Given the severity of the above crash, it’s not surprising St. Louis forward Steve Ott suffered a pretty severe injury.
But now, we’re finding how just how truly severe it was.
“No one has really done this in the NHL,” Ott said following Blues practice on Friday, his first since rehabbing from a surgery in which his torn hamstrings were re-attached. “I guess we’re writing the paper for it all.
“I feel sorry for the poor bastard that does it again. Because you know what? Whoever does this, they’re going to be in one, for the amount of rehab and work we put in to get me ready, to be ready before playoff time.”
Ott tore both his hamstrings in that horrific crash, and the injury was so significant some wondered if it might effectively end his playing career.
“To have something repaired the way they pulled your hamstring back up, re-attached it and then sitting on your butt for the first six weeks, not be able to do anything to let it heal, then the amount of rehab to get it going… it’s an up early, leave late kind-of-thing,” he explained. “But all of us would do it. You want to play in the League, and for myself, I think I’ve got a lot left in me and I’m starting to feel good.”
The 33-year-old had appeared in 21 games for the Blues this season before getting hurt, registering two assists while playing just under 11 minutes per night. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but Ott’s value comes with his distinctive style of play -- gritty, agitating, physical -- three traits that will come in handy during the playoffs.
Still, there’s no exact timetable for when he’ll be back. Ott was hesitant to put a specific date on a return, but there was some suggestion he could draw back in after St. Louis’ current five-game road swing, which begins tonight in Dallas.