DORSETT ‘DEVASTATED’
Doctor tells Canuck his career is over
NASHVILLE, TENN. Hoping for the best and fearing the worst.
That’s the emotional rollercoaster that Derek Dorsett was riding when he was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins on Monday in Los Angeles. The same surgeon who performed a cervical procedure on the Vancouver Canucks winger on Dec. 5, gave him the bad news after the 30-year-old veteran had recently complained of neck and back stiffness.
“The latest evaluation of Derek’s neck revealed that he’s sustained a cervical disc herniation adjacent and separate to his previous fusion,” said Watkins.
“Given his current condition and the long-term, significant health risks, I advised Derek not to return to play.”
It hit Dorsett like a punch to the face.
“I’m devastated by the news,” said Dorsett. “It will take a long time for this to truly sink in. As hard as it was to hear, Dr. Watkins’ diagnosis is definitive. There is no grey area, and it gives me clarity to move forward.
“I have a healthy young family and a long life of opportunities ahead of me. Hockey taught me a lot and it will help me be successful in whatever I choose to do in the future.
“I still have so many thoughts to share and people to thank for all of their support,” continued Dorsett. “What I can say for certain right now is that I left it all out on the ice. I gave my heart and soul to the teams I played for and never backed down from a challenge, including this one. I am proud of the way I played. It made me successful and a good teammate. Most of all I am truly honoured and grateful to have lived the NHL dream.”
Dorsett practised for 10 minutes in Philadelphia on Nov. 20 and Canucks coach Travis Green said the winger had told him that there was no particular incident that caused discomfort.
Dorsett fought twice this season — he accumulated two instigator penalties and was one shy of a two-game suspension — and also had 39 hits to go with his surprising start that included seven goals in 20 games.
Dorsett was a seventh-round pick in 2009 by Columbus. The pugnacious plugger was on pace to easily eclipse a career-high 12 goals with the Blue Jackets in the 2011-12 season. He finishes his career with 127 points (51-76) and 1,314 penalty minutes in 515 regular-season games.
He also appeared in 43 playoff games.
“Derek overcame the odds to make the NHL and play over 500 games,” said Canucks general manager Jim Benning.
“He’s an example of what you can accomplish when you persevere. He is a great teammate, a terrific role model and leader for younger players.
“This is truly unfortunate news for Derek, his family and our team. We will be there every step of the way to support him, his wife Ali and his family as they take the next steps in their lives.”
When Dorsett absorbed a hit from big defenceman Brayden McNabb on Oct. 22, 2016 in Los Angeles, it brought a different kind of sensation.
“It really snowballed when I had that hit,” recalled Dorsett. “I kind of gave him the cold shoulder and then I felt a pop. I wasn’t really sure where it was, but my arm went numb. I was able to rehab it and then I had another stinger and each time it was less impact and the numbing sensation in my arm would stay longer.”
Dorsett started feeling more discomfort in a Nov. 17, 2016 game in Arizona. He wasn’t hit that hard, but would last just three shifts before calling it a night and a season.
“It was a push on the hips and not even that hard,” said Dorsett. “I just whiplashed back, the nerve flared and my arm went numb. That was the fourth incident within a month and that’s when we decided to do something about it.”
The C5 and C6 vertebrae were fused in the December procedure, bone spurs were addressed and a bulging disc was removed and replaced by a plastic spacer and bone marrow from Dorsett’s hip.
When Dorsett returned from an arduous rehab, his stride returned and his effectiveness on a shutdown line with Brandon Sutter was amazing.
But when the pain came back, the future suddenly didn’t look as bright. Team physician Dr. Bill Regan could only confirm what his colleague had determined.
“His pre-existing conditions, combined with the recent surgery and the risks associated with continuing to play led to a recommendation that Derek seriously consider not playing again,” said Regan.