The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

My issue isn't so much with the hit that Martin Havlat endured in game 3 of the Western Conference final.

But you have to wonder just how smart the Chicago Blackhawks, and Havlat himself, have to be to even consider letting him play Wednesday night.

The brain is a very fragile organ. It doesn't take too well to being struck, shaken or stirred. And it's bad news when you rush somebody recovering from a concussion when they, well, haven't recovered yet.

The aftermath of the hit was a scary sight...Havlat laid motionless on the ice for over a minute with a glazed look on his face that clearly indicated he was out of it. During the NHL season, there is usually a process followed for a player to obtain clearance to play after being concussed, and it takes more than four days. First, a player has to be symptom free for 24 hours before they try any other physical exercises after being knocked out.

They they train on a stationary bike under observation to see if there is any dizziness or nausea.

24 hours after this exercise, they try light skating drills to see if any symptoms return.

24 hours after this they try full-out skating exercises to test, once again, if any signs of the concussion still linger. Days pass in between trying light contact and eventually full practices and scrimmages.

This is they way it should be done. Gradual steps until there is full certainty a player has healed from his injury. If you rush it...well, just ask the Lindros brothers if they feel their careers were cut short.

I think Martin Havlat's long term health is more important than a game. Can you imagine the implications of another head shot like the last one he experienced? He would become a vegetable.

I believe the NHL has an obligation to ensure its players are not put in harm's way when they are at a larger-than-normal risk to suffer long-term health problems, when something as simple as recovery away from the rink would have prevented them.