With Taylor Hall suffering a concussion as the season wound down, many suggested that he be shut down for the season to prevent any further injury. Today, those people got their wish, but in an unlikely manner.
The Edmonton Oilers have announced that Taylor Hall will not return this season; instead he’ll have surgery on his left shoulder.
Here’s what the Oilers’ official Twitter feed had to say, along with the prognosis directly from general manager Steve Tambellini:
Hall (labral shoulder surgery) will not return to the #Oilers lineup this season, according to GM Tambellini
"Recovery time will be between five and six months, so our hope is that Taylor will be ready for the start of next season." – Tambellini
Going for a midpoint between five and six months puts Hall’s return at some point early in September, likely just prior to the start of training camp.
For those wondering when this injury occurred, the Oilers’ feed also included a quote from Hall on the length of time since the injury occurred:
"Four years now … I injured it in junior and it’s been wearing away." – Taylor Hall when asked when he first injured his shoulder
It seems highly plausible that the Ryan Wilson hit shown above – a hit that cost Hall seven games back in December – exacerbated the situation.
Naturally, the question now will turn to why Hall was allowed to play this year with an injury, but I’m not at all sure that things are so clear-cut. The simple fact of the matter is that NHL players play through pain, and they play through injury. To know whether Hall’s specific injury should have been dealt with via surgery immediately, one would need to know what the risk of injuring it worse was. We don’t have that information. Without that information, it seems only fair to assume that the Oilers were doing what every other team does whenever possible: delaying surgery until the off-season. At this point, I’m not close to ready to criticize the medical staff; there simply isn’t enough information here to have an opinion one way or the other.
And while this isn’t good news, it could be far worse. Hall’s getting a nagging problem looked at, and he should be ready to return to the Oilers next season. This will cost him his chance to represent Canada at the World Championships, but it’s probably the best decision.
Related Posts at Oilers Nation
- Hall out again? (on this same, nagging, injury)
- Did the Oilers ignore NHL concussion rules when they allowed Theo Peckham to continue playing?
- Did the Oilers have bad injury luck last year?
- Taylor Hall: The silver lining
- The durable and the injury-prone
Not too worried about the shoulder surgery.
They can do some amazing things for Labrum surgery now — essentially making the shoulder stronger than ever.
This sounds to me like a surgery option where sooner is much better than later. Hall was shelved anyway due to his concussion symptoms (he obviously had a set back last week at some point). These kinds of injury can nag for years, very slowly weakening the joint, and often expedited through further extreme use (aka, playing something like hockey or tennis or even golf). Surgery is not always necessary and depends on the extent of the further damage (definitely linked to his shoulder injury earlier this season). In this case, obviously the long-term prognosis was that it was wise to have surgery now.
Hall is a strong young man and should recover to the point of being brand new. If he were 55, I’d say maybe not.
That 5-6 months rehab will include time for professional weight training and his shoulder may never have a problem ever again.
Believe me, the Oilers will have monitored this very closely given the kind of player Hall is/will be.
“They can do some amazing things for Labrum surgery now — essentially making the shoulder stronger than ever.”
Holy Shizer! Perhaps the birth of Robohall? Oh geez. Dominant. C’mon surgery. Make that a robot arm…
I will post in the absence of Mr. Willis who is obviously busy writing his next blog entry:
Certainly, this is not unprecedented in history. Those of you old enough will remember one, Steve Austin (astronaut, not WWE wrestler) who was in fact “rebuilt”, as it were, to the tune of $6 million U.S. dollars in 1974.
Using an annualized inflation rate of 3.49% per anum and the simple formula:
T=Principal(1+inflation rate)^years
… that same level of upgrade (or “RoboHall” to use your term) in 2012 dollars …. would cost $22,094,793.88. The obvious next move would be to multiply by Hall’s Corsi Rel QC of 0.461 (adj).
So the end result would clearly be a Bionic / Corsi ratio of 10,186 e3, which would indicate to even the most basic statisticians among you that the “RoboHall” surgery metrics would indicate a positive course of action.
Any questions??
Hell I was just goin’ for an arm but if we can do both legs and an eye as well we should…Katz has enough drugs to keep him hazy till he fully recovers…
Although knowing our luck Hall would go skating through the end boards destroying himself, the zamboni and probably Gene Principe in spectacular fashion…
Hmmm …. Hall + zamboni loss may be worth it if it means no more of geno’s ” clever” puns.
“Not too worried about the shoulder surgery.
They can do some amazing things for Labrum surgery now — essentially making the shoulder stronger than ever.”
Hmmm, really? Maybe we should do both shoulders right away then.
Robo-Hall and Robo-Hemsky and Robo-Oil… has good ring to it.
I am all for a bionic Hall. I’m still looking to see a 200 mph slap shot.
In all seriousness though, what I mean to say is that labrum surgery can completely repair a shoulder as opposed to forcing a person to live with 90% function.
I’d take Hall’s completely repaired shoulder over the possible 90% we’ve been seeing.
Good luck to him in any case.
What I really want to see is Ulanov back in his old jersey like the freaking Terminator. That’s what we’re missing here!
I cannot believe some of these comments. It makes it sound like there is an Oilers Shoulder injury conspiracy. Maybe they need to hire a different shoulder specialist. Yup, must be their shoulder specialist. that guy must have missed something at the beginning of the year when he inspected everyone’s shoulders.
FFS. Hall is the prized possession of this franchise, do you think that they would tell him “Hey, I know your shoulder is injured, but get out there and play dammit!”
Not a chance. If anything, Hall continues to say he is ok, he wants to play, its not a big deal, he feels good. A 19 year old kid still thinks he is invincible. Like an above commenter noted, there is no Star Trek tricorder that they use to scan everyone’s body for ligament damage.
So sure…. you are all right. Fire the coach, it’s his fault. Fire Tambo, it’s his fault. Fire Lowe, it’s his fault. Fire Katz, it’s his fault. Heck, fire Hall while you’re at it. That kid is a bum.
Or do injuries happen?
There is a “Star Trek tricorder” that exists to scan your body. It’s called an MRI. I had a ct scan and MRI done on my shoulder when I dislocated it, and both showed a torn labrum. Hall had an MRI on his shoulder November 28th after getting hit by Ryan Wilson. I can’t say for sure what it showed, but the above quote from Souray shows the Oilers have a history of mismanaging injuries, which he felt it was unique to the team. I’m normally a cup half full kinda guy, but enough’s enough.
Of course there are MRI scans that can show injuries if focused on that part.
When Hall was drafted, they didn’t MRI his entire body inch by inch looking for abnormalities.
At the beginning of the season, they do not MRI every player’s bodies inch by inch looking for something that may be out of place.
When he had an MRI on his shoulder in November after the injuries, it would have had to be shown. He was able to play out the rest of the season in that situation, as it obviously didn’t impact him that much.
Now with being shut down for the year anyway, it makes sense to get the shoulder taken care of. This decision doesn’t just happen, I am sure it has been ongoing talks between GM, training staff and player since November.
I agree with pretty much everything you said there. They may not have known the seriousness of his injury until the MRI, or possibly it wasn’t hurt that bad until the hit. And ya, he looked pretty good out there after he came back. But why take him on the road trip after a concussion? If they knew he needed surgery, when not call it quits there? From Hemsky they clearly know how long it takes to recover from this type of injury.
If they have been discussing it since November, and our season has been over since at the very latest January, why was he not shut down then? He could’ve had the surgery in Jan/Feb and been fully healed by July/Aug. This way he would be coming in to camp 100%.
@ Anyone
I did not read/hear what Tambellini had to say today about Taylor. Did he say why they decided now was the time, instead of 2 months ago?
Can someone clarify Y hall is going to have Labia surgery???????????
Comedy Gold. Thanks for that.
Before we throw the training staff under the bus for the rash of injuries we consistently see, we might want to consider the stats —
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/03/17/by-the-numbers-a-closer-look-at-nhl-man-games-lost-to-injury/
GDB 24: Hall needs an MRI
http://dev1.oilersnation.com/2011/11/28/gdb-240-hall-needs-mri
Taylor needs to get that mean streak thing going into next season. Perhaps even take a short suspension or two and buy himself some room. He’ll last alot longer being the hammer rather than the nail. The Oilers don’t need to provide him with a bodyguard, he needs to be his own bodyguard.
Remember at the beginning of the season, (I can’t remember which opposing player) took a bit of a run at Smyth, and Smyth “put his hands up to protect himself” giving said player the butt end of his stick to the face?
Hall needs to learn some of that.
Wax&Q…I’ve watched the Ryan Wilson CRUSHES Hall vid a few times now and with the Sarich hit still pretty vivid in my mind I’m of the opinion that this whole career TH is gambling with needs to be somehow lengthened by some poundage both on his body but between his ears as well…the Dorsett fight was indeed just bad judgement leading to bad luck and so went his ‘first’ injury…i’m gonna call the Wilson hit bad judgement again but this time Hall’s compete level got in his way…y’don’t go into a corner or toward a corner with that much speed and no working plan of escape unless you’re gambling…y’also don’t take the big swooping turn on your first shift at so high a speed as you spill yourself into the boards trying to corral the crappy pass from a cold crappy Dman…oh yes at the same time as Cory Sarich pretends to be pinching when all the while he’s head hunting to quiet a capacity crowd in the opening moments of a BOA…I’ve only seen [edit] Hall play in person once and I was very impressed as to how he’s made it this far without many more injuries simply because he plays too wide open and he’s been studied enough now that the Sarich hit was a planned played via video of all his tendencies…Taylor can’t be small and be this fast in the wrong places on the ice…sure he could put up his hands when he’s about to get hit but how ??? he’s always going full speed when he gets hurt and how could he get his hands up that fast anyway …again his speed is killing him…until he matures, bulks up and he begins to think his game in better terms all i can do is pray for his safety…be well TH be well
Hey, I agree that he puts himself in those positions, and on the Wilson and Sarich hit (and Doughty hit for that matter) there is really no way to get his hands up. I mean in general, though. Even some bumps along the boards, so that it makes opposing players think a little bit.
Taylor, as well as Hemsky, play the game with little/no fear. Hall has to change or he could head down the same path that 83 has in recent yrs. If guys are going to have cracks at him next season, he has to atleast make them come through his Easton first.
I feel bad for Hall as his only chance to play in the WC just evaporated. I feel bad for ON as it would have been sic to watch RNH, Ebs & Hall on a line together at that level. Well I guess they can backfill with Stamkos or Skinner but it won’t be the same buzz. Sigh!
I think the majority of posters would agree that drafting Taylor Hall was not mismanagement, however I shudder to think what would’ve happened had he not been out with a concussion being evaluated. I agree hockey players are a touch breed, conditioned to play through injury, however you would think that a hockey club (with a strong recent history of injuries) would be a little more cautious and diligent in evaluating players to play in games that don’t mean a thing (unless you’re Tom Renney). Case in point: Theo Peckham.
edit: TOUGH breed
I vote we all meet at churchill square in 3 hours, bring your best pitch-fork, torches, country hat and mob mentality!
From there we will systematically march from University, Hospital, Technology centre and put the to the “mob”! IE torch and poke them back into the 17th century…. Obviously Technology has failed our golden son (Hall) and I say Technology musy pay!
If we do this right we can prevent technology failing us all by killing it forever… If you are on the fence, please watch the Terminator. (Any one of them will do)After watching that wondefully crafted vision of our future, you are still unsure about ending technology for all… Well all I can say is you are part of the problem!
I agree!!!
Let’s get’em fellas!
Hall= Hemsky 2.0… hahahaa
Sarah Connor, violence……your audience is aroused Clyde Frog. Count me in…
Froggy…this is true hilarity …I too am in …
this is even funnier than TH having Labia surgery!
Let’s get’em fellas!
Wax…. lemme guess this is a Monty Python offering …cuz if it is i can’t view it …i usually end up throwing up a bit in my mouth and often out my nose i laugh so bad …but thanks anyway
Also, just for fun:
EAT SH!T CALGARY!
Seconded for sure Wax…K so after he bulks up Kevin should call Mess and have the two sit and talk for the weeks and months while TH is doing his rehab…raw meat feedings and horrible torture scenes on video will bend Hall’s brain just enough to garner him those much deserved suspensions Q wants for our golden boy at the start of next season….yes?
Q…and imagine how our GMs’ butt puckered when he heard the Hall quote…”Four years now … I injured it in junior and it’s been wearing away…”
opps –
On a side note for all those who were saying “Trade our 1st round pick” or “Trade down and grab a lower ranked defenseman”…
See how fast perception of team need can change? How much do you love our LW next year if Taylor has some setbacks and only plays 30 games?
This is why you take the best kid period.
Smyth might get a contract now.
WHAT???
The Oil should sue the OJHL and the Windsor Spitfires (and maybe Central Scouting and the NHL), for allowing an injured player to be considered as number one overall in the draft, and pretend he is “undamaged goods”.
This is almost criminal.
Note to oilers; fire the doctor who was sick the day they taught shoulders in med school. Also, get rid of the measurement guy from WWF[Hulk Hogan, 6’9″ 395lbs]. No way Hall weighs a buck95.
One more thing… I repeat, show the youngsters video of Anderson swinging his Sherwood around. Throw in a few clips of Bobby Clarke. PROTECT THYSELF.
I just noticed that the Cult of hockey link on ON still goes to the old page, are you guys going to link it to the new site?
The bigger and crappier story is he misses the Worlds now.
I wish people whose only medical qualifications are “I had an MRI once” would please refrain from posting their diagnoses and prognoses on the intricacies of shoulder labrum surgery – you just sound goofy.
Some people are interested in what labrum surgery actually means for a player.
Essentially, anything to do with the labrum is finicky because there are levels of severity based on the damage. Professional athletes can find labrum injuries (rotator cuff usually) inhibit their range of fluid motion due to tears in the muscles. Over time these injuries worsen and can lead to pain, loss of strength, and further inflammation.
It sounds like Hall will be getting the more invasive of the surgeries where the surgery is fully opened, and a more secure anchoring of the torn tissue can be achieved. This is typical of sports injuries because the damage is usually more severe.
Minor damage surgery can be done using arthroscopics.
Though there is an increased risk of scar tissue and infection in an open surgery, the beneficial effects are much better in the long run and an athlete can expect an injury to heal fully.
In other words, the injury Hall suffered in minor hockey might not have gotten worse, but did. There is no reason to think that this surgery will not completely heal the injury given the great doctors around today for athletes.
At last, some (un)common sense. Thank you.
I had an MRI once, I think I’ll have tacos for lunch tomorrow.
^^^THIS!!!
I think Katz should talk to Sheldon Souray and Ryan Smyth and Shawn Horcoff separately and ask a very direct WTF and maybe take some action with management.
There is a lot of hand wringing, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
I’m tired of my eyes filling up with tears from all the damn smoke. I’ve been smelling smoke ever since Mike Comrie, Ryan Smyth, Pronger, and Souray all left town.
I’m glad Ryan’s back, but I think he did it in spite of management, not because of it.
Who needs Hall anyway. The team started winning as soon as he got hurt.
And no, I am not serious.
Don’t worry, the majority of us get and understand your sarcastic nature 😉
Keep TH out of the line up, have the surgery now, don’t lose your spot in the draft.
Win, win, WIN!
Yes I think Taylor Hall needs to start playing the way many on this forum thinks he should play because they obviously know better than he does on how to play hockey. He should really listen to them as they were all obviously number one draft picks into the NHL…riiiight. He should just back off and just stop playing so hard all the time. I mean who wants a guy on the team with no quit. It really sucks having a guy on the team that plays this way.
How about he rehabs his injury because sometimes injuries happen he comes back next year and keeps playing like the player that made him the number one draft pick into the best league in the world. This kid is a winner and apparently some on this forum would like to turn him into something else
Wait a minute… Hall was playing injured in Junior and he was still the top overall draft pick!? Holy crap. Can you imagine how good he will be when he is not playing with pain!!!!!!!
We are so lucky!