This might not seem like breaking news, but Montreal Canadiens forward Dale Weise has a concussion. Habs GM Marc Bergevin confirmed the injury suspicions at his year-end press conference.
Weise was injured midway through the third period in Game 5 against the New York Rangers when he took a head-high hit from defenseman John Moore. Moore was suspended two games for the hit.
Bergevin said they found out the next day Weise had a concussion. As for why he returned to the game, Bergevin explained how that came about.
“NHL has a protocol,” Bergevin said. “If the player says he’s OK, and the test says he’s OK, then he’s OK. There are flaws.”
The problem here was that Weise was not OK. Weise was put out of the game for a short time, but played over a minute more in the closing moments of the Canadiens’ 7-4 Game 5 victory.
Weise’s injury was said to be a “body injury” and not a head injury. Bergevin said the reasons for being elusive about the situation was because injuries aren’t discussed in the playoffs. That is, of course, unless a head coach makes veiled mention about knowing what an injury an opposing player had.