Since Jay Bouwmeester's collapse due to a cardiac episode during a St. Louis game earlier this week, there's been no word on what his future might hold when it comes to playing again. Many, of course, are speculating that his career is over since he had a pacemaker inserted Friday to correct an irregular heartbeat, but neither Bouwmeester or the Blues have said anything officially yet. As for whether he would be allowed to return, we do have an interesting statement from reporter John Shannon.
According to Shannon, there is nothing in the current collective bargaining agreement between players and the league, nor anything insurance-wise, that would prevent Bouwmeester from playing again should he want to return. He wouldn't even need to sign any waivers. There is, of course, the advice from medical professionals that may force him into retirement, but the NHL's rules as currently stated do not.
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That, obviously, doesn't mean Bouwmeester wants to or is even thinking about returning. The 36-year-old has a Stanley Cup with the Blues and a solid NHL career spanning 18 seasons. It's possible playing in the NHL again is the furthest thing from Bouwmeester's mind considering he had to be revived using a defibrillator. It's also very possible that he never gets the clearance he needs from doctors in order to get back into the game. At the same time, many players have a difficult time walking away from the NHL even when they know they likely shouldn't be playing any longer. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
The St. Louis Blues stated Friday that Bouwmeester is under the care of a medical team and they'll have an update on his status early next week.
