The reported end of Marc Savard's season is depressing news,
but can't be characterized as "bad" news.
The best decision for the rest of his professional hockey career is to not rush back into the Boston Bruins' lineup, to look towards next season and to continue to work back from his latest concussion.
Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com broke the news on Sunday that the 32-year-old center's season is done:
The B's are expected to make the announcement on Monday amid a team practice at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, and it's a much-expected development after Savard suffered his second concussion in less than a calendar year after a Matt Hunwick caused him to go face-first into the board and glass.
Savard is still experiencing headaches, irritability and dizziness as a result of his latest concussion two weeks later, and appears to be suffering from the same post-concussion syndrome symptoms that hampered him last season and again this summer.
NESN also reported the news on Sunday night.
As we mentioned in our Tyler Seguin post last week, there are a number of lineup options for the Bruins with Savard out. They were 14-6-5 with Savard in the lineup and 16-10-2 without him.
As for Savard ... can months of rest and rehab bring him closer to his old form, or is he now the player (10 points in 25 games) we saw this season? (Keep in mind he had four points in six games before the concussion.) And can he be effective when he's a "one hit to the head away from disaster" player; an Eric Lindros in black and gold?