Numminen Not Likely To Return to Sabres
January 10, 2008 by Jeanne Dupuis
Filed under Buffalo Sabres, Injuries, News, Players
It’s one thing to retire but another to be forced to end a season prematurely when you’re 39 years old. That’s what’s going on with Buffalo Sabres defenceman, Teppo Numminen, who recently had open-heart surgery. Sabres docs looked at his test results and determined that, although his heart is fine, his sternum will need more time to heal.
"It is disappointing," said Numminen, who planned to return to the lineup in the next week or so. "Things were going really well," Numminen said. "I was getting into good shape.
"[You get] your mind to a point where you will be playing again. Now you’re just kind of floating and floating, and wondering what happened and where to go from here."
Numminen required the surgery after doctors found a faulty valve in his heart during a routine checkup. Apparently, he has had heart problems all of his life – murmurs since childhood and a dilated aorta diagnosis nearly four years ago.
Well, it might just be time to hang up the skates, you know? Look at Mario Lemieux – he wanted to keep playing but that heart problem just wouldn’t let him. Besides, 39 is a great age to still be playing. He can retire with pride, right?
via CBC Sports
Numminen, your fans are praying for you.Take it easy.
ah man