Pat Karns, Longtime Former Avs Trainer, On What Makar Is Likely Going Through

Can he take the pain?

With the Cale Makar shoulder injury story now taking on a life of its own, especially with the Avs down 2-nil to the Vegas Golden Knights, and especially with Jared Bednar’s postgame comments last night that said, essentially, it’s up to Makar to decide if he can play or not, I thought a phone call to Pat Karns would be in order.

Karns, of course, was the Avs’ original trainer, who worked at that job all through their first two Cup years until 2005, along with with 2002 U.S. Olympic team. He was the main guy who treated injuries to players. If they required surgery, he’d do pre- and post-op treatment of them. Today, he works at the Boone Heart Institute in Denver.

He knows all about shoulder injuries. Here is an edited transcript of our conversation about what is likely going on with Makar. Keep in mind that Karns is NOT treating Makar, and is only speaking in general terms about how hockey teams try to treat shoulder injuries, especially in the playoffs.