Chiarelli: "We may lose a guy for the rest of the year"
Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli has told reporters at the general managers meetings in Florida that centre Marc Savard could be done for the season, according to NESN.
"We may lose a guy for the rest of the year," said Chiarelli.
In a follow-up report by NESN Chiarelli said he is "unsure either way," but maintained that there is a possibility Savard could be finished.
The Bruins have a tenuous hold on a playoff spot in the tight bottom half of the Eastern conference. With only 18 games left on their schedule Boston currently occupies the eighth and final playoff spot heading into Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins have 69 points, one point behind the seventh-place Montreal Canadiens, and only two points ahead of the ninth-place New York Rangers.
Savard was blindsided by Matt Cooke in a game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Savard released a shot late in the second period, and as he skated by Cooke delivered a hit, with his shoulder making solid contact with Savard's head. Savard was knocked to the ice immediately, and after being examined by team trainers he was carried off on a stretcher.
On Monday the Ottawa native was diagnosed with a grade two concussion. He was kept overnight Sunday at a Pittsburgh hospital for evaluation, and then cleared to fly the next morning. While speaking to the media at the Pittsburgh airport Savard sounded like he was far from being in game shape.
"[I have] headaches, my head’s been pounding all morning," he told NESN. "I just want to get back to Boston and get in my bed. I’ll see our own doctors today. Then I’ll get some rest, and we’ll take it from there."
Savard has suffered through an injury riddled season, missing time with a broken left foot and a knee injury. Despite playing in only 41 games, Savard is still fourth on the team with 33 points. Signed by the Bruins to a seven-year contract extension last December, Savard has 10 goals and 23 assists this season.
