While it’s true that we aren’t shy about criticizing highly paid athletes, deep down we prefer to see talented people succeed. Let’s face it, there can be great joy in seeing players with potential yield actual, tangible results.
After struggling in Phoenix Coyotes coach Dave Tippett’s system - and with the Coyotes in general - Peter Mueller exploded once a (then mutually beneficial) trade sent him to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Wojtek Wolski last season. Both teams achieved great gains in the short term, but oddly enough, each player hasn’t experienced a great 2010-11 season. Wolski was traded again (this time to the New York Rangers), while concussion issues put Mueller’s first full season with Colorado on pause.
In fact, Mueller won’t play a single game this season, as a preseason concussion compounded the issues he was dealing with from a Rob Blake-inflicted head injury from late in 2009-10. Adrian Dater reports that the team officially shut him down for the season.
At this point, it’s far from a surprise. The same doctors who treated multiple concussion victim Patrice Bergeron also are looking at Mueller, so why make the talented young player risk his future when the team sank out of playoff contention anyway?
Dater writes that no one really knows when (or if) he’ll be good to go again, although the team his cautiously optimistic that he might be able to play next season. It’ll be interesting to see if he’ll be close to full speed by training camp in September. We’ll keep you updated about his condition, although those updates aren’t likely to surface until the summer time.
