Former Leaf being evaluated for yet another concussion
Former Toronto Maple Leaf and current Carolina Hurricanes forward Ondrej Kase is being evaluated for a possible concussion - another in a series of head injuries for the talented forward. Kase, who signed with the Hurricanes over the summer after having not received a qualifying offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs, played 11:02 in his first game of the season but is now heading back to Raleigh for further testing.
Kase suffered a concussion last year as a member of the Maple Leafs that held him out of the final month of the season. It was a tough blow for both team and player as he was enjoying a rather successful one-off campaign in Toronto with 14 goals and 27 points in 50 games - the most goals and points he had scored in a season since 2017-18 as a member of the Anaheim Ducks.
His concussion history goes all the way back to his days with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League. He has never been able to stay healthy for a full season as his career high in games played is 66 - also in 2017-18. Nevertheless he has been a fairly consistent performer wherever he's played, with 57 goals and 124 points in 258 games.
Only 26 years of age and on a one-year deal that pays him $1.5 million, Kase is still a valuable player when on the ice but if he does have yet another concussion, it is unclear when he would be able to return - or if he'd return at all. At some point, guys have to start thinking about life after hockey.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 14 | 331 ANSWERS Former Leaf being evaluated for yet another concussion Should Kase retire to avoid further risk of traumatic brain injury? | ||
| Yes | 271 | 81.9 % |
| No | 18 | 5.4 % |
| It's his life | 42 | 12.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
