Chicago Blackhawks’ Brian Campbell, left, talks to a team trainer after being knocked down by Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago, Sunday, March 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
AP
Regardless of whether you look at Alex Ovechkin’s hit on Brian Campbell as dirty, clean or somewhere in between, there’s no question that the redheaded defenseman crashed into the boards in a violent way. One has to wonder how much time the expensive but talented player will miss. Apparently he’ll be sidelined for at least three games, according to ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers.
Coach Joel Quenneville couldn’t say for sure that the injury would not affect him the rest of the season.
“We’ll see. We’ll get a better assessment as we go along here,” Quenneville said. “Soupy [Campbell] is going to be out for a bit here...It was a tough hit. A dangerous hit.”
While I’ve been critical of Campbell’s annual $7.1 million cap hit, it’s not his fault that the Blackhawks made such an excessive offer. He’s still a good - just not a great - player, with 38 points this season and an average of 23 minutes on ice per game. Let’s hope he gets healthy soon.
