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Svoboda's recovery not going as hoped

By KEVIN KELLY and DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 24, 2001

TAMPA -- Assistant general manager Jay Feaster said it was premature to say injured defenseman Petr Svoboda would sit out the rest of the season. On the other hand, he couldn't say if Svoboda would return from a severe concussion.

He did say Svoboda has not improved as much as hoped. "We wish there had been a more immediate and dramatic improvement, and that's a cause for concern," Feaster said.

Svoboda, 34, was hurt Dec. 14 in Phoenix when checked by Shane Doan. Svoboda's stick hit him across the face and also broke his nose. His symptoms include headaches and dizziness.

"We want Petr Svoboda back as the Petr Svoboda that was with us prior to this happening. We want the same person," Feaster said. "These are things that affect everything about daily life. We want Petr back with his wife and kids as the same father and husband as before this happened. It's not something we take lightly. "As soon as Petr Svoboda the person is 100 percent, then we'll welcome him back as Petr Svoboda the hockey player."

Head medical trainer Dave Boyer said Svoboda missed a doctor's appointment Monday but will return Thursday for a test to check his balance.

"He's struggling with it," Boyer said. "He's used to doing what he's used to doing. ... I don't want to say it's real acceptance because he's not accepted what he has and then moving forward. He's kind of ignoring it."

MUIR TRADED: The Lightning made its second trade of the season Tuesday, sending defenseman Bryan Muir to Colorado for an eighth-round pick in this year's draft.

Acquired in a trade with Chicago in 1999, Muir played in 10 games for the Lightning this season and had three assists before he was reassigned to Detroit of the IHL on Oct. 28. Muir had five goals and seven assists in 21 games with the Vipers Heis expected to join Hershey of the AHL.

"He was frustrated with his situation in Detroit, seeing a lot of other guys coming up a little bit ahead of him," Feaster said. "It was a situation where it was in his best interest to move."

SUSPENDED: The league suspended center Wayne Primeau two games without pay for his actions during an altercation with Ottawa defenseman Wade Redden on Saturday.

Primeau was assessed 22 penalty minutes, including a match penalty for intent to injure, after he slashed Redden following a third-period collision during the 3-0 loss.

"He got a little carried away," general manager Rick Dudley said. "If they say it's okay to do that, then you don't learn from it."

He will lose $6,149.73 in salary. He will be eligible to play against Ottawa on Thursday because he sat out the past two games. Primeau suffered a low-grade concussion when he collided with Redden and is day to day.

ODDS AND ENDS: Defenseman Jassen Cullimore (bruised left knee) did not play and is day to day. ... Defenseman Craig Millar was activated and played in his first game since breaking his left kneecap Dec. 16. ... Defenseman Marek Posmyk was a healthy scratch.

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