In his 60-year career with the Canadian, Dr. David Mulder has seen players and injuries come and go, but on Thursday he lifted the veil on one of the most mysterious of them all.
On the sidelines of a gala evening at the Bell Center where he was honored with the team that won the Stanley Cup in 1993, Dr. Mulder shares an important detail about the knee injury that forced Carey Price to retire.
“It was very frustrating for us and even more so for him,” he began at a press conference. We discovered that he had two injuries,” he explained, adding that the second was discovered during an operation to correct the first.
“He had a meniscus injury so we sent him to New York for surgery. The surgeon discovered that the femur had lost all of its cartilage. It was a surprise and that was the end of his career.”
This should put an end to speculation as questioning the work of the team’s medical staff has almost become a sport in itself.
“Everyone always knows more than us,” joked Dr. Mulder.
No to fighting
Dr. Mulder retired a few months ago. Over the course of his career, he has witnessed all the medical advances that now make it possible to make diagnoses better and faster.
He has also made his feelings towards fighting very clear, as it essentially involves inflicting a concussion on the opponent.
“I would like to remove fighting from the game, that would be a significant step. “This is not a popular opinion,” he said, echoing Guy Carbonneau.
“Of course you can’t stop them, but if you fight you’re out of the game and after a few fights you’ll be banned for further games. I wouldn’t say bullying has gone away because it’s still part of the game, but I don’t see the need for it anymore.”
Dr. Mulder also believes that concussions are much better regulated today than they used to be.
“The equipment is much better adapted. I think we have made progress and are testing players who take hits to the head much more often and the means of testing them are better.
moment of emotion
When we ask the doctor which day is best for him, he answers without hesitation.
“The most satisfying day was when Saku Koivu came back after chemotherapy for his lymphoma. He came to say thank you and expressed his gratitude.”
On the other hand, he had a difficult evening when Trent McCleary suffered a broken larynx from a stroke in 2000.
“Since that moment, the doctor has been sitting near the players’ bench and that’s how it is everywhere in the league,” he explains.
Patrice Brisebois was there that evening and doesn’t have fond memories of it.
“That game was terrifying,” says the former defender. We know the risks of the job: the throws, a check from behind, you can break your neck. A lot can happen. If the medical team hadn’t been there and done the right things, Trent McCleary wouldn’t be here anymore.
Poorly framed
We couldn’t speak to the former Canadiens doctor without returning to the sad event that took the life of Adam Johnson almost two weeks ago. He was hit in the neck by his opponent Matt Petgrave’s skate.
“I saw the video. It was more of a kick than a cut, it’s different than in the case of Clint Malarchuk, for example [qui avait été coupé à la gorge par un patin en 1989, NDLR].”
He doesn’t believe such a tragedy could happen in the National League because games are better monitored.
“There was no healer or doctor there, he probably bled to death on the ice, while there are doctors in the NHL. When Trent McCleary was injured, we were in the operating room in 17 minutes.
“Hockey is associated with fun on all levels, it should not be associated with death.”