Injuries A Definite Issue During A Short Span Season

Training Camps will open Sunday into Monday and the NHL season will be officially underway with games starting just one week later on January 19th. Players want at least one preseason game, however, with the little amount of time between now and the 19th, that is unlikely to happen. In such a short season that includes 48 games per team between January 19th and May 2nd, plus four rounds of playoffs between early May and June 25th, players will be even more fatigued, beat up, and open to injury. 

Players that are coming from Europe have already played quite a few games; that could be something that helps or hurts them in the long run. They are in game shape and ready for training camp. They will not have to play catch up next week to prepare for the season. When the puck finally drops, they should be ready to go. However, in the next few months of the regular season, will they be able to stay healthy, already playing from September and having to play another 48 plus playoffs? That is what time will tell. Then you have the players who have been sitting out and skating with teammates or by themselves to stay in shape. These players will need training camp in order to get into game shape, but will it be enough? A week of preparation in the NHL is not the amount most players, coaches, and teams would like, but that's all that there is an opportunity for. Will these players be in game shape for the end of January? In the long run, will using the first half of the season as rest help or hurt? There are many questions regarding both sets of players, those who have played this season for another league and those who haven't.

Another key to training will be the coaches. They have one week to prepare their teams for the regular season and have to be careful in just how much they push them. They will want to rest the players who have been skating in Europe while getting them ready with systems and other team dynamics. Meanwhile, coaches will have to get those who have not been playing into game shape without overdoing it. Coaches have a lot on their hands the next few weeks as training camp leads into the first month of the season. A slow start could mean the difference between making the playoffs and the golf course. Injuries will have a huge impact on many teams seasons as well.

In the end, it will be nothing but pure excitement for the fans. However, for the players, coaches, and teams, it is going to be a lot harder to keep players healthy and playing at their top level with such a short season. It will definitely have an impact on the playoff race. This year could be an interesting playoff scenario as some teams that may not be there in an 82 game season just may show up fighting for a spot at the end of 48.