Jets' Evander Kane played with signs of concussion
Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane missed seven games because of a concussion, but admitted Tuesday morning he may have played with concussion-like symptoms since taking a hit against the New York Islanders on Dec. 20.
He played the rest of that game and 14 more before the symptoms became more acute.
“I don’t think it was affecting my play,” Kane said. “It was a long time ago. I got over it quickly. I just wasn’t feeling the same as I was most of the year, so I wanted to try to take a step back and rest up and get better.”
Kane was expected to return to the Jets’ lineup on Tuesday night against Toronto.
Playing with concussion-like symptoms is serious, but Kane waffled about his concern during that period following the Islanders’ game.
“It was the normal symptoms that come along with a concussion,” he said. “I just took a bit of a spill, hit my head on the back of the ice. It was just a harmless hit, to be honest with you. I felt my brain rattle a little bit.”
He said he was over it in a day, but that wasn’t the end of it, as there were headaches involved.
“I got over it the next day, but it just kind of carried on and then that last week before I finally stepped away, I just wasn’t feeling myself,” he said. “It was probably best to go get examined and evaluated.
“I feel a lot better. It feels good, well-rested and I’m excited about (returning Tuesday night).”
Kane is the team’s leading goal-scorer this season with 18 goals
Jets coach Claude Noel said that players are reminded to report symptoms.
“But athletes are athletes and if you’ve ever had a concussion it’s strange because you’re not really sure, either. Is it a headache? There’s a lot of emphasis on it now and it’s something we’ve addressed,” said Noel.