Cole Caufield would have liked to be able to continue, but in the end, we ended up making him understand that it was not a good idea.
Here, the “we” refers to an army of medical specialists, whom Caufield chose to consult before coming to a decision regarding his right shoulder.
The young Canadian striker had recourse to three different medical opinions, before choosing to end his season a few days ago.
Among the doctors consulted: the surgeon Peter Millett, a specialist in shoulder operations. It is he who must operate Caufield next Wednesday in Colorado. This is the same doctor who also operated on Josh Anderson’s shoulder in 2020.
According to Caufield, his shoulder problems started last summer, but it was a fall in the Dec. 23 game at Dallas that really led to this situation.
“I had a bad fall, and I replaced my shoulder myself a few seconds later, explained the man who wears number 22, Friday morning at the Bell Center. It wasn’t that bad. Then the second time the same thing happened in Nashville (January 3). This time it was a little more painful, but the medical staff did a good job of getting me back into shape, and I felt almost 100% of my normal condition.
“If the club was in the hunt for a playoff spot, there’s no doubt in my mind that I would still be playing. It was not my decision to quit. But under the circumstances, I think it’s the best long-term decision. It’s hard to come to that conclusion, but it’s the reality. »