Penguins star forward
Straka to miss start of regular season, maybe more PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Penguins star forward Martin Straka will miss the start of the regular season and might not play at all.
Straka, 29, sustained a cracked vertebra and a torn ligament in his back in a weight-training accident July 22 in his native Czech Republic.
Penguins general manager Craig Patrick said Thursday that Straka will fly to Pittsburgh within the next few weeks to be examined by Penguins medical personnel.
If it is determined that Straka needs surgery to repair the torn ligament, his season likely is finished.
“If he had surgery, it would be six months to recover,” Patrick said. “We’re trying to avoid that. Hopefully, there’s some healing going on now. We’ll know when he gets here and we look at him.”
Patrick remains optimistic.
He said Straka, who is at home in the Czech Republic, is walking and is not experiencing pain lately.
But Straka’s back remains immobilized in a back brace and the Penguins open the season Oct. 10.
Straka told trainer Mark Mortland this week that he wanted to return to Pittsburgh immediately to undergo an MRI and other tests, but Patrick ordered him to stay put.
The Penguins want Straka to stick to the original plan of remaining in the Czech Republic for 7-8 weeks after the injury.
Trainers believe the torn ligament may heal on its own.
Straka was among the NHL’s leading scorers in 2000-01, when he had 95 points (27 goals, 68 assists). Last season, however, will be remembered for a string of strange mishaps that sidelined one of the team’s stars.
Straka played only 13 games, recording nine points (five goals, four assists).
He sustained a broken right tibia on Oct. 28 against the Florida Panthers and did not return to the lineup until Feb. 27 against the Los Angeles Kings.
On his third shift in that game, Straka took an inadvertent high stick from teammate Johan Hedberg and sustained a fractured orbital bone near his left eye.
He returned five games later wearing a full-length face shield but didn’t last the first period. He re-cracked the tibia after making an awkward move and was lost for the season.
Straka was deep into his training for the upcoming season when his latest accident occurred.
A weight machine collapsed on his back, crushing him under about 300 pounds.
“You just wonder, ‘When’s this going to stop?”‘ Patrick said.
Straka’s linemate, Alexei Kovalev, was also taken aback by the latest incident.
“If I was in your place, I’d be afraid to go anywhere,” Kovalev said.
“I mean, just making a step I’d be afraid to get hurt.”‘
NOTES: The team announced the three new members of its Hall of Fame: former defenseman Ulf Samuelsson, former goalie Les Binkley and organist Vince Lascheid.
Patrick said that he has offered Kovalev a long-term contract.
Kovalev is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $4.6 million this season. After that, he can be a restricted free agent. His is two years away from unrestricted free agency.