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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2943538" data-attributes="member: 2012">Primeau's window is closing in PhillyCanadian Press7/12/2006 4:12:33 PMPORT HOPE, Ont. (CP) - The waiting period for Keith Primeau is almost up.Post-concussion symptoms that limited the Philadelphia Flyers captain to just nine games last season have returned recently and thrown his potential return to the NHL team into question.Primeau has two years and $6.84 million US remaining on his contract but knows the Flyers will need to have a decision from him soon because his salary is tying up valuable room under the team's cap.''They're not going to wait for me forever,'' said Primeau, who was taking part in a charity golf tournament in this town east of Toronto on Wednesday. ''I know the window is quickly closing for me to make a return. I'm beginning to accept that as well.''I just hope that my head responds by September and I can move forward.''The big centre was one of the best players during the 2004 playoffs, leading the Flyers to within one game of the Stanley Cup final.It's been all downhill from there. He didn't play during the league's lockout and appeared in just a handful of games last October before a hit from Montreal's Alexander Perezhogin caused him to sustain the most severe in a long list of head injuries.The toughest thing for Primeau, who turns 35 in November, is that he thought he'd been through the worst part of the injury. Then the pressure in the crown of his head suddenly returned about 10 days ago.''There's no consistency to it,'' said Primeau. ''One day you feel good, one day you don't feel so good.''I truly believe that I'm at the last stage of my concussion, but I don't know how long the last stage is going to take, whether it's a week or two weeks or a month or a year. That's the hardest part.''Primeau flew to Philadelphia on Monday and met with team doctor Gary Dorshimer, who recommended he suspend his vigorous workout program immediately.The doctor believed the symptoms were related to a virus Primeau had contracted. The player had been spending a lot of time in the gym trying to get his body back in shape for a potential playoff return and continued the regimen into the off-season.''He pushed himself real hard during the playoffs to try and get himself back,'' said Flyers strength and conditioning coach Jim McCrossin. ''Is he pushing it too hard?''Nobody knows what is too hard coming back from a concussion.''There are just no certainties with this kind of injury.Primeau said the Flyers have been extremely supportive and have not set a deadline for him to make a firm decision on whether he'll return or not.The team would receive salary relief if he retired and could spend the money ear-marked for Primeau on other players. It's a situation he fully understands.''I'm under contract and they'd love to have me back,'' said Primeau. ''I kind of put personal pressure on myself (to make a decision). I feel as though I'm under the gun personally not to hamstring them.''Hulking defenceman Derian Hatcher assumed the captain's C in Primeau's absence last season, but no player could really fill his role in the locker-room.''He's the leader of the team,'' said Flyers forward Simon Gagne. ''It's a big loss, you need to fill it. We didn't really have that type of player on our team (last year) close to what Primes was bringing to us in the 2004 playoffs.''When he's not there, it's tough.''It might be their reality next season and beyond.For his part, Primeau is dedicated to resuming workouts when he gets the go-ahead again from Dorshimer.The 15-year NHL veteran is trying to stay positive - even though he knows deep down there's no guarantee he'll make a comeback.''If you get down, you start to lose your will,'' said Primeau. ''I don't want to be in a position where I lose the will to play.''I continue to tackle it as though it's going to get better and I'm going to get a chance to play.''The window is closing, but he's going to do everything he can to keep it open.''I won't know unless I try.''</blockquote>

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