The Avalanche’s up-and-coming star player Peter Mueller has suffered another concussion in a preseason game on Wednesday. The player, who is on a $4 million, two year contract with the hockey team was just returning to play after a serious concussion wiped him out of the season last spring.
Mueller, 22 was slated to wear a specially designed helmet this season to minimize concussion risks, but in a cruel twist of fate was not wearing the helmet in the game on Wednesday. As the third documented concussion for the young player, many are wondering about his future prospects in hockey.
Hockey is notorious for head injuries to its players, and the increasingly gloomy research into brain injuries is a heavy reminder to players that the dangers in the game are real, and potentially life-altering. Whether or not the new helmet design Mueller was supposed to wear this season would have saved him from this concussion remains a debated subject, however it is clear more needs to be done to protect players.
The Avs will now have to search for a replacement for Mueller, who was tipped as a central component in the team’s play strategy. Avs player David Jones is likely to be on the short-term promotion list to replaces Mueller in his third-line forward position.
There is also speculation that the Avs may look to the trade market to find a replacement, as they are the team with the lowest payroll in the NHL and have enough budget to acquire new players.
