Edmonton Oilers forward Colby Cave had emergency surgery Tuesday at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, where doctors removed a colloid cyst that was causing pressure on his brain.
Cave, who played 11 games for the NHL team this season and spent much of the year on the American Hockey League farm team in Bakersfield, Calif, experienced headaches Monday night and was taken to hospital in Barrie, Ont. He was then transferred to Sunnybrook’s critical care unit with a brain bleed.
He remains in a medically induced coma he was put into prior to the surgery he underwent.
There was no accident or fall for the 25-year-old, who is in perfect shape. He just fell ill. It had nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Last night and today have been the worst days of my life. Please pray for my husband and best friend,” said Cave’s wife, Emily, on Twitter as he was in surgery.
Oilers general manager Ken Holland echoed the sentiment following a video conference call with reporters regarding the coronavirus and its effect on the NHL schedule.
“Our thoughts go out to Colby and Emily and his family. We’re thinking of them and praying for them. We’re all hoping for good news,” Holland said. “In my experience with Colby, he’s a great person, he’s respectful, he’s a good pro. We’re all praying for good news and down the road he’s playing hockey.”
Cave is from Saskatchewan, having played junior for the Swift Current Broncos under ex-Oilers centre Mark Lamb, and was was spending the NHL pause in Ontario, where his wife’s family is.
“Colby was my captain when I first came into Swift Current,” said Jake DeBrusk, the Boston Bruins winger. “And he was a great leader.
“He really looked out for me.”
The 25-year-old has played 44 games with the Oilers since they claimed him off waivers from Boston Bruins during the 2018-19 NHL season. He played 33 games last season after former Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli grabbed him from the Bruins.
Cave played 44 games in Bakersfield this past season with 23 points and was called up a few times from the minors, scoring a dazzling goal in Pittsburgh in November.
He roared down the right-wing, went around defenceman Marcus Pettersson and tucked it by Matt Murray. A highlight-reel play in a game where Oilers goalie Mike Smith stood on his head and they won 2-1 in overtime on a Leon Draisaitl goal.
Cave has been a fourth-line centre or winger since joining the Oilers, a hard-skating kid who has always been in terrific shape, just as the undrafted forward was with the Bruins over 23 NHL games and three seasons in Providence in the AHL before the Oilers got him.
Born in Battleford, Sask., Cave has been a good depth NHL player but hasn’t been able to gain traction as an every day forward yet. He’s close, though.
“He’s a checker. If he was a healthy scratch, he wouldn’t complain. If he played six minutes, he didn’t complain. If he got sent to the American League, he didn’t complain,” said Holland. “He just plays. He’s understands his role and he accepts his role. He’s a pro, he’s been around the pro game for awhile and when he comes up, you know what you’re going to get.
“If he comes up he’s going to check no matter how many minutes he plays and you need two or three of those players on your team. Would you like to have 12 stars? Yeah, but you can’t have that. You need players like Colby.”
While playing in Bakersfield this past October, Cave fought Calgary Flames farmhand Martin Pospisil, knocking him out with one punch before quickly going on Twitter to express his concern. Cave won a legion of followers after his gesture.
“Hey buddy, it’s Cave from the other side. Just wanted to reach out and hope you have a quick recovery, buddy.”
Pospisil was taken aback by Cave’s actions and tweeted back.
“Hey, bud, I’ll be alright. Thank you for reaching out!!!”
Cave is finishing up a two-year contract and he’s a restricted free-agent.
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On Twitter: @NHLbyMatty
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