Two of the NHL's young stars will be back in the press box after suffering concussions. This is Letang's second of the season and the Pittsburgh Penguins wasted no time placing him on the IR in anticipation of him returning for the playoffs and because of the fact that they know all too well what a concussion can do to a player (Sidney Crosby). Letang is currently listed as day-to-day and is suffering from mild headaches. The Chicago Blackhawks have lost team captain Jonathan Toews for an extended length of time after playing five games with concussion like symptoms that went unnoticed or were kept secret as the Western Conference playoff race continues to heat up.
We’ll see how he’s progressing,' coach Joel Quenneville said. 'Today is no change
from yesterday, so hopefully he can get going soon, and we can get him (Toews) back
on the ice.'
This again reinforces the importance of treating players immediately after a head injury, and not allowing them back into a game until they have medical clearance. If the Chicago Blackhawks lose Toews for an extended period of time, there will be serious consequences in the short-term and possibly long term for the Blackhawks. On the other hand, the Penguins reacted immediately by placing Letang on injured reserve to prevent further damage from occurring.
In conclusion, all NHL franchises need to realize that their player's health and safety are more important than the game. This statement will lead to some saying that players are making sacrifices for their team and my questions then becomes at what cost? Franchises need these players to play well into the future for the success of the game in the competitive North American sports market!
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