CBS.SportsLine.com's Greg Cimilluca and Erin Brown provide analysis on three topics.
| Should the NHL have stopped the Panthers-Sabres game following Richard Zednik's life-threatening injury? | |
| Greg Cimilluca | Erin Brown |
 I can remember vividly that November night in 2005. Shortly after turning on a Red Wings-Predators game, I witnessed perhaps the scariest thing I have ever seen at a sporting event. Play was moving on and there was a scrum near the Red Wings bench. Minutes later, play stopped and those on the ice huddled around the Red Wings bench, where defenseman Jiri Fischer was being given CPR. When you see that happening in real life or on TV, it's scary. The pace in administering aid to Fischer made it clear that this was a life-or-death scenario. I could barely function from the comfort of my home -- let alone play hockey. That game ended right there. I can only imagine that the players from Buffalo and Florida must have been feeling after the life-threatening skate injury to Zednik. I side with the players who did not feel up to playing. |  Even though both teams are battling for a playoff spot, there was no sense in finishing out the final 10 minutes of Sunday's game. The NHL's decision to continue after Zednik left nearly half of his blood on the ice not only comes off as insensitive but gives the impression that the game must always come first. With both benches shaken, fans stunned into silence and coaches Jacques Martin and Lindy Ruff holding a "solemn" discussion about what to do next, no one seemed in the mood or mindset to finish the game. And despite being down 4-3, a number of Panthers suggested they were unable to regain focus. Even the thought of the playoff race wasn't going to help the Panthers forget about their seriously injured teammate. When Detroit's Jiri Fischer collapsed during a game in 2005, it was postponed. The NHL could have done the same thing in this situation, and nobody would have second guessed it. |
| yodismike asks: What can be done to ensure the safety of NHL players in terms of preventing serious injuries? | |
| Greg Cimilluca | Erin Brown |
| There have been a ton of innovations with regard to safety over the years. In video from a little over a decade ago, you could see players without a helmet on. Go back a little more and you will see how far goalie mask safety has come. Go back even further and the protection was almost laughable -- at least compared to today. So the league and its players have always been in the forefront of trying to keep its main attraction -- the players -- on the ice. I think the next move should be to work on a mandatory visor rule. It is an oft-debated topic, and I just feel it is a minor adjustment with major benefits. Half, colored, clear -- whatever they want, just protect the head/faces/eyes of these athletes so they can do what they do best. The Zednik incident, while devastating, is the type that's few and far between and not something easy to guard against while maintaining the players' ability to use their skills. | For one, instead of having equipment manufacturers design uniforms that give teams a new look, the NHL should encourage them to seek solutions that improve a player's safety without compromising their ability to play. Technology is always improving, and more about injuries, how they occur and how they are treated, is learned every day. If the league hasn't done so already, it could meet with teams to discuss worst-case scenarios -- like what happened to Richard Zednik -- and instruct players on ways to handle them, especially since quick thinking is crucial in such situations. It might not be pleasant but could prove valuable in the future. Being prepared is probably the best and only way to minimize harm. That being said, even with frequent innovations, awareness, rule changes, etc., freak accidents and injuries will still occur. These are unfortunately part of any sport. |
| Will the Hurricanes-Senators deal be the one that gets other teams moving? | |
| Greg Cimilluca | Erin Brown |
| Without question. Every year there's always one trade to get things going and this one does so in a big way. In what could be seen as a good move for both teams involved, the Carolina-Ottawa deal will certainly get GMs around the league working their cell phones. Often, the early trade does not set market value for the moves to follow, but I believe this one will do more in that regard than most. While Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore are not marquee names, they are significant and emblematic of the type of move made at this time of the season. Securing veteran, playoff-experienced players for the stretch run and postseason is the earmark of these moves, and Ottawa hit the nail on the head with what it did. Seeing that, I believe we will see more moves before the deadline than in years past. | I think the Carolina-Ottawa deal has broken the ice, but I think one more thing has to occur before GMs really start making moves: Peter Forsberg needs to sign. At least four teams are still in the running to sign the center, and all are likely holding off other plans until Forsberg's decision is final. In addition to getting the trade market moving, Monday's trade will probably set a trend for this year's deals. Instead of acquiring "rental" players for first-round picks, like last year, I think GMs will look to obtain upgrades for deals of equal value. The 'Canes-Sens deal essentially ends up being an even swap that is a win-win for both. With so many teams still in the playoff race, simply dumping players is not feasible. There will be few true sellers. |
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