January 31, 2021

[DetroitGM]

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Busy tonight, both the sim and my life, so keeping this short and just highlighting two games. And by games, I mean injuries/suspensions.

Toronto's Mikko Koivu decided he wanted a break from hockey, so he injured Mika Zibanejad a few minutes into the second period while down 2-0 (Pittsburgh won 3-0 and outshot Toronto 32-13). The game automatically suspended Koivu for 4 games (increased to 6 by our rules), but Zibanejad is out for 3 months (sorry Pittsburgh).
Griffin Reinhart and Dougie Hamilton also decided they didn't like each other and fought twice in the third period of that game.

Meanwhile, Colorado's Zack Kassian (because of course it was Kassian) decided to end Jonathon Merrill's career - he has announced his retirement due to injury . Kassian, meanwhile, was only handed a 9 game suspension by the game (increased to 10 by our rules), because George Parros and NHL player safety is a joke ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(I'm assuming Dan will convince Merrill to change his mind, but I guess you never know?)

[Edmonton Mike]

Oh shit is this our first career ending injury since Lecavalier?

Edit: Just remembered about Hartnell. Think he had to retire too, yeah?

[SharksGM]

Oh shit is this our first career ending injury since Lecavalier?

No, Tomas Kaberle suffered one back in 2016 and Scott Hartnell in 2019. Both were in what likely would have been their final seasons, although Kaberle I believe had another year left on his contract so I think Arizona got a break with cap relief there even though NHL rules would only have provided LTIR.

In any case, I don't think we've ever reversed a career ending injury, so while I'm open to discussing a rule change going forward, there isn't a precedent that I'm aware of.

[NYRNYRNYR]

RE: career INJ we should prolly discuss it to have rules going forward?

RE: ME ME ME - and I lost again... Lame

[Edmonton Mike]

[SharksGM]

2-5-0-3 in the last 10, maybe consider sucking less, team?

[Gritty]

[PittsburghGM]

well January started good, then we went 2-4 and lost Gudbranson for 1.5 months and Zibanejad for almost 4... lovely

[DetroitGM]

It's such a rare thing that I'm not surprised there's no rule about it, but admittedly I am surprised that it sounds like the retirement aspect hasn't been reversed in the past - I assumed the injury would stay, but the retirement wouldn't, but this is entirely based on my experiences in previous leagues and not on what I believe the rule should be (mostly because I don't actually know what I think it should be)

[AvalancheGM]

Holy shit! Sorry about that Mike - Kassian taking out his former teammate.

This is definitely very rare, but I'm of the mind the injury should last the rest of the year (perhaps into training camp) and that's it.

[Bernyhawks]

Sucks for Mike, but I think we should keep it as is. Like you guys said its extremely rare and entertaining. It happened to Marc Savard?

[Arizona - interim]

that's unfortunate for Mr. Merrill.

On the positive side, the Yotes are rolling. 11-4-2 since Christmas

Monster night for the D pair of OEL and Pietrangelo: 3 goals, 2 assists, 8 shots, 9 hits, and 8 takeaways, and both on ice for more than 28 minutes.

[AvalancheGM]

Sucks for Mike, but I think we should keep it as is. Like you guys said its extremely rare and entertaining. It happened to Marc Savard?

It's one thing when it happens to someone in his mid-30s, but Merrill is 29 - and Mike just got him from me in the summer as a big part of the Phaneuf trade. I feel bad.

[Bernyhawks]

I feel bad too! I love Mike