"I have been advised by the doctors that it may be in my best interests to forego playing this year and continue my rehab in hopes of returning in September."

When Keith Primeau said this in early February, he secretly hoped the day would never come when he would be forced to make this decision. He seeked second opinions, and third, and fourth; anything to convince himself that there was even the smallest chance that a return was possible.

Almost one month later, Primeau will be forced to announce that his season is officially over. The 34-year old captain has been out since late October, when Canadians rookie Alexander Perezhogin's elbow caught Primeau in the jaw, dropping him to the ice. After playing the next two games, Primeau began experiencing severe post-concussion symptoms, and has been recovering ever since.

Though not a surprise, this announcement is a huge blow to the Flyers, for whom Primeau plays a key role. Once a 30-goal scorer, Primeau's role changed a bit when he accepted the role of checking line center after Ken Hitchcock came on board as Flyers head coach. Essentially, Primeau would center a line whose main goal was shutting down the opponents top scoring line. But setting ego aside for the good of the team was something Primeau did with ease. He quietly put together a solid defensive season in 2003-2004, but because defensive play does not show up on the stat sheet, and because his 7 goals and 22 points were not exactly flashy, no one outside of Philly took notice. That is, until the 2004 playoffs, when Primeau managed 9 goals and 16 points in 18 playoffs - all while shutting down other team's top scorers. Primeau, who wore the captain's C, singlehandedly carried the injur-riddled Flyers through the Conference Finals to a game 7, which they would lose to the eventual Cup winning Tampa Bay Lightening.

Now, the focus must switch to Primeau's ability to return next season. Many have suggested that retirement might be his only option, but understandably, Primeau is reluctant to consider that at this point. He'll continue to receive treatment, and though he hasn't yet been able to handle more than light skating, he hopes to begin a conditioning program in order to be ready to play hockey in October.

Flyers fans, meanwhile, will cheer for a playoff run this April, but will always be waiting, with baited breath, for an announcement that Keith Primeau will be able to wear orange and black again.

Finally.

After a two week hiatus that allowed NHL players to compete in the Olympics, NHL hockey will finally make its return tomorrow night. With less than two months remaining in the regular season, every game, 85% of which are against division rivals, becomes critical. The Flyers are back in action Wednesday night in New Jersey and then Thursday at home against the Rangers.

For the injury-riddled Flyers, the Olympic break came at a perfect time. The weeks before the break saw an exhausted team made up primarily of rookies, who are not yet accustomed to the grind of an NHL season. For them, the break was a time to relax away from the rink, to prepare for the playoff run. For others, such as Michal Handzus, Sami Kapanen, and Joni Pitkanen, who backed out of the Olympics, it was a time to heal their many aches and pains. The Flyers, who have yet to play with a full lineup this season, were hoping to return from the Olympic break with a healthy and refreshed team.

But, things don't always go according to plan. The Flyers' leading scorer, Simon Gagne, took a low hit from Darius Kasparitis in the Olympics, the same patented hip check that took down Eric Lindros years ago in Pittsburgh. Initial reports had Gagne out two weeks, though coach Ken Hitchcock says the injury, a bruise, could only keep him out a couple of days.

And then there's Flyers captain Keith Primeau, who hasn't played since October. Still battling severe post-concussion symptoms, Primeau is expected to formally announce today that he will not be returning to the ice until, at the earliest, next season. Many have wondered if he might be forced to retire due to the severity of his symptoms, but Primeau said that, for now, worrying about not being able to play again this season has been difficult enough.

"I'm just having such a hard time with the finality of it," the 34-year-old center said. "I can't commit. I don't know if I'll ever be able to say it.

Primeau insists that he is getting better. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, "he no longer has trouble hearing the television or seeing the road through his windshield." But common sense says that if it took 4 months for Primeau to be able to see the road through his winshield, chances of his returning to the ice anytime soon are slim. This is a huge blow to the Flyers, as Primeau is not only the Captain but the center on the team's top defensive checking line.

And so, the Flyers will return to the ice without Primeau and Gagne,
and also without defensemen Kim Johnsson and Chris Therien, both of whom are battling concussions. As for who will be in net, well, that's anybody's guess. Robert Esche was the Flyers #1 guy coming into the season, but a couple of groin injuries meant lots of playing time, and success, for Antero Niittymaki, last year's Calder Cup winner and playoff MVP with the Phantoms. Factor in that Niittymaki is returning from Turino with a silver medal after having been named MVP of the Olympic hockey tournament, and one can't help but sense a goalie controversy just around the corner. Still, Ken Hitchcock says that a silver medal hasn't changed anything as far as the Flyers are concerned.

"I'm just concerned with getting both guys up to speed," Hitchcock said. "It's a whole different game over there. I've seen a lot of guys who are real good in Europe struggle over here. [Niittymaki] has had a wonderful year for a first-year player, but this is a whole different game here."

With two months remianing, the Flyers sit three points behind the NY Rangers for the Atlantic Division lead. Overtaking the Rangers is crucial for prime playoff seeding, as the Flyers currently trail Carolina, Ottawa, and Buffalo in the Eastern Conference. Finishing second in the division could mean as low as a 5-seed in the playoffs, which would ensure a much tougher road to the Cup Finals.

Remember how columnists, radio hosts, and TV sportscasters said that once the Red Sox won the World Series, people in New England would stop caring about the team? Bostonians only like being miserable, and so the Red Sox will no longer hold their interest, they said.

According to the scene in Fort Myers, where the Red Sox opened Spring Training, those "experts" might want to reconsider that position.


(thanks to Beth for the picture)