Backstrom: "It's Incredibly Frustrating"

by J.P. on Jan 19, 2012 10:30 AM EST in Translations

Nicklas Backstrom hasn't played in a game since taking that elbow to the head from Rene Bourque back on January 3. And while the Caps got some measure of closure by (theoretically) taking Bourque to task last night in Montreal, the effects of the hit linger for the Caps' top pivot.

Backstrom recently spoke to Swedish news outlet Aftonbladet about his recovery, and here's the translation of some of what he had to say:

"I’m 'day-to-day' as they say over here, right now. We haven’t really talked much yet about when I can get back on the ice."
"I would be lying if I told you that I have felt 100% fine since it happened, but I don’t have any headaches anymore and I don’t feel nauseous anymore either."

"I still have to take it easy and rest though. We are being extra cautious, given what has happened with all the concussions in the league this year."

The worst thing is the restlessness - he’s not even attending the games at the the Verizon Center, instead he has to watch the games from home.

"The only thing I can do is to just lie here on the couch and try to get better. It's incredibly frustrating, I get so restless, my body just itches to do something. But there's nothing else to do but wait."

Hat tip to Malin on the link and translation

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Get well soon Nicky!!

by OvechkinGR8 on Jan 19, 2012 10:35 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

I want to simultaneously hug Nicky while watching Bourque get Drawn and Quartered

RAMPAGE

by JediChewbacca on Jan 19, 2012 10:35 AM EST reply actions

That video gets me so freaking mad

by Brutus89 on Jan 19, 2012 10:55 AM EST reply actions

yup

"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins

by smutsboy1 on Jan 19, 2012 11:08 AM EST up reply actions

...

Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...

by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Jan 19, 2012 11:04 AM EST reply actions

Neh he got what he deserved by being dealt to a club that ain’t gonna make the playoffs. If/when we win our first series, Nikki should wave to the camera and say..

Hey Rene! What’s up! See you on the 18th hole a little later it seems

by Brainumbc on Jan 19, 2012 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

Dude, he came from Calgary… as far as playoffs go, it’s a lateral move.

Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jan 19, 2012 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

I’d give Calgary a better chance this season than MTL

by Brainumbc on Jan 19, 2012 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

I think Calgary’s chances are twice as good as Montreal’s. Twice nothing, that is. Calgary’s got little if any chance. There are four teams in the Central Division that look like they will make the playoffs.

Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jan 19, 2012 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

Calgary was a good possession team last year, and that buoyed them a bit against really bad goaltending. Now, they’re a bad possession team again (thanks a bit to Rene Bourque who isn’t as good as he was three years ago). I think Montreal has a better shot, in the weaker conference (though stronger division) and with better goaltending.

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I believe in next year.

by red army line on Jan 19, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

He just freaking looks like a chotch bag…

by Brutus89 on Jan 19, 2012 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

Definitely one of the more punchable faces I’ve seen.

Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...

by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Jan 19, 2012 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe someone will hit him up high, “by accident”, or it will be"reactionary" as Bourque so eloquently put it. I hope he enjoyed the shut-out loss at home last night.

by reesem37 on Jan 19, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

Bourque should not be allowed to play as long as Nicky can’t play….justice!

Carolyn
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by CarolynF on Jan 19, 2012 11:11 AM EST reply actions

That may be a bad idea, kind of a fair and systematic handling of punishment.

What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 19, 2012 11:40 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

“That may not be a bad idea”

What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 19, 2012 11:41 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yeah I like it too. If a player causes a concussion, and the NHL deems it suspendable, he should have to sit out for as long as the person with the concussion sits out. That seems like a fair punishment, and it would give players quite an incentive not to make dirty hits.

Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...

by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Jan 19, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

Of course, I do remember there being a discussion about this here, and I think the conclusion was that it would give incentive for lesser players who would ride the bench most of the time anyway to fake concussions when hit by better players. But daggummit, there has got to be a way to do it right.

Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...

by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Jan 19, 2012 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

The problem is that it isn’t fair at all.

I like the theory, to an extent, but in practice it’d be terrible. For one, you’re punishing the result and not the action, which I don’t think properly deters future action (which, presumably, is the real point of a suspension).

But you’d also have a problem in that if it’s not a star player that’s hurt, what’s the rush to get him back (and thus allow the other player back on the ice)? Say Bourque – a decent player who can theoretically really help the Habs, a competitor of the Caps – had hit Jeff Schultz and knocked him woozy. Schultz might “be injured” for the rest of the season. Who’s to say his head doesn’t hurt?

The way it’s handled now, you have an ostensibly neutral third party doling out punishment. Once you base it on the victimized team’s player, you’ve removed neutrality. It just wouldn’t work.

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by J.P. on Jan 19, 2012 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 6 recs

But I should emphasize that I share the frustration of seeing this douchenozzle playing while Backstrom can barely get off his couch.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 19, 2012 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

In addition to the fine the player carries, the team should pay double that fine as well

the automatic suspensions and Shanahan’s video explanations are a great first step, butmore needs to be done to rid the game of this type of butcherism.

the only way cheap-shot artists are going to be taken out of the game is to legislate them out. double the automatic suspensions. double them again for repeat offenders. and fine the teams they play for double the player’s salary while they are suspended, with the money going into a player-safety educational fund. once owners are hit in the pocketbooks for carrying head-hunters like Bouque, they’ll stop carrying them on their roster.

at some point, owners are going to realize that employing these types of players only jeopardize the health of their real assets, their star players. but it’s going to take losing money on them to get the point, i’m afraid.

the NHL got rid of bench-clearing, line brawls and third-man ins. they legislated helmets. they can change the game.

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by Dave at District Sports Page on Jan 19, 2012 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

They need to increase the minimal fine from 2500, also…even if you include the pay that the player doesn’t receive that goes to the emergency fund

by snowburnt on Jan 19, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

Makes perfect sense. If only we could Just uncheck any unintended consequence of a rule. That’ll be my version of a perfect world

What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 19, 2012 12:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

You’d probably have to have league officials determining if a player is “game ready” at that point. With that in mind, “game ready” and actually playing don’t have to coincide.

I can see this being an issue with concussion where the effects may not be simple to determine physically.

by snowburnt on Jan 19, 2012 12:17 PM EST up reply actions

Forget that

Bourque is not nearly as valuable to any team as Backstrom is.

In my opinion, if a player injures another player and was disciplined by the league for the play and causes them to miss a significant portion of the season, the guilty team needs to give up draft picks, the round based on the original draft position of the injured player and the number of games the player missed as a result of the play.

I don’t know the appropriate specific calculation but if Backs misses 75% of a season, the Flames would have to give up their first round pick. If he misses less than 50%, traditional justice. If he misses between 50 and 75% they give up their second. If he misses the rest of this season and the next they give up their next two second round picks, or they just give up one first rounder.

Probably too complicated, but it would cause some major changes in roster building.

by snowburnt on Jan 19, 2012 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

The problem with punishment being dictated by how long a player is out is that it brings a large amount of luck into the equation.

Two guys elbow two other players in the head, and the first victim doesn’t get injured, but the second victim does, both elbowing players should be suspended equally.

I think punishment should be dictated by the level of recklessness and potential for injury.

IMO.

"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins

by smutsboy1 on Jan 19, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Agreed completely.

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by J.P. on Jan 19, 2012 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

The problem then becomes how do we measure or quantify recklessness.

What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 19, 2012 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

That’s Shanny’s job.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 19, 2012 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

I wonder if the players address shanny as your honor or majesty

What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 19, 2012 2:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I’ve always been partial to “Excellency.”

Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...

by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Jan 19, 2012 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

“Your Grace.”

You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!

by EmilyB on Jan 19, 2012 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

for me its not injury

But the action that should be the emphasis of the discipline. Five games for a blatant elbow to the head is not enough. I think the league blew it in this case by limiting themselves to a phoner. I really think Shanny thought Nicky was ok, and therefore he didn’t need to bring the rat in for a face to face.

A danger to myself and others on the ice

by can't skate on Jan 19, 2012 4:05 PM EST via mobile reply actions