By Steve Hunt
FOXSportsSouthwest.com
February 21, 2011
Concussions are a unique injury in any sport. Where another part of the human body is involved, there is normally a standard timeframe for recovery but that is not the case with a concussion. Every case is different as recovery can happen in anywhere from 10 days to several weeks, months or maybe even never.
Stars center Brad Richards is learning this all too well. The Dallas offensive cog has missed the last three games after suffering a concussion in a 2-1 loss to Columbus a week ago Sunday and if his comments after practice on Monday are any indication, it might be a miracle if Stars fans see him back on the ice at any point this week.
"The thing that scared me at the start was light-headed. That's what put the red flag up," the 2011 NHL All-Star said. "That seems to be getting better. The obvious thing is headaches. Every day I wake up, I hope it's getting better. It hasn't gotten worse. I would like to be on the ice today but I don't think that's good for my health or good for anybody. I did some stuff with my neck today. I'll wake up tomorrow and keep plugging away."
Before missing the Stars' three-game swing through Western Canada last week, Richards had played in 56 games and led the team with 63 points (24-39-63). But without his presence to anchor Dallas' top line and their power play, it was clear this was a different Dallas team.
Stars head coach Marc Crawford clearly needs him back on the ice but also knows with the delicate nature of concussions, he can't speculate on how long it will be until that happens.
"It largely is how Brad is going to feel. With each day, that's kind of changing. We hope that he continues to improve each and every day," Crawford said. "He's talking to our doctors, our medical people all the time. He is seeing improvement but not to the point where he's ready to join the team on the ice. It is what it is. We're hopeful that he improves but I don't think that putting any undue pressure on the situation is going to make it better. We just have to allow him to heal and feel better."
Dallas winger Adam Burish is himself working his way back from an eye injury suffered several weeks ago in Boston. But he too is concerned about his teammate's well being.
"You're just concerned that he's OK. A head thing is a serious thing. It's a scary thing," Burish said. "I probably got to be around him more than anybody last week with everybody gone. He and I got together just about every day for lunch. Some days he's better than others. That's just how these things go. It'll be time. We just want to get everybody back. We just want to have the band back together and get this thing rolling again. I think that will hopefully breathe some life and energy back into this group."
Even though he continues to experience the ill effects from that concussion that happened just over one week ago, he still remembers the exact moment in the loss to the Blue Jackets that led to him being shelved.
"I remember everything. I didn't go out. He obviously stung me," Richards said. "I knew right away it was a good shot to the jaw. I did get a couple of red flags that night, so they wanted to monitor it for a couple of days. The hit, nothing was called or nothing was done but he threw his elbow into my jaw as he was going back. No one skates with their elbow up at head level. It is what it is."
He will definitely miss tomorrow night's game with New Jersey and also is unlikely to play on Thursday at Detroit. Could Richards make his return on Saturday afternoon against Nashville? His teammates and fans alike hope so but that one might be a bit soon. Hopefully he'll be ready to go by next week.
