Predators disclose injuries suffered during Stanley Cup playoffs

Adam Vingan
The Tennessean

Predators general manager David Poile disclosed the nature of several player injuries during his end-of-season press conference Wednesday. 

Predators forward James Neal played through two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a broken hand.

Forward James Neal suffered a broken hand during Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Anaheim Ducks on May 12. He scored the overtime winner in that game, but had two goals in his next 11 games. In the post-series handshake line Sunday, Neal kept his right hand in his glove as he congratulated the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

"He had to get it shot up every game just to be able to play," Poile said. 

Forward Colin Wilson missed the first-round sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks in April and the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final with a hamstring injury. A concussion prevented captain Mike Fisher from appearing in the final two games of the Western Conference finals. 

More:Could Mike Fisher's career end after Stanley Cup Final?

Forward Craig Smith dealt with a high-ankle sprain that limited him to 10 playoff games. Smith played in one total game during the second and third rounds, re-injuring himself when he played in Game 6 of the second-round series against the St. Louis Blues on May 7. 

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Poile didn't provide an update Wednesday morning on defenseman Ryan Ellis, who exited Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final with an undisclosed injury. He later told 104.5-FM that Ellis is "probably" going to require some sort of offseason surgery. 

"Maybe we'll have one guy that might be a little late getting to training camp," Poile told the radio station, possibly alluding to Ellis. 

Ellis played in each of Nashville's 22 playoff games, but coach Peter Laviolette said following the team's season-ending loss Sunday that Ellis' ailment was "pretty serious." Poile said that more should be known next week. 

The Predators had two players, center Ryan Johansen (acute compartment syndrome) and forward Kevin Fiala (fractured left femur), endure season-ending injuries during the playoffs. Each are ahead of schedule in their respective recoveries, Poile said. 

"Both those guys will be fine by the time we get to training camp," he said. 

Nashville opens training camp Sept. 14. 

Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.