Teppo ilmoittaa ensi viikolla, kykeneekö hän vielä palaamaan NHL:ään. Uutinen tsn.ca:ssa tuntuu suhtautuvan varovaisen optimistisesti miehen mahdollisuuksiin:
Report: Numminen may return to Stars
3/28/2004
Teppo Numminen's career may not be over after all.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Numminen is feeling better after being diagnosed with a heart condition earlier this month and may return to the Stars lineup before the end of the regular season. The Stars have left the decision to play or retire in his hands.
"That's a decision that's going to have to come down to Teppo," Stars head coach Dave Tippett said. "I think some things were overstated originally. But that being said, he has a family and wife ... and there is something there. So that's a decision that will have to ultimately come down to him if he does get the go to play."
Numminen has a dilated aorta which could be life-threatening but subsequent tests have revealed that he has unknowingly played with the condition for the last four years. However, the risk of future problems still exists.
The Finnish blueliner is expected to address the situation early next week and make his decision known.
"To get him up and running again, I don't think it would be a problem," Tippett said. "But I don't think we're to where we can think about that yet."
The Stars have three regular season games next week as they continue to jockey for position in the Western Conference.
