Written by Graeme Nichols | 13 March 2009

A reader named Mike S. sent me an email regarding a piece that Don Brennan put up on the Ottawa Sun's Off the Posts Blog yesterday, prior to the Senators game against the Boston Bruins. Here's what Don wrote:

Suck it up, Buttercup

BOSTON - Filip Kuba will miss his third straight game with an "illness" tonight.
To me, this just isn't right.
At the risk of sounding like I'm just picking on the guy, how sick can he be? I mean, really.
I saw Kuba this morning. He looked fine. He had just been to breakfast and he was on his way to the rink, where he and Chris Neil were the only two Senators to go for the morning skate. Afterwards, Neil determined that he was going to play tonight against the Bruins, but Kuba deemed it necessary for another couple of days off to make sure he's fully recovered from the flu?
Nope, it just isn't right.
Of course it would take a miracle finish for the Senators to make the playoffs. But it's like the "so you're telling me there's a chance," line from Dumb and Dumber. Even a long shot is better than no shot at all.
And if they are still alive, they should be swinging with everything. That means playing even if you're not 100 percent.
The guy is supposed to be one of their top defencemen, right? I don't agree but some even think he's been their best this season. So even at 75 percent, he should be able to help them.
And if he's well enough to be eating regular meals and if he's no danger to the other players, what could possibly keep him out of the lineup? That his energy level isn't up to par? So what. Take shorter and fewer shifts. Just play the power play. Do what you can.
Suck it up.
If they were already mathematically eliminated from the race, it wouldn't be such a big deal. But with every game here on in virtually being like sudden death for the Senators, you better be telling the coach you're good to go even if you're not.
Especially if you're the highest paid defenceman and supposedly a valuable piece of the team.
I watched Hockey Night in Canada's After Hours a couple of weeks ago. They were asking Edmonton defenceman Steve Staois about playing a game when he was right in the middle of a bout with the flu. He said he had to because the team needed him.
As long as they're still breathing, you'd think the Senators would need Kuba just as much.
I guess that's the difference between being tough and being a cream puff.

Now, I don't want to have to shit on Don Brennan because I do that often enough. But the only person who can determine whether a player is too sick to play is the player himself. Besides, who are you going to believe? Kuba? Or this guy?

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