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Boyle To Undergo Additional Surgery On Left Wrist

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By CARTER GADDIS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2007

Updated: 11/07/2007 12:16 am

TAMPA - On Oct. 26, Dan Boyle heard a pop in his surgically repaired left wrist. He didn't know at the time (although he dreaded the possibility) that the ominous pop would mean more surgery, more rehabilitation, many more weeks out of the Lightning's lineup.

An MRI exam Monday revealed that only one of the three wrist tendons repaired on Sept. 23 by hand specialist Richard Gray had healed correctly. One of the other two had snapped completely, and the other was held together only by stitches.

Lightning general manager Jay Feaster announced Tuesday that Boyle's wrist would require more surgery, likely to be performed by the end of the week, and that the team's best defenseman is out indefinitely after playing only four games.

The sour news was greeted with stoicism by the team, which already is reeling in the wake of a six-game winless streak.

"I think, eventually, we're going to become a better team for it," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "No one wants to lose Danny Boyle. And I'm not going to talk about it any more than this. But it's a huge hole for us. But it's also an opportunity.

"I look at the development of some of the young kids that's coming along here. You simply get it done, and that's what we're going to try to do with our defense."

Boyle was not available for comment and did not return a phone call from The Tampa Tribune. But his agent, New Jersey-based George Bazos, said Boyle wasn't caught completely off guard by the bad news.

"He knew there was something wrong with his wrist," Bazos said. "There's no question. And no one's really positive when the ligaments became unattached, but Dan's pretty sure it happened after he got clearance for contact and before he started playing in a game on Oct. 29 at New York."
Bazos and the team will supply Boyle with a list of specialists to consult with. Gray also still is a part of the treatment team.

Boyle was injured on Sept. 22, when a skate fell from a hook above his locker at the St. Pete Times Forum and cut his wrist. The original prognosis for his return was four to six weeks.

He began to practice with contact at four weeks. He played his first game at five weeks.
Bazos and Feaster shared the opinion that no one was to blame for the recurrence.

"I think a lot of people, it would be natural to think he came back too early," Bazos said. "But it's impossible to say. The Lightning wanted him back. And Dan wanted to come back."

"I don't believe that he came back too soon," Feaster said. "I have full confidence in the medical staff and the training staff that this was a four to six week thing. We followed the proper protocols on the rehab. Unfortunately, we are where we are."

For defensive depth, the Lightning recalled rookie Matt Smaby from AHL affiliate Norfolk on Tuesday.

The Lightning learned during the first four weeks of the season what it meant to play without Boyle, whose puck-carrying ability and power-play quarterbacking have turned him into an elite NHL defenseman. Tampa Bay went 5-4-1 without him, and even though the team was 0-4-0 during his brief return, scoring chances increased considerably when he began to regain his timing as he played his normal 25-plus minutes.

"We can't kid ourselves," Feaster said. "We're a much better hockey team with Danny Boyle in our lineup. We all know that. We're a much better team in transition. The forwards are happier, because they're getting the puck quicker.

"And yet, you know, I thought our guys really responded to Danny being out of the lineup. I thought they stepped up. Now, this gives them another challenge and another opportunity to do that."

MRI FOR RAMO: Feaster said that goalie Karri Ramo, who suffered a sprained ankle playing in the Norfolk Admirals' season opener and has not played since, will be brought to Tampa for an MRI exam. The exam could occur as soon as today, Feaster said.

Tribune reporter Erik Erlendsson contributed to this report. Reporter Carter Gaddis can be reached at (813) 259-8291 or igaddis@tampatrib.com.

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