one-week span in late March that hit him in the head, with blasts by New Jersey's Brian Rolston on March 26 and by Toronto's Dion Phaneuf on March 29 doing the most damage. However, Miller said it was the cumulative effect of the pucks' impacts that forced him to sit out four games.

Multiple media outlets at the time reported that Miller's injury, which the Sabres listed as an upper-body injury, was a bruised collarbone suffered on the Phaneuf shot. Miller acknowledged Thursday that he did have a significant bruise in the area of his collarbone, but not bad enough to force him to miss as many games as he did.

He returned to play parts of the final two regular-season games, and started the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Philadelphia Flyers in fine form, stopping all 35 shots he faced in a 1-0 shutout victory.

He also had a 1-0 shutout in Game 4, but finished the series allowing nine goals in the final two games, capped by him being pulled less than two minutes into the third period of Game 7. It was the first time Miller had been pulled from a Stanley Cup Playoff game.

For the series, he posted a 2.93 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.

NHL

[Mabuhay Red Wings 177]

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

They give it a medical term and all of a sudden it's an issue that needs fixing.

[jollymania 162]

that's it, ban pucks, too dangerous

[T.Low 1,011]

Let me be the first in all of hockeydom to say it: The time to upgrade the hockey helmet is now upon us.

It can easily be made more like the football helmet while retaining the traditional shape of the hockey helmet.

It is time to take the next evolutionary step of the game.

Time to reinstate the red line also.

[toby91_ca 620]

They give it a medical term and all of a sudden it's an issue that needs fixing.

You don't think it's an issue?

What I don't understand is why this injury was hidden. If hidden by Miller (i.e. he didn't tell the team), that's more understandable, but if the team was hiding it, I don't understand. Normally, teams hide injuries because they don't want the other team to target that injury, but I'm hoping I'm not going out on a limb in saying that an opponent isn't going to target someone's head because they know they had a concussion. If so, that's pretty bad.

Let me be the first in all of hockeydom to say it: The time to upgrade the hockey helmet is now upon us.

It can easily be made more like the football helmet while retaining the traditional shape of the hockey helmet.

It is time to take the next evolutionary step of the game.

Time to reinstate the red line also.

A football helmet is probably more protective from a purely structural perspective (i.e. may help avoid a cracked skull), but I'm not sure it offers any additional protection that would help you avoid concussion. There's probably just as many concussions in the NFL.

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

I thought that was against to rules or illegal some how to hide a injury like that? Just for the pure fact of it being so serious.

[brett 1,029]

play his best in the series? didnt he get 2 shutouts against a strong offensive team? pretty damn good if you ask me

Edited April 29, 2011 by brett

[rrasco 1,312]

Let me be the first in all of hockeydom to say it: The time to upgrade the hockey helmet is now upon us.

It can easily be made more like the football helmet while retaining the traditional shape of the hockey helmet.

Today's helmets (hockey and football) dont protect against the types of impact that is causing concussions. I don't think it's ever a bad idea to re-evaluate the helmet, but I don't think looking to football is the answer.

[MGreenberg 105]

play his best in the series? didnt he get 2 shutouts against a strong offensive team? pretty damn good if you ask me

Yeah if that was not his best he probably could have led the Sabres to a 16-0 or 16-1 playoff run, lol.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

They give it a medical term and all of a sudden it's an issue that needs fixing.

You don't think it's an issue?

What I don't understand is why this injury was hidden. If hidden by Miller (i.e. he didn't tell the team), that's more understandable, but if the team was hiding it, I don't understand. Normally, teams hide injuries because they don't want the other team to target that injury, but I'm hoping I'm not going out on a limb in saying that an opponent isn't going to target someone's head because they know they had a concussion. If so, that's pretty bad.

I think it's a footnote.

I think it was hidden because it's the playoffs, and up to the player to make an appropriate decision. It's his life, and he's getting paid well to live it how he chooses.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I remember reading an interview with Ryan VandenBussche, where he admitted to frequently playing with concussions, and being afraid to tell his coaches that he had one, for fear of being a healthy scratch or fear of not being considered tough enough.

Pretty sad if you ask me.

Edited April 30, 2011 by GMRwings1983