Frederik Andersen has been the topic of a theory that a journalist has put forth, and he is the first to confess that he is unable to prove it.
Monday, Jimmy Murphy stated that he was certain Andersen suffered an injury during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final’s disallowed objective sequence.
A big asterisk was attached to his comments. “I have no proof of this, and may not ever get proof,” Murphy wrote, before concluding that he’s convinced anyhow.
Therefore, approach this for what it truly is. A report from a journalist, openly unsubstantiated, about a player’s physical condition.
There is no official damage at this location. No medical information has been published, and Carolina has remained mum.
Murphy’s whole article clearly states that it’s just a hunch, which is the only truthful way to present something of this kind.
A concussion would put the league’s reputation to the test.
This is the section Murphy is moving towards, and it’s the reason the theory spread. He said there would be big issues for the Canes and the league to resolve if it is determined to be a concussion.
Hypothetically speaking, that is the true stake. The protocol discussion would write itself if a goalie in a Stanley Cup Final game was hit in the head and kept playing.
However, take note of the term hypothetically. Beyond Murphy’s speculation, a succession of ifs exists, and layering ifs is a risky method of describing someone’s mind.
Murphy is well aware of the danger of making assumptions about concussions in the absence of proof. That’s why he hedged so strongly at the beginning.
Fair to assert is this. Andersen is Carolina’s starting goalie, and his health is crucial to the Hurricanes’ strategy in this series.
If he were compromised in any way, it would reshape the Final overnight. Goaltending decides these things. That part isn’t speculation.
Here’s my read: the protocol question is legitimate to ask in general, but pinning it to one unproven hunch is shaky ground. We don’t know that Andersen is hurt. We know a reporter thinks he might be.
The responsible move is to wait for actual information, from the team or the player, before drawing any conclusion.
Carolina will reveal what it wants to reveal, when it wants to. Until then, this stays a theory, and theories don’t win or lose hockey games.
If anything official emerges, the questions Murphy raised get real fast.
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