|
|
|
Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Health more important in postseason
By Barry Melrose
Special to ESPN.com
|
The Blues have been looking for other defensemen for some time now. They were talking to L.A. about Rob Blake, as many other clubs were, and, like just about every team in the West, are always looking to improve in a tough conference. Chris Pronger's latest injury might goose that process and make it more aggressive.
They will have to take a good look at the full extent of this injury after his operation on Tuesday. The initial prognosis is a four-to-six week absence from the lineup. But Pronger is one of the toughest players in the NHL. I expect to see him back by the time the playoffs start.
This team will make the playoffs, so having him around for the stretch run isn't that vital. But the other question for the Blues is Al MacInnis. He's supposed to start working out on Tuesday. It will be a good test of his eye injury and should shed some more light on when he will be able to return. Sean Hill is back and they found out during Pronger's first absence that they have some good, young defensemen. But they will certainly be one of the teams beating the bushes looking for some experienced, veteran defensemen.
St. Louis has had a rash of injuries lately, with MacInnis, Pronger, Michal Handzus, Tyson Nash and Pavol Demitra all out right now. And they are all big parts of this team. As long as they're all back for the playoffs, the Blues shouldn't worry too much. But they've been very vulnerable lately. They went on the road and lost four games while Pronger was out. He came back and they beat Boston and San Jose before he went down again. So it's evident that he makes a difference.
They thought that they'd weathered the storm and the rest of the injured players would begin to return. This is a very big test for them. Overcoming injuries is part of winning, but staying healthy is also part of winning.
Barry Melrose, a former NHL defenseman and coach, is a hockey analyst for ESPN. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
|
|
ALSO SEE
Blues' Pronger undergoes surgery on broken forearm
Morganti: Pronger changes "if" to "when"
ESPN interveiw with Blues coach Joel Quenneville
|
|
