I’m not sure I understand how two weeks is inadequate, regardless of the circumstances of the individual player. The NHL isn’t rushing Foster to do anything, it sounds more to me like the Wild is rushing things. If he’s not ready, he’s not ready.

Posted by shep on 01/25/09 at 11:10 AM ET

sounds like Chairman Mao is been a wanker again....

Posted by Pharazon from England on 01/25/09 at 11:19 AM ET

Maybe the Wild should consider holding him back until all parties are more than positive that Foster is ready to report to the AHL for conditioning. In my opinion, it’s ludicrous to send him on a conditioning assignment, if he can’t walk right.

I understand the Wild are desperate at this point, especially with Gaborik out for 10+ weeks, but at some point the team needs to take the best interests of the players into account. Even if that means finishing out of the playoff.

Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 01/25/09 at 11:20 AM ET

I’m not sure on the situation either, but why not just have an understanding among the GMs that the kid will clear. Tell the league office to go F&$# itself one more time.

Just sayin…

Posted by Osrt on 01/25/09 at 02:28 PM ET

From the article, it sounds like he wants more time in the minors because he feels he needs the practice and development time, as though he’s relearning the game almost, and it will take some time to work up to playing in more than one game every once in a while.  Not just conditioning, but also getting back his timing and instincts.

I’m just impressed the young man is back and on skates again.  That injury was incredibly gruesome.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/25/09 at 03:46 PM ET

One would think the rule would have been worded without a hard-and-fast dealine ("14 days") and rather be related to the amount of time the player had to remain out of the game due to injury.  9 months is quite a long time for someone who’s a professional athlete.  I’d think they would make it some sort of percentage of time that the player had to remain out due to injury (14 days or 10% of injury time, whichever is greater); or perhaps set up tiers based on the length and type of injury.

I can’t see how having one single hard deadline for everyone, regardless of injury, is in the best interests to anyone in the game.

Posted by BuzzFledderjohn on 01/25/09 at 04:51 PM ET

I’m not sure I understand how two weeks is inadequate, regardless of the circumstances of the individual player. The NHL isn’t rushing Foster to do anything, it sounds more to me like the Wild is rushing things. If he’s not ready, he’s not ready.

That’s just the point. We aren’t sure, the league isn’t sure, and the Wild aren’t sure. The doctor’s should dictate what path is the best one for Foster to take in order to get back into the NHL, and regain his livelihood.

This is another boneheaded move by the league. When things need to be seen with shades of grey, such as this, they treat it as black and white. And when things need to be black and white, such as when a guy hits someone from behind, they treat it like it is a shade of grey.

Whatever happens, I wish Foster the best. He was a late-bloomer that looked like he was rounding into being one of the top defensemen of the next generation, along with Weber, Phaneuf, and company.

I just hope he doesn’t have a setback. If the NHL won’t budge on the rule, he should stick to his doctor’s advice, no matter what the league or Wild say, even if it means he has to find other ways to get practice and conditioning time. He’s got to do what’s best for his health and his future/career, even if it risks suspension.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 01/26/09 at 10:01 AM ET