Florida Panthers

Zednik’s health is priority

I had originally planned to talk about the Panthers and the way they have responded the last couple games and the tenacity that they seem to have found. Unfortunatley due to the accident suffered by Richard Zednik, my story line changed. While I did not see it as it happened we all know by now that Richard was accidently cut by the skate of Olli Jokinen during the 3rd period of Sunday’s game against Buffalo. I heard about this on the radio broadcast after it happened and was stunned, and could feel the compassion and seriousness in the voices of the Panthers announcers, Randy Moeller and Bill Lindsey.

Seeing the replay of what happened and how it happened was a pretty scary site, and if you have a weak stomach, you may not want to watch it. Almost 20 years to the day a similar accident happened to Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk, who fortunately survived, when he too was cut by a skate during a pile up in front of the net. The Zednik accident was something that occured so quickly there would have been no way to stop it, and no way to predict it.

I first applaud and give Zednik credit for having the mindframe to be able to skate to the bench immediately for help while trying to stop the bleeding. Having done this rather than stay on the ice, or worse if he had collapsed on the ice could have caused a much different outcome. It probably saved his life. I also applaud the medical staff of the Panthers, Sabres and the local hospital where Zednik was taken and where he now is in stable condition.

The Panthers organization did a great job in making arrangements for Richard’s family to get to Buffalo. In addition, management and other staff including the trainer from the Panthers have stayed behind to make sure he’s getting the proper care and has some familiar faces with him as he recovers. You never ever want to see this happen to any player, and everyone involved from the teams to the hospitals and the NHL was on the spot in everything that they did.

I feel a bit for Olli as well. I cannot imagine what was going through his mind at the time, and how he feels right now. It surely is a real test of one’s mental frame of mind. Obviously the outcome of the game and all else related to it are taking a back seat at this moment.
While I have been very critical of the Panthers recently it is only because of my passion for this team and this sport that I had been commenting they way that I had. You have to trade all of that right now for the well being of Richard Zednik.

Surely everyone will have Richard Zednik in their thoughts and prayers and wish for a speedy recovery. Seeing him on the ice soon would also be great, however in my mind, that is not the most important thing. Let’s have him recover, be in the right frame of mind.

I wish Richard and his family nothing but the best.

Thanks for reading.