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Eaves still battles post-concussion headaches

Thursday, 02.16.2012 / 1:41 PM
By Bill Roose - Managing Editor | DetroitRedWings.com / The Wheel Deal

Patrick Eaves is still battling post-concussion symptoms from a head injury that he suffered against Nashville on Nov. 26. (Photo by Dave Reginek)
Three months after he was struck in the head by a fast-moving puck, Patrick Eaves continues to deal with concussion-like symptoms, including daily headaches.

The veteran forward was at Joe Louis Arena Thursday morning and spoke exclusively to The Wheel Deal blog in the Red Wings’ dressing room.

“I’m dealing with a lot of headaches right now, but yeah, it’s getting better, slowly,” said Eaves, who had one assist in 10 games before the injury. “I have one pretty much all of the time.”

Eaves, 27, suffered a broken jaw when he was hit on the right side of the head while trying to block a high-rising slap shot by Nashville’s Roman Josi on Nov. 26.

Two days later, he had surgery to fix his fractured jaw.

Wings general manager Ken Holland said last week that there’s no timetable attached to Eaves’ return, saying, “We’re going to be real conservative with him.”

Now that the jaw has fully recovered, Eaves has tried to regain some physical activity, but certainly nothing close to levels that he’s used to. And he’s only put the skates on once, which was more therapeutic than anything, he said.

“Yeah, it definitely helps to come down here and do the same routine that I was accustomed to,” he said. “I can cruise on the bike a little bit, but nothing too crazy.”

Originally assessed as a “jaw” injury, Eaves can certainly now be added to the growing list of NHL players who have sustained serious head trauma this season. Concussions have decimated the league with the likes of Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, Ottawa’s Milan Michalek, Carolina’s Jeff Skinner, Philadelphia’s Chris Pronger and St. Louis’ Andy McDonald, among others, all being sidelined.

The Flyers have already announced that Pronger will miss the rest of the season and playoffs, but the future for Eaves remains cloudy.

“I just have to take time to let the brain heal,” Eaves said.

Asked about the next steps in his recovery, Eaves said, “I’m not sure. It’s just see how the symptoms come and go.”


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WESTERN CONFERENCE
  TEAM GP W L OT GF GA PTS
1 p - CHI 48 36 7 5 155 102 77
2 y - ANA 48 30 12 6 140 118 66
3 y - VAN 48 26 15 7 127 121 59
4 x - STL 48 29 17 2 129 115 60
5 x - LAK 48 27 16 5 133 118 59
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10 PHX 48 21 18 9 125 131 51
11 DAL 48 22 22 4 130 142 48
12 EDM 48 19 22 7 125 134 45
13 CGY 48 19 25 4 128 160 42
14 NSH 48 16 23 9 111 139 41
15 COL 48 16 25 7 116 152 39

STATS

2012-2013 PLAYOFFS
SKATERS: GP G A +/- Pts
H. Zetterberg 14 4 8 3 12
D. Cleary 14 4 6 -1 10
D. Brunner 14 5 4 2 9
P. Datsyuk 14 3 6 2 9
J. Franzen 14 4 2 -7 6
V. Filppula 14 2 4 -4 6
B. Smith 14 2 3 -3 5
G. Nyquist 14 2 3 3 5
J. Kindl 14 1 4 4 5
J. Andersson 14 1 4 2 5
 
GOALIES: W L OT Sv% GAA
J. Howard 7 7 2 .924 2.44

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