SkateZilla
11-29-2003, 03:39 AM
BTW He's At home Surfing the net so .. . Timmy Boy Take it easy man, I know we all criticize you but hey your still a good player..
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20031128/1002661.asp?tbd1002661.asp
It wasn't long before Tim Connolly's phone started chirping.
Relatives and friends from across the country had seen the headlines and read the reports. The outlook was desolate for the Buffalo Sabres center, who still is grappling with the effects of a preseason concussion.
There were indications he might not play at all this season. Those close to him were distressed.
While the outpouring of concern was flattering, it also was another headache.
"I don't want people to worry," Connolly told The Buffalo News before heading off to his grandparents' home in Kenmore for Thanksgiving turkey.
Connolly has missed every game so far this season. He won't play tonight when the Sabres host the Florida Panthers in HSBC Arena, and he won't be coming back in the foreseeable future. But he was eager to remind fans and local media there are 18 weeks to go - plenty of time to get back on the ice.
"There's still five months left in the season," Connolly said, "so we're not going to even mention anything about this being the end of my season. It could be a little while, but you have to sit back and wait and see.
"I'm confident I will be back."
Connolly was injured in an Oct. 2 exhibition game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Rochester. Former Sabres forward Scott Nichol delivered a violent check right after Connolly released a shot in the slot.
Persistent headaches and unsteady motor skills prompted management to send him last week to NHL concussion specialist Dr. Karen Johnston in Montreal. The reports were discouraging. Instead of being evaluated on a daily basis, the Sabres will report to Johnston weekly.
"We did a whole lot of testing," Connolly said. "I had a number of MRI tests and neuro-psych tests and I haven't gotten the results yet, but I spoke to her for over an hour about my situation, and basically she thinks I am on the road to recovery but that it is going to take awhile."
Connolly's situation is quite different from the one experienced by Sabres right wing Maxim Afinogenov, who suffered a concussion prior to training camp last season and didn't play until late January.
Afinogenov's main problem was post-concussion migraine headaches, while Johnston is more concerned with Connolly's inconsistent motor skills even though he sporadically is feeling pain around his forehead.
"It's my lack of concentration, my balance and my memory problems," Connolly said. "It's hard for me to concentrate on one thing. The focus . . . it's like reading articles in a magazine or the newspaper: It's difficult to read it straight through. Those are the main things the doctor is most concerned with.
"It just takes me a little bit longer to figure things out than I normally would be able to. Certain things I just don't remember. I've been writing everything down, which I never had to do.
"It's noticeably getting better, though. The first few weeks I felt like I was in a cloud."
Some around the team also have mentioned Connolly developed a stutter, although he didn't stammer at all during Thursday's 30-minute interview.
"I've always had a little bit of one," Connolly said with a laugh. "Sometimes I repeat myself."
The most exercise Connolly has been permitted is walking. He hangs around his home most of the day, watching television or surfing the Internet. He occasionally goes out to eat with teammates.
"Very boring," Connolly said. "It's frustrating, but at the same time I can't dwell on it because it only makes the headaches worse and more often. The main thing I have to do is try not to think about it.
"I asked, basically, if there's any way I can exercise my brain to sharpen it up. But there's nothing I can do. (Johnston) told me a concussion is the exact opposite of any other injury. You can't rehab it like a pulled muscle or a sprained ankle."
Concussion recoveries are highly unpredictable. Phoenix Coyotes center Krystofer Kolanos, for example, suffered one two seasons ago when then-Sabres winger Vaclav Varada dropped him. Kolanos missed the last 22 games of the 2001-02 season. An innocent check in the following preseason caused him to miss the first 80 games of 2002-03.
A full recovery won't happen soon for Connolly. The 22-year-old from Syracuse first must be cleared for light exercise, then for skating, then for contact. He estimated it would take three weeks to get back into game shape. The last time he exercised was riding a stationary bike Oct. 20.
Even when he's ready, however, it could be difficult to find his way back onto the ice. The Sabres hope to be in the playoff hunt, and they might not have the luxury of letting Connolly ease his way back by playing, as Afinogenov did last season.
Connolly wasn't a physical player before the injury, and it's natural for concussion victims to be timid once they return.
Furthermore, the Sabres have depth at forward, and center Chris Taylor has played well in Connolly's absence.
Connolly is coming off a season in which he had career lows with 13 assists, 25 points and a minus-28 rating. He accepted a one-year, $1.24 million qualifying offer over the summer.
"As far as coming back, when I do start skating and exercising, I'm going to take it very slow and cautious so I don't have any setbacks," Connolly said.
"When I do get back to 100 percent and skating with the team, I'm going to go right at it and play like this hasn't happened. That's my goal anyways. If I take it slow, in the end when I'm back, I will be prepared to play."
He made sure to reiterate - for his family, friends and everybody else - he plans to be back this season.
"It is getting better," Connolly said. "I do feel that I'm on my way. It's going to be a slow process, but it's way too early to say someone's season is over."
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20031128/1002661.asp?tbd1002661.asp
It wasn't long before Tim Connolly's phone started chirping.
Relatives and friends from across the country had seen the headlines and read the reports. The outlook was desolate for the Buffalo Sabres center, who still is grappling with the effects of a preseason concussion.
There were indications he might not play at all this season. Those close to him were distressed.
While the outpouring of concern was flattering, it also was another headache.
"I don't want people to worry," Connolly told The Buffalo News before heading off to his grandparents' home in Kenmore for Thanksgiving turkey.
Connolly has missed every game so far this season. He won't play tonight when the Sabres host the Florida Panthers in HSBC Arena, and he won't be coming back in the foreseeable future. But he was eager to remind fans and local media there are 18 weeks to go - plenty of time to get back on the ice.
"There's still five months left in the season," Connolly said, "so we're not going to even mention anything about this being the end of my season. It could be a little while, but you have to sit back and wait and see.
"I'm confident I will be back."
Connolly was injured in an Oct. 2 exhibition game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Rochester. Former Sabres forward Scott Nichol delivered a violent check right after Connolly released a shot in the slot.
Persistent headaches and unsteady motor skills prompted management to send him last week to NHL concussion specialist Dr. Karen Johnston in Montreal. The reports were discouraging. Instead of being evaluated on a daily basis, the Sabres will report to Johnston weekly.
"We did a whole lot of testing," Connolly said. "I had a number of MRI tests and neuro-psych tests and I haven't gotten the results yet, but I spoke to her for over an hour about my situation, and basically she thinks I am on the road to recovery but that it is going to take awhile."
Connolly's situation is quite different from the one experienced by Sabres right wing Maxim Afinogenov, who suffered a concussion prior to training camp last season and didn't play until late January.
Afinogenov's main problem was post-concussion migraine headaches, while Johnston is more concerned with Connolly's inconsistent motor skills even though he sporadically is feeling pain around his forehead.
"It's my lack of concentration, my balance and my memory problems," Connolly said. "It's hard for me to concentrate on one thing. The focus . . . it's like reading articles in a magazine or the newspaper: It's difficult to read it straight through. Those are the main things the doctor is most concerned with.
"It just takes me a little bit longer to figure things out than I normally would be able to. Certain things I just don't remember. I've been writing everything down, which I never had to do.
"It's noticeably getting better, though. The first few weeks I felt like I was in a cloud."
Some around the team also have mentioned Connolly developed a stutter, although he didn't stammer at all during Thursday's 30-minute interview.
"I've always had a little bit of one," Connolly said with a laugh. "Sometimes I repeat myself."
The most exercise Connolly has been permitted is walking. He hangs around his home most of the day, watching television or surfing the Internet. He occasionally goes out to eat with teammates.
"Very boring," Connolly said. "It's frustrating, but at the same time I can't dwell on it because it only makes the headaches worse and more often. The main thing I have to do is try not to think about it.
"I asked, basically, if there's any way I can exercise my brain to sharpen it up. But there's nothing I can do. (Johnston) told me a concussion is the exact opposite of any other injury. You can't rehab it like a pulled muscle or a sprained ankle."
Concussion recoveries are highly unpredictable. Phoenix Coyotes center Krystofer Kolanos, for example, suffered one two seasons ago when then-Sabres winger Vaclav Varada dropped him. Kolanos missed the last 22 games of the 2001-02 season. An innocent check in the following preseason caused him to miss the first 80 games of 2002-03.
A full recovery won't happen soon for Connolly. The 22-year-old from Syracuse first must be cleared for light exercise, then for skating, then for contact. He estimated it would take three weeks to get back into game shape. The last time he exercised was riding a stationary bike Oct. 20.
Even when he's ready, however, it could be difficult to find his way back onto the ice. The Sabres hope to be in the playoff hunt, and they might not have the luxury of letting Connolly ease his way back by playing, as Afinogenov did last season.
Connolly wasn't a physical player before the injury, and it's natural for concussion victims to be timid once they return.
Furthermore, the Sabres have depth at forward, and center Chris Taylor has played well in Connolly's absence.
Connolly is coming off a season in which he had career lows with 13 assists, 25 points and a minus-28 rating. He accepted a one-year, $1.24 million qualifying offer over the summer.
"As far as coming back, when I do start skating and exercising, I'm going to take it very slow and cautious so I don't have any setbacks," Connolly said.
"When I do get back to 100 percent and skating with the team, I'm going to go right at it and play like this hasn't happened. That's my goal anyways. If I take it slow, in the end when I'm back, I will be prepared to play."
He made sure to reiterate - for his family, friends and everybody else - he plans to be back this season.
"It is getting better," Connolly said. "I do feel that I'm on my way. It's going to be a slow process, but it's way too early to say someone's season is over."