Upper-body injury? Lower-body injury? Or perhaps the ultimate in vagueness: general body soreness?

Much to the chagrin of hockey fans yearning for information on NHL player injuries, teams remain steadfast in keeping such details close to the vest if they say anything at all.

B次元官网网址淚f they said we had to let out the information, IB次元官网网址檇 let it out,B次元官网网址� said Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar. B次元官网网址淏ut no one is forcing us to do it. So IB次元官网网址檓 certainly not going to give out any information that I donB次元官网网址檛 have to.B次元官网网址�

Heightened interest with the post-season in full swing only adds to the frustration for those eager to learn about player availability.

Many Maple Leafs fans were pulling out their hair wondering why forward William Nylander missed three playoff games with an undisclosed injury. The demand for specifics was also strong on the West Coast when Canucks goalie Thatcher DemkoB次元官网网址檚 injury status changed from day-to-day to week-to-week.

Increasing the annoyance level for many fans is that other major leagues B次元官网网址� including the NBA, MLB and even the contact-heavy NFL B次元官网网址� provide detailed injury reports.

The NHL does have collectively bargained media regulations with respect to injury reporting, but they come with flexibility.

B次元官网网址淲hen an injury occurs in a Stanley Cup playoff game, a club spokesperson must notify the media of the approximate location, nature, and severity of the injury as soon as possible,B次元官网网址� the regulations say. B次元官网网址淓xcept to the extent that the club determines that such disclosure may jeopardize the playerB次元官网网址檚 physical wellbeing if and when the player returns to play, in which case the club is entitled to provide a more general overview of the playerB次元官网网址檚 injury status.B次元官网网址�

Therein lies the grey area. If a team wants to keep specifics in house rather than risk an opponent targeting a playerB次元官网网址檚 weak spot, then generalities are the way to go.

B次元官网网址淣ot that youB次元官网网址檙e targeting someone, but you certainly know where they might be a little bit more hesitant,B次元官网网址� said Bruins defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just the game within the game at this point. ItB次元官网网址檚 always kind of fun. You get a chuckle out of it.B次元官网网址�

Maple Leafs defenceman Joel Edmundson went one step farther.

B次元官网网址淚f I know someoneB次元官网网址檚 got a bad arm, IB次元官网网址檓 going to be cross-checking it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 just the way I do.B次元官网网址�

Expect the nebulous descriptions to continue for the next three rounds this spring and into the future.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very competitive and physical game,B次元官网网址� said Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe. B次元官网网址淵ou say guys donB次元官网网址檛 target one another? Well, IB次元官网网址檝e got news for you B次元官网网址� they do. ThatB次元官网网址檚 part of the game. When you can protect the players and protect some information, why wouldnB次元官网网址檛 you?B次元官网网址�

The legalization of sports betting across parts of North America did not change the NHL injury transparency situation, even though betting lines and prop bets are impacted by injury news.

The NHL and many of its teams have partnered with sports betting operators in recent years, but there doesnB次元官网网址檛 seem to have been a push for adjustments.

B次元官网网址淭his (league) policy long predates legalized sports betting and there has been no discussion of changing it,B次元官网网址� Gary Meagher, the NHLB次元官网网址檚 senior executive vice-president of communications, said in an email.

Messages sent to several sports betting operators requesting comment were not returned. An NHL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association spokesperson declined to comment.

B次元官网网址淚 know that itB次元官网网址檚 been for years now where itB次元官网网址檚 upper body or lower body and thatB次元官网网址檚 it, and I donB次元官网网址檛 really understand the need for the press to know more details than that,B次元官网网址� said Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm. B次元官网网址淚f you canB次元官网网址檛 go, you canB次元官网网址檛 go.B次元官网网址�

It could also be argued the Nylander buzz and the Demko talk B次元官网网址� just two of many injury examples around the league B次元官网网址� helped fuel interest in their teams and the game. Radio and podcast hosts had a field day with the storylines and plenty of ink was spilled.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 funny because after a team (loses) in the playoffs, theyB次元官网网址檙e so eager to disclose a laundry list of everything that was wrong with the guys,B次元官网网址� said longtime hockey scribe Ken Campbell, now a freelance writer for The Hockey B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淏ut during the series, theyB次元官网网址檙e not. I donB次元官网网址檛 blame the coaches and I donB次元官网网址檛 blame the GMs. I mean I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 give out that information if I didnB次元官网网址檛 have to.

B次元官网网址淏ut I think the league has to step up here. Particularly now if youB次元官网网址檙e going to associate yourself with all of these betting establishments.B次元官网网址�