Lubomir Visnovsky

#71 / Defenseman / Edmonton Oilers

Height: 5-10

Weight: 188

Born: Aug 11, 1976

Lubomir Visnovsky is spending his summer back in Europe, where he gave a Slovakian newspaper an interview updating them on his health, what it's like in Edmonton, and the upcoming Olympic games.  Translated excerpts after the jump.

Now, most of these make use of Google Translate, so be prepared for some rough grammar and some funny word choices (since Google Translate tends to take things literally).  First, on his health:

"After the rehabilitation of a summer training is ready for about eighty percent. On the ice I've had the second week, I also trained with Slovan Bratislava in the ice and showed that the hand is still weak.  When the rotational movement when shooting still feel pain. The doctor said to me, that I fear. That it can fully loaded. However, to avoid personal battles. For aftercare, I have one and a half months. "

So, from that I think it's fair to say the following:

• Visnovsky feels that he's only about 80% recovered from his injury so far.
• The doctor told him to avoid physical battles, but that otherwise he isn't going to damage it any more by practicing.
• Visnovsky's still about a month and a half away from being fully recovered (just in time for training camp).

On the state of the team: 

"We need to snap at the beginning and make a play off, because there is already quite muggy. Came a new coach Pat Quinn, replacing Craig MacTavish. We have a new goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. I had a feeling that it is still missing one - two offenders, and then we would be complete. "

Again, conclusions:

• The team needs to get off to a quick start and definitely make the playoffs.  No shocks there.  I'm not sure what "muggy" means (it isn't often humid in Edmonton during hockey season) but it probably isn't good.
• If "offenders" means what I think it does (forwards) than I completely agree - the team still has one or two holes up front that need filling before the beginning of the season.

On playing in Edmonton:

"Edmonton yet neberiem as their home. But in some ways it's also a nice change. From morning till evening in the city talking about hockey. "

I'm going to go out on a bit of a limb here with "neberiem" and say that Visnovsky figures Edmonton doesn't feel like home yet, but the focus on hockey that the city has is a welcome change from Los Angeles.