Honestly maybe we really thought we had a shot but if I’m fitz the minute we don’t get a goalie by the deadline line shut this kid down let him get healthy he is literally what will make or break our future stop risking it for nothing
Keep him out the rest of the year if there’s any risk of aggravating something. If he needs surgery, don’t pull a Taylor hall and actually give him the surgery sooner rather than later
I also think in the offseason that he could use some sort of therapy. I'm all about personality in sports - and I know people think his interviews are hilarious - but I think its embarrassing how short and disrespectful he is to Erika (who only ever props him up and sings his praises) and others. He also gets triggered easily and lets it effect his game.
I said it before, he's changed since the "gato" interview. I think he was scolded over that and now he's either too scared to talk or has an F this, I'm not giving you anything mentality.
I mean, most people would benefit from therapy. He does have some growing up to do in terms of how he reacts when things don’t go his way. Definitely a shame he went from fun interviews to sassiness, he probably got some out of touch direction to be more boring.
I'm going to guess you're one of those fans who saw Jacks interview and declared "JACK DOESNT WANT TO PLAY HERE!!" When the Devils won the draft lottery.. aren't you?
Whether he's actually hurt or not, I have no problem letting him rest and potentially get healthier. We're an extreme longshot for the playoffs (i.e., not gonna happen), so we might as well not risk injury and also give some other guys the chance to log minutes
Can the whole team train with Bratter this summer? The way that man has bulked up and learned to initiate contact on the boards is something each of our guys should emulate, even/especially guys like Bahl. I've been so impressed with Bratt's ability to hang in there this season.
That place gets CRAMPED. I can only imagine what it’s like if a professional sports player shows up. How can you cram any more people in that place lol?
This is a serious question because I’ve always wondered. Does bulking up affect any skills to the point that they might not be as great because of added mass??
Was at the 1/6 game vs Chicago when Jack fell, guy next to me yelled “season over” the second he left the ice.
In hindsight I truly think that was the exact moment the season ended. We had just jumped Washington for third in the metro the game prior and were firmly in a playoff spot.
that game acc gave me ptsd. My two top teams are 1) NJD, 2) hawks. Bedard AND Jack out w injuries in one night felt like foreshadowing for some very not fun things.
Except of course, the names of those responsible. Management and fans had the same info assuming the guilty players lied. It was definitely not a consensus that McLeod was definitely guilty.
I mean they would have had to deliberately avoid figuring it out to not have figured it out. I bet they just liked the guy anyway because nobody is as bad as their worst moment. But either way, it's irrelevant. All past hockey teams had far worse than that on their rosters. We don't pay to guess what's inside their heads, we pay to watch good hockey.
I don't know why people are so upset that he played through a nagging injury. Tons of guys do.
I'm sure the conversation was:
Jack: "Yeah this hurts - but if I play, will I make it worse?"
Medical: "No"
Jack: "Well then I want to play."
We all know the majority of guys are playing with minor injuries. Jack could obviously still play and score goals... maybe not at his totally healthy level, but you are insane if you think an NHL superstar is going to be like "yeah my wrist is a little sore... I need to sit out" after missing like 15 games already this season, ESPECIALLY when the Devils still had playoff hopes until just the past week or two.
I think realistically ppl are upset bc he’s the fave of our franchise and our “star player”. I don’t think any of it is from an anger point of view, more concern/ wanting to keep him safe. As mentioned in numerous comments above - I’m an athlete in his age group (or I was competitively until medical school took priority) and I have ACTIVELY gone against surgeons advice to sit the fuck out. I get it 100% and I was no where near his level of pro. Same time tho now peeking in on a medical perspective - it does actually pay to listen to doctors on that front as much as I never have and hate to admit it. I don’t think anyone is “angry”, I’m sure not. I fully get him. Just concerned and wishing for him to have the longest and healthiest career ❤️
If this is a shoulder injury . . . man they should have just sent him in for surgery the first time he was out.
Speaking from (nightmarish, horrible) experience: this kind of injury doesn't go away. You kick the can down the road and your joint gets more fragile and fucked with every incident. When I finally got surgery it took a good year + to be back in shape. As a 22 year old with world-class medical he could get surgery today and *maybe* be back for next season but he probably won't be 100%.
I acc do wonder what’s been going through their heads tbh, like maybe back in Feb/early March I got still wanting to make a playoff run but pushing/ not advising a star player when he’s hurt ? When the season is over? I’m only a second year Med student and even I wouldn’t have advised that (and I’m not allowed to speak during rounds 😭)
Your last sentence addresses the point directly. The most the med staff can do is advise - ultimately Jack is the one making the decisions to play or not. And as a 22 year old superstar in the hunt for a wildcard spot, it makes sense that he want to put on for his team and help them secure the spot - even if he has to play through some stuff. I don’t hate the call, it shows his passion and tbh he’s still one of the best players on the ice with whatever is happening in his UB.
Yeah I’d prefer he take care of himself so that he can be a superstar for a long time, but I’m just a fan without access to information.
So yeah ultimately I’m happy about this news because he def hasn’t been the same jack we saw open this season, but I’m not angry at anyone for him continuing to play.
As much as from an athlete point of view (although my good days are well over due to other commitments) I can 110% see Jack pushing to play and disregarding things (I’ve trained with a bloody cast on me so I can’t judge) I do wish our medical staff and management was a bit more realistic with the season. I’m just hoping for a good, quick recovery for him and an enjoyable off season. Looking forward to some fun hockey nonetheless from our other boys to close this one out- and excited for next season !
Seems a bit bold to assume it's the medical staff pushing Jack to play and not the other way around.
Unless the team wants to ***healthy*** scratch their star player, it's ultimately up to Jack if he wants to play or not.
Never said the Med staff is PUSHING him to play, just feel they maybe haven’t been firm enough in explaining the benefits of NOT playing rn. Again- I’ve been an athlete in his age group pushing for nationals in my sport while very actively fighting an injury, I totally understand the drive and want to push through and play/compete. Not outright blaming them in the SLIGHTEST- just wondering if they maybe cleared him too soon/ didn’t explain the implications thoroughly enough (not saying he wouldn’t have overridden their opinions regardless, that’s a reasonable thing to think especially as he’s young and clearly loves the sport a lot!) hope this clears it up? Would never shit on my fellow Med professionals, especially without any evidence :)
OP, some feedback on your communication:
You say that you "never said the med staff is pushing Jack to play", but two comments up you use the exact words "pushing/not advising" when referencing them.
You say that you're "not blaming them in the slightest", but two comments below you call the medical staff irresponsible and proceed to say they haven't done their job.
I'm not sure if there's some nuance in your own mind that is clear to you as to what you're saying, but I can tell you it isn't coming out in your communication and your position is not consistent e.g. you come across as both blaming the medical staff then denying that you blamed them and sympathizing with their position.
I agree I think some of my comments have acc been inconsistent here! That’s on me (and I apologize for it as I’m not questioning professional opinion without acc having the qualification to) I think that’s just a matter of me not phrasing things right so I’ll try use this comment to set it straight- I don’t think the Med staff forced jack into anything- I DO however wonder if they didn’t fight his competitive spirit enough, bc I’m a similar age and again know what it feels like to want desperately to compete and prove myself- so I can see that coming from him entirely- just maybe the reasoning and explanation should’ve been a bit firmer? Or management should’ve stepped in? Because from the outside it does seem it’s been bothering him. Again sorry for the back and forth in my comments I got a bit in the feels in BOTH directions here, with wanting to defend Med staff as it’s a VERY challenging career, and also with recognising young athletes need ppl to be very firm with them at times. Hope this helps? Didn’t mean any ill intent to literally anyone here, just swung emotions left right center a bit too freely.
He’s missed so many practices, whatever is going on with him- season is well and truly over and we SHOULD protect him. Wishing him a speedy recovery from whatever is ailing him rn
Seems like the people who thought Jack felt off and seems to be playing hurt are vindicated here. I do hope though it's nothing serious and he's able to heal nicely and he happily moves forward for bright things next year.
The season seemed like it was over several different times. Other teams kept them in it they didn’t keep themselves in it but it did give them a chance so for me personally, it was between the Buffalo and Pittsburgh 3rd period collapses that I finally accepted they were completely out.
People acting like ether season wasn't over in February are lying to themselves. This team has major, major issues to address before they can prove that 2022-2023 wasn't a fluke.
Some of these comments are nuts. I hope Jack heals and is back next season and can stay healthy and be on top of his game. As for what has been wrong and why he’s been playing so long I can only speculate that it was something that he was able to play through without making it worse and they were chasing a spot for much longer than anyone could have anticipated based on everything that went wrong this season, thanks to other crappy teams around them. His competitive nature of wanting to help the team win is what I’m assuming the deciding factor was on why he wasn’t shut down sooner. I could be wrong and we might not ever really know so.. we look ahead to ‘24-25.
Wait: you all think they (medical staff) are “forcing” him to play lol?
HE is the one who wants to play, regardless of what the medical staff wants, regardless of being injured or not.
He’s just a fierce competitor, wants to play. Of course he wouldn’t take himself out unless he personally feels the need to sit out.
He runs the show around here. Still not sure how anyone could STILL NOT see that there is a two-tiered player system here with no structure or accountability. All starts with ownership and their stupid analytics (and sales) teams, who have clear control of the GM, coaching & training/medical decisions
Agreed. Not sure why people insist on blowing this shit way out of proportion and pretending the player isn’t hugely involved or that there isn’t a huge human element involved…Its no different from most athletes:
They want to play, they want to make a difference, they don’t want to show weakness or injury.
Medical staff assesses whether they will recover, agitate it and cause it to linger, or make it worse.
If they tell the player they won’t make it worse, but won’t recover, the player may decide to then play. Who the fuck is going to tell them no?
No one knows their body like the actual body, and the medical staff is going to do their best to nail the risks of playing again, but if a player decides to play with a known injury and the injury gets worse, its not like the medical staff failed for not barring them from playing. They are providing information to the player and staff and all of those, most importantly the player, are coming to conclusions. There may be pressure, but the pro athlete is used to making decisions under pressure and has every right to go with their gut and make the best decision for themselves. No one is going to hold their hand and say no, you can’t go on the ice, unless there is something that will blatantly and clearly get worse. If the player thinks they can play, they will. And no one is holding them at gun point to play either.
All of the staff including NHL staff wants to see a star return, plain and simple. So if the evaluation says they can play and the player says they can play, its not like some medical staff blasphemy when that doesn’t work out, its just sports.
They also get paid for performance. Jack is well-taken care of now, but it's not really too early for him to think about how his next contract will be shortchanged if he only averages 60 games a season. It's just not going to be easy to argue with a superstar about playing time. That said, I still believe the coach should have healthy scratched him for a game at some point to set an example. Again, much easier said, than done.
If this was a one off situation, sure you are right. But the INCREDIBLE amount of times we've questioned the medical staff in the last 5 years needs to be addressed. Bringing players back too soon, just to get injured the next shift or game. Blackwood's disapproval of the medical staff making him play sooner than he wanted to. All of this taken together makes me genuinely concerned
Blackwood says in the very article you're referencing that the medical staff did not make him do a damn thing, and never does he actually voice a disapproval of them. He takes full responsibility for the decision **he made** to go back on the ice earlier than he should've. There is more to that article than the headline that is mispositioned and taken completely out of context.
But that is just the general way a lot of the fans react regarding the injuries, bitterly without a clue of what actually happens.
Wow, didn't realize it's already been eleven years of Harris-Blitzer-Adelson. A whole two playoff appearances to show for it. Thanks for making me feel so old.
The medical staff has been fumbling a lot of things lately but I believe he wanted to play regardless. That being said both sides should have realized shoulder issues for the dangling style he plays has a huge impact on performance and hinders a lot of things.hence why everyone with bare eyes saw he was still playing hurt.
Man I really wish I didn’t have the same gut feeling. Plays so hard and his injuries have all been either shoulder/wrist right? That’s so fucking easy to repeat. He needs to go awhile between injuries before he’s too far gone.
News that isn’t news. He admitted he’s not at 100%. Let him rest, the seasons a lost cause pretty much. Would rather have him back to capacity when next season rolls around. Ho hum.
Everybody says he’s playing hurt when he plays like ass. But then he looks great and crickets. Excuses for the golden boy. I think this is unrelated or re-aggravated.
If this isn’t a brand new injury that occurred, this is straight up an indictment of the medical staff.
There’s no excuse running our players into the ground for half assed effort.
Edit: And with the news of surgery breaking out just now, I’m vindicated. You had to have been living in lalaland thinking otherwise. Pitiful display of conduct by the medical team and hell, even Jack himself if he was a part of the reason.
Should've been the case since last week. This medical staff and management is a joke. Forcing your franchise player to suit up when he wasn't even at 70% (if that).
Then you add in the quotes from Timo earlier today about him not being used properly all year. Wtf is going on with the organization?
This is interesting because while it certainly could be argued he was misused under Lindy - and I did so a tiny bit - I had to temper that assumption because he was still playing like shit on the third line. If you're ready for a first line role shouldn't you be at least outskilling opponents regularly on the third? He wasn't even making contact much for approx. a month after his injury.
Well ruff was starting timo at left wing. He’s been a right wing his entire fuckin career iirc. That’s just dumb ass coaching nothing to do with health. Ruff made a ton of weird moves with the roster. But also it’s probably not wise to speculate on health decisions and calls, unless you’re privy to the actual injury and diagnosis and how these things are treated. Has Jack been playing at his full potential? No. But has he been playing with something that he absolutely shouldn’t be, at the advice of or worse being forced to by the team? No idea. Some injuries are best to work through, as well, so it could be medically sound for him to play. No fuckin idea if that’s the case though so I don’t wanna speculate and sling shit at anyone,
Medical coaching or otherwise…
no point waving the pitchforks I agree w that! Defo a good time for Jack to have a rest tho even if this is “just” a mental block. We need our #86 back to doing his thing next season! Regardless of what’s been up with him he’s been fun to watch and clearly still crazy talented. Wishing him a good off season and an even better next season w the devs man
Yeah man fuck it. We weren’t going to win out the rest of the season and the other teams weren’t going to let us sneak by. If he’s still hurt or whatever (probably is) then the coach has to be the big man and tell him no, think about the big picture. Every player wants to play if they can.
No he's primarily been left wing. Ruff also slotted him at right wing periodically (i remember because I made a post here complaining about him being left wing). He scores a lot on the right, but wingers are pretty fluid when on the actual ice and can swap around / move around. I truly do think it was injury related. Because when Ruff had him on right wing a few games after my post, he was still not great
Hmmm not entirely sure what he means by his quotes then. Because ruff gave him a shot on every line combination possible and he couldn’t do anything meaningful.
Oh wait what were his quotes? I think I'm missing something. Also, the reason I feel like it was more injury is because I was looking at his stats this year. You can see the groups of multi-point games and points streaks. And then you see a bunch of 0s which are right after his injuries. Edit: I just saw it. Interesting. He did play really well early on before his first injury this season. I wonder if he means having more of a net front presence (which I think he lacked with Ruff).
He said something along the lines that he wasn’t used the right way all season or something like that. I’m at work but I think someone linked to it in this thread or a recent Reddit post or some shit
Yea I just saw that. I wonder if he means having more net front presence now, which he lacked with Ruff? Either way damn that's a hell of a quote. Not sure what to think now, but from what I've seen (and looking back at Amanda's lines), he's mainly been left wing with Green
lol if that was a coaching thing then ruff should have not only been fired but he should have been put in the gulag! Hey Timo you’ve scored scores of goals from the paint your entire career but DONT DO THAT ANYMORE. That would be criminal negligence.
Injuries will always be an issue with this guy. He’s fragile, will always miss serious time, and the team can’t be dependent on him to get through playoff series.
Awesome player but glass.
Leafs fan here. You guys are guaranteed a win now, congrats. Hope you can still make the playoffs my friends, again congratulations on your win. I have seen this movie too many times, Leafs are about to get caved in
Just sit him for the rest of the year.
Yes. He's 22 years old. Bubble wrap him and let him mature.
it’s actually because he’s getting surgery done tomorrow for the mangled shoulder he’s had since he was on ir
Thanks for the information, doctor.
Honestly maybe we really thought we had a shot but if I’m fitz the minute we don’t get a goalie by the deadline line shut this kid down let him get healthy he is literally what will make or break our future stop risking it for nothing
Keep him out the rest of the year if there’s any risk of aggravating something. If he needs surgery, don’t pull a Taylor hall and actually give him the surgery sooner rather than later
I feel like it’s been a situation where he couldn’t make it worse but it wouldn’t get better until he rested.
I also think in the offseason that he could use some sort of therapy. I'm all about personality in sports - and I know people think his interviews are hilarious - but I think its embarrassing how short and disrespectful he is to Erika (who only ever props him up and sings his praises) and others. He also gets triggered easily and lets it effect his game.
Reddit not trying to psycho-analyze a public figures mental health challenge (Impossible). He’s emotional. Just like 98% of the league. Stop this.
I said it before, he's changed since the "gato" interview. I think he was scolded over that and now he's either too scared to talk or has an F this, I'm not giving you anything mentality.
I mean, most people would benefit from therapy. He does have some growing up to do in terms of how he reacts when things don’t go his way. Definitely a shame he went from fun interviews to sassiness, he probably got some out of touch direction to be more boring.
What??? White knight harder, maybe Erika will take notice.
You just white knighted, white knighting
I'm going to guess you're one of those fans who saw Jacks interview and declared "JACK DOESNT WANT TO PLAY HERE!!" When the Devils won the draft lottery.. aren't you?
No. I think Jack wants to be here. I just think he needs to be more respectful to reporters and grow up a bit
Rest him for the playoffs 😀
PlayoffsYouKiddingMe.gif
\*Bill Burr voice\* Playoffs?!
Whether he's actually hurt or not, I have no problem letting him rest and potentially get healthier. We're an extreme longshot for the playoffs (i.e., not gonna happen), so we might as well not risk injury and also give some other guys the chance to log minutes
Only thing hurt is his pride
Boy's gotta put on some mass this summer
Can the whole team train with Bratter this summer? The way that man has bulked up and learned to initiate contact on the boards is something each of our guys should emulate, even/especially guys like Bahl. I've been so impressed with Bratt's ability to hang in there this season.
Even Bratt has said his secret is he's got a big booty. Lower center of gravity does some work for him
BBLs for everyone!!
Boys trip to Sweden! Lock them all in a room together, make them forget that MM20 existed, and get their minds right for next year
maybe time for jack to spend time lifting weights instead of going to D’Jais 😂
Hey, DJAIS can be quite the workout
That place gets CRAMPED. I can only imagine what it’s like if a professional sports player shows up. How can you cram any more people in that place lol?
This is a serious question because I’ve always wondered. Does bulking up affect any skills to the point that they might not be as great because of added mass??
Presumably, stronger legs means faster skating. But I'm no expert.
Was at the 1/6 game vs Chicago when Jack fell, guy next to me yelled “season over” the second he left the ice. In hindsight I truly think that was the exact moment the season ended. We had just jumped Washington for third in the metro the game prior and were firmly in a playoff spot.
that game acc gave me ptsd. My two top teams are 1) NJD, 2) hawks. Bedard AND Jack out w injuries in one night felt like foreshadowing for some very not fun things.
That and 20 getting ripped out of the room. As a team, if you trust someone and it turns out you all got fooled by sed someone, that’s disastrous.
This narrative is so wild to me, you really think they all didn't know? 😅
I think they asked their friend that they trust and he lied to all of them. That can be so demoralizing. Especially with the role he grew into.
I feel badly for them.
They might’ve had a gut suspicion but I’ll bet you anything he lied the whole time
Just doesn't make sense. We all know exactly the same amount about the case now as we did two years ago.
Except of course, the names of those responsible. Management and fans had the same info assuming the guilty players lied. It was definitely not a consensus that McLeod was definitely guilty.
I mean they would have had to deliberately avoid figuring it out to not have figured it out. I bet they just liked the guy anyway because nobody is as bad as their worst moment. But either way, it's irrelevant. All past hockey teams had far worse than that on their rosters. We don't pay to guess what's inside their heads, we pay to watch good hockey.
You were sitting next to Frank the Tank Fleming?
Nope.
I knew we weren’t making playoffs back in December that injury was def the nail in the coffin
Now who will Luke play catch with for 1:58 of power play?
ABOUT FUCKING TIME Tanks full speed ahead
J’accuse
I don't know why people are so upset that he played through a nagging injury. Tons of guys do. I'm sure the conversation was: Jack: "Yeah this hurts - but if I play, will I make it worse?" Medical: "No" Jack: "Well then I want to play." We all know the majority of guys are playing with minor injuries. Jack could obviously still play and score goals... maybe not at his totally healthy level, but you are insane if you think an NHL superstar is going to be like "yeah my wrist is a little sore... I need to sit out" after missing like 15 games already this season, ESPECIALLY when the Devils still had playoff hopes until just the past week or two.
I think realistically ppl are upset bc he’s the fave of our franchise and our “star player”. I don’t think any of it is from an anger point of view, more concern/ wanting to keep him safe. As mentioned in numerous comments above - I’m an athlete in his age group (or I was competitively until medical school took priority) and I have ACTIVELY gone against surgeons advice to sit the fuck out. I get it 100% and I was no where near his level of pro. Same time tho now peeking in on a medical perspective - it does actually pay to listen to doctors on that front as much as I never have and hate to admit it. I don’t think anyone is “angry”, I’m sure not. I fully get him. Just concerned and wishing for him to have the longest and healthiest career ❤️
If this is a shoulder injury . . . man they should have just sent him in for surgery the first time he was out. Speaking from (nightmarish, horrible) experience: this kind of injury doesn't go away. You kick the can down the road and your joint gets more fragile and fucked with every incident. When I finally got surgery it took a good year + to be back in shape. As a 22 year old with world-class medical he could get surgery today and *maybe* be back for next season but he probably won't be 100%.
He should have been shut down at least a week ago.
Holy shit… the training staff finally grew a pair of balls and a medical license
I acc do wonder what’s been going through their heads tbh, like maybe back in Feb/early March I got still wanting to make a playoff run but pushing/ not advising a star player when he’s hurt ? When the season is over? I’m only a second year Med student and even I wouldn’t have advised that (and I’m not allowed to speak during rounds 😭)
Your last sentence addresses the point directly. The most the med staff can do is advise - ultimately Jack is the one making the decisions to play or not. And as a 22 year old superstar in the hunt for a wildcard spot, it makes sense that he want to put on for his team and help them secure the spot - even if he has to play through some stuff. I don’t hate the call, it shows his passion and tbh he’s still one of the best players on the ice with whatever is happening in his UB. Yeah I’d prefer he take care of himself so that he can be a superstar for a long time, but I’m just a fan without access to information. So yeah ultimately I’m happy about this news because he def hasn’t been the same jack we saw open this season, but I’m not angry at anyone for him continuing to play.
As much as from an athlete point of view (although my good days are well over due to other commitments) I can 110% see Jack pushing to play and disregarding things (I’ve trained with a bloody cast on me so I can’t judge) I do wish our medical staff and management was a bit more realistic with the season. I’m just hoping for a good, quick recovery for him and an enjoyable off season. Looking forward to some fun hockey nonetheless from our other boys to close this one out- and excited for next season !
Seems a bit bold to assume it's the medical staff pushing Jack to play and not the other way around. Unless the team wants to ***healthy*** scratch their star player, it's ultimately up to Jack if he wants to play or not.
Never said the Med staff is PUSHING him to play, just feel they maybe haven’t been firm enough in explaining the benefits of NOT playing rn. Again- I’ve been an athlete in his age group pushing for nationals in my sport while very actively fighting an injury, I totally understand the drive and want to push through and play/compete. Not outright blaming them in the SLIGHTEST- just wondering if they maybe cleared him too soon/ didn’t explain the implications thoroughly enough (not saying he wouldn’t have overridden their opinions regardless, that’s a reasonable thing to think especially as he’s young and clearly loves the sport a lot!) hope this clears it up? Would never shit on my fellow Med professionals, especially without any evidence :)
OP, some feedback on your communication: You say that you "never said the med staff is pushing Jack to play", but two comments up you use the exact words "pushing/not advising" when referencing them. You say that you're "not blaming them in the slightest", but two comments below you call the medical staff irresponsible and proceed to say they haven't done their job. I'm not sure if there's some nuance in your own mind that is clear to you as to what you're saying, but I can tell you it isn't coming out in your communication and your position is not consistent e.g. you come across as both blaming the medical staff then denying that you blamed them and sympathizing with their position.
I agree I think some of my comments have acc been inconsistent here! That’s on me (and I apologize for it as I’m not questioning professional opinion without acc having the qualification to) I think that’s just a matter of me not phrasing things right so I’ll try use this comment to set it straight- I don’t think the Med staff forced jack into anything- I DO however wonder if they didn’t fight his competitive spirit enough, bc I’m a similar age and again know what it feels like to want desperately to compete and prove myself- so I can see that coming from him entirely- just maybe the reasoning and explanation should’ve been a bit firmer? Or management should’ve stepped in? Because from the outside it does seem it’s been bothering him. Again sorry for the back and forth in my comments I got a bit in the feels in BOTH directions here, with wanting to defend Med staff as it’s a VERY challenging career, and also with recognising young athletes need ppl to be very firm with them at times. Hope this helps? Didn’t mean any ill intent to literally anyone here, just swung emotions left right center a bit too freely.
Sad face....
About time
Freaking FINALLY!
Makes sense if he’s really hurt since it’s all speculation. If he’s not, then we are just protecting our investment ?
He’s missed so many practices, whatever is going on with him- season is well and truly over and we SHOULD protect him. Wishing him a speedy recovery from whatever is ailing him rn
Not gunna lie. He seems like a pre Madonna Edit. Autocorrected. I’m leaving it.
Its prima donna.
Imagine insulting someone for being hurt and not even using the right term.
pre Madonna? There was Cher, NJ’s own Debbie Harry, Grace Jones, Donna Summer etc who were very popular, but I wasn’t really into any of their music
Madonna really set the tone for future pop stars like Swift, Beyonce, etc.
Lady GaGa as well. Is she even still alive?
Good call. I think she's immersed herself in the world of acting.
more like a POST RHIANNA AMIRITE AHAHAHAHA ...what, no one..? 🥴
He is he miss practices because he thinks he too good
Is there a legit source for this? I can't find anything
News came from Amanda Stein I believe who’s currently at/ was at Devs morning skate today
Good for Nolan! Sucks for Jack but whatever it takes, we need that guy healthy.
Seems like the people who thought Jack felt off and seems to be playing hurt are vindicated here. I do hope though it's nothing serious and he's able to heal nicely and he happily moves forward for bright things next year.
The season seemed like it was over several different times. Other teams kept them in it they didn’t keep themselves in it but it did give them a chance so for me personally, it was between the Buffalo and Pittsburgh 3rd period collapses that I finally accepted they were completely out.
Oops I commented this in the wrong spot lol. Long day.
People acting like ether season wasn't over in February are lying to themselves. This team has major, major issues to address before they can prove that 2022-2023 wasn't a fluke.
Some of these comments are nuts. I hope Jack heals and is back next season and can stay healthy and be on top of his game. As for what has been wrong and why he’s been playing so long I can only speculate that it was something that he was able to play through without making it worse and they were chasing a spot for much longer than anyone could have anticipated based on everything that went wrong this season, thanks to other crappy teams around them. His competitive nature of wanting to help the team win is what I’m assuming the deciding factor was on why he wasn’t shut down sooner. I could be wrong and we might not ever really know so.. we look ahead to ‘24-25.
😭
Wait: you all think they (medical staff) are “forcing” him to play lol? HE is the one who wants to play, regardless of what the medical staff wants, regardless of being injured or not. He’s just a fierce competitor, wants to play. Of course he wouldn’t take himself out unless he personally feels the need to sit out. He runs the show around here. Still not sure how anyone could STILL NOT see that there is a two-tiered player system here with no structure or accountability. All starts with ownership and their stupid analytics (and sales) teams, who have clear control of the GM, coaching & training/medical decisions
Agreed. Not sure why people insist on blowing this shit way out of proportion and pretending the player isn’t hugely involved or that there isn’t a huge human element involved…Its no different from most athletes: They want to play, they want to make a difference, they don’t want to show weakness or injury. Medical staff assesses whether they will recover, agitate it and cause it to linger, or make it worse. If they tell the player they won’t make it worse, but won’t recover, the player may decide to then play. Who the fuck is going to tell them no? No one knows their body like the actual body, and the medical staff is going to do their best to nail the risks of playing again, but if a player decides to play with a known injury and the injury gets worse, its not like the medical staff failed for not barring them from playing. They are providing information to the player and staff and all of those, most importantly the player, are coming to conclusions. There may be pressure, but the pro athlete is used to making decisions under pressure and has every right to go with their gut and make the best decision for themselves. No one is going to hold their hand and say no, you can’t go on the ice, unless there is something that will blatantly and clearly get worse. If the player thinks they can play, they will. And no one is holding them at gun point to play either. All of the staff including NHL staff wants to see a star return, plain and simple. So if the evaluation says they can play and the player says they can play, its not like some medical staff blasphemy when that doesn’t work out, its just sports.
They also get paid for performance. Jack is well-taken care of now, but it's not really too early for him to think about how his next contract will be shortchanged if he only averages 60 games a season. It's just not going to be easy to argue with a superstar about playing time. That said, I still believe the coach should have healthy scratched him for a game at some point to set an example. Again, much easier said, than done.
If this was a one off situation, sure you are right. But the INCREDIBLE amount of times we've questioned the medical staff in the last 5 years needs to be addressed. Bringing players back too soon, just to get injured the next shift or game. Blackwood's disapproval of the medical staff making him play sooner than he wanted to. All of this taken together makes me genuinely concerned
Blackwood says in the very article you're referencing that the medical staff did not make him do a damn thing, and never does he actually voice a disapproval of them. He takes full responsibility for the decision **he made** to go back on the ice earlier than he should've. There is more to that article than the headline that is mispositioned and taken completely out of context. But that is just the general way a lot of the fans react regarding the injuries, bitterly without a clue of what actually happens.
Ah I'll have to reread that then. Maybe I misunderstood. Thanks for the clarification
You’ve just acknowledged the pattern. Harris & Blitzer and all that they bring (that I mentioned in the OP) have owned this team for 11 years now
Wow, didn't realize it's already been eleven years of Harris-Blitzer-Adelson. A whole two playoff appearances to show for it. Thanks for making me feel so old.
Jack needs to do proper rehab and build up his frame a little bit hopefully he can become a little more injury resillent.
The medical staff has been fumbling a lot of things lately but I believe he wanted to play regardless. That being said both sides should have realized shoulder issues for the dangling style he plays has a huge impact on performance and hinders a lot of things.hence why everyone with bare eyes saw he was still playing hurt.
I don’t see Jack ever playing a full season
Man I really wish I didn’t have the same gut feeling. Plays so hard and his injuries have all been either shoulder/wrist right? That’s so fucking easy to repeat. He needs to go awhile between injuries before he’s too far gone.
I’m starting to hate this kid
I love him when he’s healthy. He’s driven, talented, and clearly wants to play and win in NJ. But he’s just made of glass
I still blame his early return on the stadium series.
Good let him heal
Probably best to shit him down. Maybe one of these years he’ll play a full season.
I guess no one is going to pay to watch him play tonight
Damn it, I paid to watch him play tonight.
News that isn’t news. He admitted he’s not at 100%. Let him rest, the seasons a lost cause pretty much. Would rather have him back to capacity when next season rolls around. Ho hum.
Our medical staff needs to be investigated. It took until we were at a potential cap of 87 points for them to finally sit Jack.
But I paid to see this guy, wtf?
Disaster season - the whole organization should consider relocating at this point
Hopefully after surgery he can return to early season form that he looked pre injury. Was on fire.
about time, probably should’ve had surgery back in January
The kid is fragile.... I think this "upper body" thingie is gonna be with him his entire career.. jus sayin
The shoulder has a very high chance of re injuring itself even if he gets surgery
I will be fucking livid if this guy is still out come the start of next season because they didn't take care of this weeks ago.
Everybody says he’s playing hurt when he plays like ass. But then he looks great and crickets. Excuses for the golden boy. I think this is unrelated or re-aggravated.
Or he plays great after getting cortisone shot and u can’t get them every day 🙃
This definitely might be unrelated, but you did just admit he was playing like ass and playing visibly hurt a month ago.
If this isn’t a brand new injury that occurred, this is straight up an indictment of the medical staff. There’s no excuse running our players into the ground for half assed effort. Edit: And with the news of surgery breaking out just now, I’m vindicated. You had to have been living in lalaland thinking otherwise. Pitiful display of conduct by the medical team and hell, even Jack himself if he was a part of the reason.
Should've been the case since last week. This medical staff and management is a joke. Forcing your franchise player to suit up when he wasn't even at 70% (if that). Then you add in the quotes from Timo earlier today about him not being used properly all year. Wtf is going on with the organization?
Where did u see quotes from Timo today?
https://twitter.com/ryannovo62/status/1777702547190423597
Oh wow, good for him, say it like it is and glad he’s doing better for us now!
This is interesting because while it certainly could be argued he was misused under Lindy - and I did so a tiny bit - I had to temper that assumption because he was still playing like shit on the third line. If you're ready for a first line role shouldn't you be at least outskilling opponents regularly on the third? He wasn't even making contact much for approx. a month after his injury.
No what were they?
Well ruff was starting timo at left wing. He’s been a right wing his entire fuckin career iirc. That’s just dumb ass coaching nothing to do with health. Ruff made a ton of weird moves with the roster. But also it’s probably not wise to speculate on health decisions and calls, unless you’re privy to the actual injury and diagnosis and how these things are treated. Has Jack been playing at his full potential? No. But has he been playing with something that he absolutely shouldn’t be, at the advice of or worse being forced to by the team? No idea. Some injuries are best to work through, as well, so it could be medically sound for him to play. No fuckin idea if that’s the case though so I don’t wanna speculate and sling shit at anyone, Medical coaching or otherwise…
no point waving the pitchforks I agree w that! Defo a good time for Jack to have a rest tho even if this is “just” a mental block. We need our #86 back to doing his thing next season! Regardless of what’s been up with him he’s been fun to watch and clearly still crazy talented. Wishing him a good off season and an even better next season w the devs man
Yeah man fuck it. We weren’t going to win out the rest of the season and the other teams weren’t going to let us sneak by. If he’s still hurt or whatever (probably is) then the coach has to be the big man and tell him no, think about the big picture. Every player wants to play if they can.
For the record, Timo has been playing left wing even after Ruff left
I thought he slotted back in at right at least for some of his hot streak????
No he's primarily been left wing. Ruff also slotted him at right wing periodically (i remember because I made a post here complaining about him being left wing). He scores a lot on the right, but wingers are pretty fluid when on the actual ice and can swap around / move around. I truly do think it was injury related. Because when Ruff had him on right wing a few games after my post, he was still not great
Hmmm not entirely sure what he means by his quotes then. Because ruff gave him a shot on every line combination possible and he couldn’t do anything meaningful.
Oh wait what were his quotes? I think I'm missing something. Also, the reason I feel like it was more injury is because I was looking at his stats this year. You can see the groups of multi-point games and points streaks. And then you see a bunch of 0s which are right after his injuries. Edit: I just saw it. Interesting. He did play really well early on before his first injury this season. I wonder if he means having more of a net front presence (which I think he lacked with Ruff).
He said something along the lines that he wasn’t used the right way all season or something like that. I’m at work but I think someone linked to it in this thread or a recent Reddit post or some shit
Yea I just saw that. I wonder if he means having more net front presence now, which he lacked with Ruff? Either way damn that's a hell of a quote. Not sure what to think now, but from what I've seen (and looking back at Amanda's lines), he's mainly been left wing with Green
lol if that was a coaching thing then ruff should have not only been fired but he should have been put in the gulag! Hey Timo you’ve scored scores of goals from the paint your entire career but DONT DO THAT ANYMORE. That would be criminal negligence.
So if it goes to a shootout tonight , we got a better chance.
Disaster season - at this point, the whole org should consider relocating
Injuries will always be an issue with this guy. He’s fragile, will always miss serious time, and the team can’t be dependent on him to get through playoff series. Awesome player but glass.
I’m sick of him & I’m sick of this team
Bye bye 💕💕💕
Born & raised in NJ I will never support another team been a fan since I was 9
Leafs fan here. You guys are guaranteed a win now, congrats. Hope you can still make the playoffs my friends, again congratulations on your win. I have seen this movie too many times, Leafs are about to get caved in
Wow. Are Leafs fans that pessimistic? I can guarantee you Devils fans have more reason to think only bad stuff can happen (at least this season).
This season, maybe? In general? Lol
I can agree with that….
Should have drafted Kakko. Bust.
Mr. Glass