Catching up on my hockey news today, I couldn’t help but twitch at the headline on SportsNet.ca “Brodeur Could Return For Another Year”. Why does this make me twitch? No, not because I’m a good Rangers fan and hate all other teams in the Atlantic Division. And it’s not because I hate Brodeur. I do but honestly, it’s fun yelling “Uncle Daddy” and “Fatso” at him.
I’m upset because you don’t need to come back for another season dude! There comes a time in your career where you just gotta step back, step down, and MOVE ON! I hate to be the one that says it, but Brodeur is edging in on the time of his life where as a professional athlete you’re taken behind the barn and shot.
And Brodeur isn’t the only one. No, the NHL is filled with guys who should have long retired. I’m looking at you:
- Daniel Alfredsson
- Jason Arnott
- Todd Bertuzzi
- Francis Bouillon
- Andrew Brunette
- Hal Gill
- Roman Hamrlik
- Johan Hedberg
- Jaromir Jagr
- Nikolai Khabibulin
- Mike Knuble
- Saku Koivu
- Jamie Langenbrunner
- Nicklas Lidstrom
- Andreas Lilja
- Jamal Mayers
- Brendan Morrison
- Evgeni Nabokov
- Scott Nichol
- Sean O’Donnell
- Chris Pronger
- Vinny Prospal
- Dwayne Roloson
- Brian Rolston
- Sami Salo
- Teemu Selanne
- Jaroslav Spacek
- Steve Staios
- Steve Sullivan
- Andy Sutton
- Tim Thomas
- Kimmo Timonen
- Ray Whitney
All these players were born between 1969 and 1975. Those are some big names listed. And big names command big contracts. Daniel Alfredsson might be pushing 40 but it’s still going to be a $4.87 million cap hit to have him on your team.
100% accurate representation*. *Maybe total lie.
On May 6th Marty is turning 40. His cap hit this season was $5.2 million. What does that $5.2 million get you? 26 wins, 20 losses, and a save percentage of .906.
A goalie who has a comparable cap hit? Marc-Andre Fleury. At 27, he’s netted 40 wins, 14 losses, and a save percentage of .917. You’re paying an aging goalie the same contract a young guy can have AND be better at. How could the Devils entertain the thought of resigning him or Hedberg?
You’ve young players coming up through the ranks, who cost a team a fraction of the price of a lot of these veterans. Entry-level contracts are pennies compared to what these older guys command. And what kind of money goes into insurance because of these players? Can’t be cheap for such a hard-hitting sport. It’s foolish for a team to resign a guy from a monetary standpoint.
Ignoring the financial problems these aging players face, how about going out with some dignity? You guys, at the height of your time, were skilled players. Now I feel like you’re walking the fine line between just what the team needs and a punch line to a bad joke. And in Khabibulin’s case, you are the butt of a lot of jokes. I’d the NHL to not have an awkward moment in the papers like the NFL did with Brett Favre. I like feeling superior to them in that regard.
It’s time to move on guys. There are plenty of jobs in the front office to keep you employed and near the game. And if you don’t move on? There’s the barn. You’ve been warned.
#StayNegi my friends.