Primeau running out of time

[swflyers25]

Please let this article stay here. Thx.

By WAYNE FISH
Bucks County Courier Times

RALEIGH, N.C. - Call it a race against time.

Even though both Keith Primeau and the Flyers have exercised remarkable patience with the captain's battle through a concussion, there may come a point where the team has to move on for its own best interests.

If Primeau, who has been sidelined since Oct. 30, doesn't return by the Olympic break in February, the Flyers might have a decision to make.

Like whether to go after a dominant checking center to fill Primeau's significantly large skates down the stretch and into the playoffs.

For the better part of a month, the news has been encouraging. Primeau has been working with doctors at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in an attempt to solve lingering problems with his balance.

He's been reporting improvement, but there is still no timetable for a return or even a schedule for getting a neuro-psychological examination.

In the meantime, the Flyers may have to begin a search for replacement. That might require taking what is left of his contract for this year (he makes about $4 million per year) off the payroll because the Flyers are close to hitting the salary cap ceiling of $39 million.

The Flyers are somewhat optimistic about Primeau's latest progress. He's been receiving medication the past couple weeks that is aimed at reducing his dizzy spells.

"We're encouraged because his symptoms aren't lasting as long," head trainer Jim McCrossin said Thursday. "I spoke with him [Wednesday]. He's skating and doing imbalance rehab at HUP. He's still getting dizzy spells, but they aren't lasting nearly as long as they have.

"He said he's fighting now to see if he can't make his eyes unfocus. He said before he was fighting to focus them. It's not a big battle anymore to keep his concentration."

General manager Bob Clarke sounded upbeat when he talked about Primeau's status. According to Clarke, the key is how Primeau reacts after hard workouts.

"He's been training and skating for 45 minutes," Clarke said. "He's been lifting weights and everything. He's had some spinning after that, but even though it's happening, he said they're getting shorter all the time. So he feels like he's getting better."

Primeau missed 21 games after his Feb. 12, 2004 concussion. Thursday night he missed his 28th game for the latest one. Perhaps the extended time off will allow him to turn a corner.

"I'm more encouraged than ever," Clarke said.

Asked if he expects to see Primeau play again this season, Clarke said, "Yes, I do now."

McCrossin feels the same way.

"There's no way you can count him out," he said. "I'm not going to count him out."

Stevenson OK

Turner Stevenson had his sore right hip examined by the Nashville doctor (Thomas Bird) who performed surgery on the Flyer winger for a torn labrum in mid-November. The evaluation showed no damage in the hip area, but Stevenson does have a sore groin from rehab skating.

No word yet on when he might return to the lineup.

Wayne Fish can be reached at wfish@phillyBurbs.com.

Philly Burbs (http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/101-12302005-590920.html)

[Amoroq]

If Clarke had shown this kind of patience with Lindros, who knows, there's your center :)

[swflyers25]

Rumor is that Clarke is trying to acquire Doug Weight. Also is rumored something is up with Forsberg, you should notice that he hasn't scored in a few games. We'll see what is happening. We are ok now but we need a top guy come playoff time.

[Iced Tea]

swflyers25, do you ever listen to what the mods say?

You post a new Flyers article at least once a week and get maybe 2 replies. All the mods want is for you to use one mega thread for articles but do you listen to the mods, HELL NO. You think you're special and don't need to follow the rules. Then on the next useless thread you start, you make the mods out to be evil bastards picking on you. Maybe you should stop being such a :curse: and follow the rules.

If I had my way, you would have been banned from here within the first month of this forum's existence.

[swflyers25]

What is the big deal? It's not like this forum is overcome with traffic. I'm sorry, it's not. I'm not killing bandwidth or anything. What does it matter anyway. Ban me, who cares? Maybe if you got the stick out of your rear end, you may get people to come here.

[Newfie John]

Seeing 25 threads in a row in a section with 0 replies isn't appealing to new members either. Pretty hypocritical. Why post all the articles? You're the only one who cares because most of it isn't even newsworthy.

[KB in Kelowna]

Lets not get into personal attacks, but the idea of posting all articles in a megathread is a good one.

[swflyers25]

1/23/06

Ed Moran | Primeau wants to salvage his season

EARLY FRIDAY morning, Flyers general manager Bob Clarke came up to Keith Primeau and told him there was a trade in the works.

Some speculation after Clarke sent Dennis Seidenberg to Phoenix for center Petr Nedved was that the trade was all the proof anyone needed that the decision on Primeau's season had been made - that it was over.

None of that speculation was backed up by anyone on the record.

The chances that Primeau will recover from the persistent postconcussion symptoms that have sidelined him for the past 3 months seem remote, but the decision on whether he can play this season has not been made yet.

There is a deadline. Primeau has until the end of the Olympics (Feb. 26), to get better before the Flyers make a move either way.

And that was what Clarke said to Primeau on Friday morning.

"He first asked me how I was feeling and then he told me that we have the opportunity to pick up a player [Nedved] and that it wasn't going to have any effect on me coming back," Primeau said. "He said if I was coming back, then I would come back."

There is little doubt in Primeau's mind that Clarke is being sincere. And I have none, either. I've talked to Clarke about Primeau several times and I've never walked away from the conversation believing anything except that Clarke wants Primeau to have every chance to come back and play.

Clarke watched what Primeau did for the Flyers during the last playoff run, he saw how Primeau handled the captaincy, and the fallout that fell on Primeau after Bill Barber was fired.

There is no shortage of respect when Clarke talks about Primeau. "He got hurt playing for us and we owe him the chance to try and come back," is what Clarke says.

But the reality is, the road is nearing an end. The Flyers have said so. If Primeau, 34, is not able to come back 5 weeks from now, his salary will be taken off of the payroll and another trade will be made.

The Flyers can't go into the playoffs without someone with the size and ability that Primeau brings to both scoring and playing defense. AHL call-ups won't be the answer in the playoffs.

Primeau knows this.

"In the back of their minds they are starting to see a window closing," he said. "I know from a team standpoint that there was going to have to be a deadline and so I'm not surprised by the speculation.

"But the team has been extremely patient and understanding. They've afforded me all of the medical needs that I've asked for and put them at my disposal. I have no complaint at them basically explaining that there will be a point in time when they will have to make a move.

And still, he hopes.

Every day Primeau comes to the rink, gets dressed in full equipment, including a new smoked-black visor to cut down the glare, and skates long, winding loops around the rink.

Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin sometimes skates behind him and makes him do stick and puck drills where Primeau has to turn his head from side to side. The goal is to get him to the point where he can do this without the world spinning around him.

He's getting to the point where the spinning only lasts a few minutes, but the key is, there has not been a day where he has not had symptoms. And that is not encouraging.

Not for Primeau. Not for the Flyers.

Yesterday, Primeau had what McCrossin calls "a good day" - that is a day when the spinning came and went very quickly.

"When I focus, it feels good," Primeau said. "I have no headaches, and I can go on the ice and go on the bike and not spin. I feel my focus getting stronger.

I feel the pressure getting less. My spinning symptoms don't sustain themselves, don't last as long and the recovery is much quicker. But at the same time, I still know it's there."

To say this has been frustrating for Primeau is a colossal understatement. It has been that and more.

"It's tough because I can't even put a percentage on [the possibility] of coming back," Primeau said. "I just don't know. To me it's about getting better, and playing again is really taking a backseat to getting healthy.

"When I'm healthy, I'll be ready to play. In the past, I've put playing ahead of that and that may be part of the blame for where I am right now. I can't afford to go back and play five or 10 games and then be right back to where I am.

"But I won't rule this out yet. I won't rule anything out. I've felt improvement in the last week and for the first time in a long time I feel encouraged. I say that knowing that there have been times in the last 2 months where I felt good and was encouraged only to have a setback."

So he keeps coming to the rink and trying for a day when there is no spinning and the possibility of his coming back becomes more than just a faint hope.

He hopes for a day when he can stop reading about the speculation that is career is coming to an end, even if he understands why it's being written.

"That's the easy side of the ledger to take, I guess," he said. "And if it's wrong, nobody cares. Everybody speculates, that's what's frustrating. But I've been given a lot of respect and privacy and [the media] has really shown me a lot of patience and I really appreciate that.

"What bothers me is when people are trying to trade me or are telling me I'm done when there is no truth to those situations at all. That's just poor journalism. But I have no control over that.

"And as much as I feel pressure, I don't feel pressure. I gave up fighting it a long time ago. Right now, I'm trying to get healthy. My body feels great, but my head just won't let me go out and play. So I can do two things: fight through it or get discouraged. I'm not there yet."

Philly.com (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/hockey/13689457.htm)

[charlio lemieux]

How do you replace what he gave Philly in the Playoffs?
Weight would be more offensive, but the leadership and toughness will be the hardest to replace.

[swflyers25]

How do you replace what he gave Philly in the Playoffs?
Weight would be more offensive, but the leadership and toughness will be the hardest to replace.

You don't replace what he gave us. Weight isn't coming to Philly. The writer who wrote the article was on a local sports show here and he said that the Flyers will probably go after a winger rather than center since we have Nedved. Mark Parrish is the first name he mentioned. He basically said that look at whatever team is in the bottom of the league, Flyers will try get a winger in.

[wildboy26]

I dont think you call replace Primeau. I feel sorry for him as well since with Draper playing such c%mmy hockey this year he probably would have won the checkers job for Turin had he been healthy, atleast he should have unless he played far below expectations.

[swflyers25]

Flyers center Keith Primeau on Monday updated his status as he continues to recover from a concussion suffered on October 25 in Montreal. Primeau is in Toronto visiting with another doctor as he continues his rehab from the injury. Below is a conversation in which Primeau addressed certain topics and rumors regarding his health and if he plans on making any announcements in the near future, as well as a statement from Flyers General Manager Bob Clarke.

What is your latest status?

“Right now I am in Toronto, checking with one more specialist in a different field in the hopes that we can try to find anything else that we may have missed. I will probably be here for another 24 to 48 hours and then be returning to Philadelphia.”

Are you able to disclose the doctor’s name?

“No.”

How are you feeling right now?

“I continue to feel as though I’m making improvements with the therapy in Philadelphia with my therapist. I am not making the kind of gains that ultimately I would have liked to have made by this time. I just continue to work to get better.”

There is word out that you may be making an announcement of some kind this week or next. Is that true or false?

“In speaking with [Clarke], as everyone knows, a couple weeks ago I had to have a decision by the end of the Olympic break [on February 27]. I have since then been advised by the doctors that it may be in my best interests to forego playing this year and continue my rehab in hopes of returning in September.

“[Clarke] and the organization are all aware of those conversations that I’ve had with the doctors, and I told them that I would let them know as soon as I have made a decision and felt comfortable with that decision. As far as making it today or tomorrow or Wednesday or at any point this week, it’s just a difficult decision and I haven’t set a day where I am going to make any formal announcement. I know that making the decision, though, is in the not-too-distant future.”

How difficult is this decision for you?

“It’s sad, because all I want to do is play. Unfortunately at this time, my head will just not allow me to play. Obviously, I am running the emotional gamut from sadness to disappointment to frustration to anxiety. But, I also know that my health is of the utmost importance.”

Bob Clarke on Keith Primeau:

“I think Keith stated it very clearly the position that he is in. Obviously, when he is ready to make a decision about returning or not returning this year, he will and we respect that.”

Flyers (http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/pressbox/archive/2438.asp)

[swflyers25]

By ED MORAN & ED BARKOWITZ

The end of Keith Primeau's season appears at hand.

The Flyers captain, who has missed 46 games with a concussion, was told by the team's medical staff that he will not be cleared to return to the ice this season, team sources said yesterday.

The Flyers had wanted a decision on Primeau's status by Feb. 27, the end of the Olympic break, but that timetable has been scrapped.

According to the sources, Primeau met with general manager Bob Clarke and the medical staff last week and was told there was not enough time left this season for him to recover sufficiently to play at the pace at which he is progressing.

Primeau was told he would not be cleared to return to play this season but that he should continue to train and recover in the hope that he would be able to play next season.

However, Primeau is apparently not prepared to accept the decision and, after speaking with his family, contacted a Toronto chiropractor who believes he can help alleviate Primeau's symptoms. Primeau underwent treatment from the chiropractor yesterday and expects to receive another round of treatments tomorrow.

Primeau could not be reached for comment last night but was made aware by the team's media staff that news of the decision had gotten out and the media staff requested a response. Primeau's comments were posted on the team's Web site late yesterday afternoon.

"In speaking with [Clarke], as everyone knows, a couple weeks ago I had to have a decision by the end of the Olympic break," Primeau said on the team's Web site.

"I have since then been advised by the doctors that it may be in my best interests to forego playing this year and continue my rehab in hopes of returning in September."

Primeau's season was interrupted when he was leveled by Montreal's Alexander Perezhogin on Oct. 25. He played two games afterward, but hasn't been in the lineup since Oct. 28.

If Primeau shuts down for the season, it will mean that the 34-year-old center will have missed significant time the last 2 years; last year because of the lockout, now because of the injury.

Primeau has sought opinions from other doctors. His symptoms include dizziness and headaches.

"[Clarke] and the organization are all aware of those conversations that I've had with the doctors, and I told them that I would let them know as soon as I have made a decision and felt comfortable with that decision," Primeau said.

"As far as making it [yesterday], or [today] or [tomorrow] or at any point this week, it's just a difficult decision and I haven't set a day where I am going to make any formal announcement. I know that making the decision, though, is in the not-too-distant future."

On the Web site, Clarke said: "I think Keith stated it very clearly the position that he is in. Obviously, when he is ready to make a decision about returning or not returning this year, he will and we respect that."

The absence of the gritty center is particularly glaring as the Flyers struggle through a series of injuries and a dreadful midseason slump. They are 3-6-3 in their last 12 games.

Primeau's emotions are all over the map. "It's sad, because all I want to do is play,'' he said. "Unfortunately at this time, my head will just not allow me to play. Obviously, I am running the emotional gamut from sadness to disappointment to frustration to anxiety. But, I also know that my health is of the utmost importance."

Send e-mail to morane@phillynews.com and barkowe@phillynews.com

Philly.com (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/13809581.htm)

[charlio lemieux]

Well you're the Philly fan. What do you think?

[swflyers25]

He does done for this season. I can't comment on 06-07.

[Amoroq]

Flyers center Keith Primeau will be addressing the media regarding his status for the remainder of the 2005-06 season on Tuesday morning at 11:00 am from the Sovereign Bank Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey. Comcast SportsNet will cover the press conference live locally

http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/pressbox/archive/2460.asp

A sad day if he is retiring.

[charlio lemieux]

http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/pressbox/archive/2460.asp

A sad day if he is retiring.

You got that right.

[swflyers25]

Not retiring, just packing it on for the season I hope. Then there are rumors of Shane Doan and Derek Morris heading to Philly. We'll see.

[charlio lemieux]

Doan and Morris? You already got Nedved. Why not get Gretzky too. :D