Veteran and free-agent Paul Kariya will miss the 2010-2011 season after being diagnosed with post concussion syndrome on Friday, August 27.Kariya played last year with the St. Louis Blues (his third year with the team) posting 18 goals and 25 assists.
Along with Kariya himself, and those who have loved and supported him throughout his career in the National Hockey League, there are other very sad faces amongst the NHL. Former teammate from 95/96 - 00/01, Teemu Selanne, has reportedly been trying to bring Kariya’s services back to Anaheim for a memorable reunion. Selanne, 40, is in the last year of his contract and once again is contemplating retirement following the upcoming season. In the six years spent together; Selanne and Kariya amassed 974 points and were one of the most dynamic pairs in NHL history. Selanne captured his championship with the Ducks in 06/07, but Kariya’s name still hasn’t made the silver.
Kariya missed six games from January through December of last year due to a head injury sustained by an elbow to the head delivered by Patrick Kaleta on December 27, 2009. Kaleta was suspended two games for the cheap-shot, but it appears the damage is much more long-term for Kariya.
Kariya has a long history of head injuries. The two most devastating from the past came in 1998 and 2003. Gary Suter, in 1998, cost Kariya the opportunity to play for Team Canada in the 1998 Olympics and saw him out of 28 regular season games. This was, at the time, reported to be the fourth concussion of his career. Also, in 2003, Scott Stevens obliterated Kariya with a shoulder to the head. Kariya’s bounce-back ability in that game was one of a true hockey player and one of the defining moments in Paul Kariya’s career. Not only did he come back onto the ice, but he also scored.
The biggest worry for hockey enthusiasts is that Paul Kariya, at 35 years of age, may be forced into retirement not by compete level, but by sustained head injuries. I truly hope Paul continues his career and is able to make a come-back to once again pursue the Stanley Cup which he so rightly deserves.
In 15 years in the NHL Kariya has scored 402 goals and 587 assists for 989 points. He has played in six NHL All-Star games, won two Lady Byng Trophies, and won a gold medal at the 2002 Olympics.
-Kendall Grubbs
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