There's a new trend in the NHL that is starting to bug me a
little bit. A lot of players are
thinking they are supermen and are trying to continue their careers into their
forties. Chris Chelios and Gary Roberts
come to mind immediately. These guys
were both drafted to the NHL before I was born, and Chelios has been playing in
the NHL longer than I've been alive.
These are only two examples of player who are still playing (and playing
at an NHL level) well past their prime.
However, while these guys still love hockey, and I have little doubt
they do, the consequences of such players continuing to impress people by
coming back year after year to play a slightly more degraded game seem to be
getting lost.
Each season older players come back and decide to push it for another year,
while they seem like warriors in most fans eyes, some even gaining a cult
following (See Gary Roberts during his time in Pittsburgh), what few realize is
that these older players not wanting to get old are preventing younger players
from getting the chance to break into the NHL.
Of course, that's not always the case.
And it makes sense that if you have a situation where you have a couple
proven, but ageing scorers, they will be a better bet that trying to bring in
that rookie. It also helps allow rookies
more time to develop, and lets teams try and stay competitive while their draft
picks take their time and develop into NHL level players.
Unfortunately, while these are good thoughts, they may not translate into
results. A player held from the NHL too
long may be unable to adjust to the game, and may never develop as he would
have been projected. Also, when you have
older players taking that spot, a younger player might not get to develop that
team chemistry that is so vital towards building a championship team. Chemistry is the reason I think the Red Wings
beat the Penguins for the cup this year (well, that and the Pens spotting the
Wings two games). The Red Wings have
kept the majority of that team together for years. The Penguins, however, made some big trades,
losing Colby Armstrong, team jokester and Sir Sidney's best friend, in the
process. It's no secret that Armstrong
benefitted from playing on a line with Crosby, that's what chemistry does. In free agency this year, the Pens lost Ryan
Malone, a part of the "Steel City Line," another example of chemistry in
action.
While it's nice to see players that I remember from my childhood, it's somewhat
weird when I remember them as old, even in my childhood. There's no denying that these players have
taken amazing care of themselves.
They've persevered, taken special diets, and worked hard to reach this
level of athletic ability so as to be able to play for so long. That is quite admirable. But sometimes, you have to know when to call
it quits. And then, if you get the itch
for hockey, it means look into coaching.
Veteran