MONTREAL - There are conflicting views on the severity of Max Pacioretty's injury this afternoon. I have heard through the lightning-quick universe that is Twitter from Renaud Lavoie of RDS that Pacioretty could be out for only two to four weeks for a fractured C4 vertebrae. I don't know how close he is to the scene, or if he has talked to the doctor that is attending to Pacioretty, so I really can not dispute that possibility. RDS has all sorts of inside contacts because they are the rights holders, so this is something to read with interest and hope.

Allow me today to describe my conversations with a doctor. Now this must be taken with a grain of salt because by no means is the doctor looking at the x-ray film of the fracture, so there is education from earning medical degrees, but by no means can there be 100 percent accuracy.

With that said, here are the thoughts from a medical professional. The C4 firstly is a very encouraging sign. The spinal column's numbering starts at the top of the neck with the C1. When there is a fracture there at C1 such as what Christopher Reeve suffered, the life that is led after is a difficult one. C7 would be the lowest danger as one progresses down the back. The C4 break is in the middle and this is solid news. Also in Pacioretty's favour is the fracture is not displaced. It is a linear fracture and it remains all in alignment. This too is a vital component in an expected return to the game.

The doctor that I talked to cannot know if the break is large, but if it is not, then one surmises that surgery will not be required, and only in an unusual case would surgery be required for a linear, non-displaced, C4 vertebrae fracture.

All of these things are very much in Pacioretty's favour.

Now Renaud Lavoie said 2-4 weeks for a return to the game for Pacioretty on his Twitter page. My doctor says September. I can only tell you that the doctor I spoke with is basing analysis on information that I have passed on. I cannot tell you how close Renaud is to the matter. I pray that he is extremely close, for it would mean that Max's life may return to normal as soon as possible and that would be a good and great gift.

Of course, this speaks only to the fractured vertebrae, the severe concussion is an entirely different matter and the recovery of the brain is always a difficult matter to assess from one person to the next.