Hartnell on Mesz injury: It's 'so unfortunate'
News that Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros suffered a torn right Achilles tendon
(see story) took some of the players, who were at Skate Zone, by surprise on Tuesday.
“It’s something so unfortunate for him and for our team as well,” Scott Hartnell said. “He was going to log a lot of minutes.”
The former Barry Ashbee Trophy winner logged about 21 minutes a game for the Flyers.
“He’s a very offensive player who is good defensively,” Hartnell said of Meszaros. “It’s going to be tough when you lose anyone. With our best defenseman [Chris] Pronger being out, it’s going to leave us a little shorthanded.”
Actually, given the lack of veterans back there of Meszaros’ caliber, it’s going to leave the Flyers
a lot shorthanded.
A source told CSNPhilly.com that Meszaros' goal should be to be "healthy" for the playoffs and "focus" on that.
“Every team has to deal with injuries,” Hartnell said. “As long as we battle through the season, and get to the playoffs, and get these guys back.”
Hartnell, incidentally, said he spoke to Shea Weber after he signed the Flyers' restricted free agent offer sheet, and felt convinced that Weber wanted to play here and was hoping Nashville would not match.
“You gotta give credit to Homer [general manager Paul Holmgren] and Mr. Snider [chairman Ed Snider] for having the guts to go out and try to sign guys,” Hartnell said. “The Weber offer sheet shows that people want to come here and play for a contender.”
Fellow Flyer forward Sean Couturier knew Meszaros was injured, but did not know the gravity of the injury.
“I haven’t heard much,” Couturier said. “I don’t know what it is.”
When told the latest on Meszaros, he replied, “That’s pretty bad news. He’s had bad luck. He had injuries last year and to start this way like that, it’s not fun.”
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net
