Alex Ovechkin hit by bus shortly after being acquired by Flyers
Just hours after announcing that team captain Chris Pronger would miss the remainder of the season with a concussion, the Flyers announced that recently acquired superstar Alex Ovechkin sustained a severe concussion and would also miss the rest of the season after being struck by a bus while watching television in his home on Thursday.
Ovechkin and Pronger join Claude Giroux and 16 recently acquired superstars, including Jarome Iginla, Patrick Kane and Daniel Sedin, on the list of Flyers either lost for the season or out indefinitely with concussions.
“We’re not having the best of luck keeping our star guys healthy right now,” said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. “But what happened to Alex…it’s just one of those freak things. Nothing you can do about a bus coming into your house like that. It happens.”
According to team sources, the Flyers rejected a deal late Thursday to acquire Lightning forward Steven Stamkos for fear of any further injuries and advised current Flyers players against standing out in any way to avoid the IR and possibly death.
Jeff Carter hopes NHL still around by the end of this contract
Moments after signing an 11-year contract extension with the Flyers, Jeff Carter said he was “optimistic” that the NHL wouldn’t be bankrupt and long forgotten when his contract expires in 2022.
“There’s risk involved in signing such a long-term deal,” said Carter on Monday. “You have to weigh things like ‘Can I support my family if the NHL has to start paying me in food stamps?’ or ‘What if I show up to work one day and they’re turning the place into a Walgreens?’ You just roll the dice and hope for the best.”
The Flyers also agreed to a contract extension with Claude Giroux, who had a similar faith that the NHL would still exist when his deal expires in three years.
