It may be music to the ears of aspiring or veteran NHL players...
No more testing!
Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford has instituted a policy that forbids any future testing, primarily off-ice testing, that puts stress on the body.
In season, or in future Hurricanes training camps, there will be no hard runs, or stair climbing. In fact, according to Rutherford any drill designed to increase the heart rate that also increases the risk of injury will no longer be allowed.
"Their bodies are screaming out, this is too much," Rutherford said.
"They're working out all the time, it's like we're training for the Olympics."
Rutherford's frustration with injury peaked last month when Hurricanes forward Justin Williams suffered a ruptured achilles tendon while participating in a run.
Williams, who sat out much of last season with a serious knee injury could miss six months with his latest setback.
Rutherford has seen enough and has challenged Pete Friesen, his longtime trainer and strength and conditioning coach to research a training program that is designed for individual athletes and not the team as a larger group.
Rutherford contends players may need to train differently according to their age, strength or position.
The Carolina GM hopes Friesen's findings will be incorporated before the end of this season, in time for Hurricanes players to follow, as part of a new offseason workout schedule.
When asked if "punishment skates," traditional discipline for some coaches, will be allowed?
Rutherford admitted he hasn't officially banned them, but believes it's understood there are other ways, less taxing on the players physically, to make a point.