Alumni in the Pros MAY '05

[The Rancor]

why not?

will Doug Murray play tonight?

who among alumni are still active pros? (or will be next season)

[French Rage]

Is Neiuwendyk still in next year?

[pfibiger]

he signed a two year contract, but now at least one sportswriter has heard rumor that he's going to retire:

from:
http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Columnists/Garrioch_Bruce/2006/05/03/1561715.html

"C Joe Nieuwendyk, who has a year remaining on his contract with the Panthers is expected to retire."

[Josh '99]

Doug hasn't seen the ice for the Sharks since the last game of the regular season on April 17th.  I think Wilson has settled on McLaren, Hannan, Preissing, Ehrhoff, Carle and Gorges as their top six for the playoffs.  Seems to be working for them, too, as the Sharks have won their last six games (four in a row against Nashville after losing the first game and then the first two against Edmonton), with all of them except for Gorges having at least one point in the playoffs.  Carle's got 3, Ehrhoff 6, and Preissing 7, which makes one nervous for Doug's long-term prospects in view of his one point in 34 regular season games.   ::uhoh::

[Harrier]

why would he retire?  He was awesome in the second half, healthy again, and making good $$ next year...

[KeithK]

[quote Harrier]why would he retire?  He was awesome in the second half, healthy again, and making good $$ next year...[/quote]Lot's of possible reasons. He may not be that healthy or may not want to deal with the rigors of another NHL season.  He may think his team's prospects are dim and doesn't want to play on a losing team.  He may want to relax, or travel, or spend time with family.  The money is probably not a big deal at this point.

As much as I find it hard to imagine myself ever willingly giving up a professional sports career (especially as I sit here killing time at my job) I suspect it's different when you've been doing it for 20 years rather than simply fantasizing about it.

[calgARI '07]

Expect Murray to be moved this summer.

[Trotsky]

[quote Harrier]why would he retire?  He was awesome in the second half, healthy again, and making good $$ next year...[/quote]
It may be a gentle hint to the Panthers to move him to a contender.

[Roy 82]

I agree that the Sharks don't seem to be interested in Doug's hard-hitting defensive style right now. Matt carle has more points but he often gets them by taking risks. His plus-minus was lower than Doug's in the regular season and is among the lowest on the team right now.

If the Sharks get into a physical battle I wonder (hope) if they might not want Doug back in the lineup. Ville Niemenen (sp) is dishing out hits big time for the Sharks.

BTW, Darren Eliot did color commentary for the Sharks on OLN last night. They made some joke about how many philiosophy books he read in college becuase he went to Cornell. It is good to see him once again backing up NBC color-man Brian Hayward.

[Harrier]

That team would be rudderless without Joe.  Can't see him hanging them up healthy and so productive.

[jkahn]

[quote Roy 82]

BTW, Darren Eliot did color commentary for the Sharks on OLN last night. They made some joke about how many philiosophy books he read in college becuase he went to Cornell. It is good to see him once again backing up NBC color-man Brian Hayward.[/quote]
The play-by-play jokingly asked Darren if Bryzgalov went to Cornell, because Bryzgalov has been reading Plato and Socrates and says it gives him a perspective which helps his game.  I thought it was a real good Cornell mention - obviously he wouldn't have said that about lots of other schools.  Darren responded that he knew from experience that back-up goalies have a lot of time to read.

In other Cornell connections to the Stanley Cup, one of the guys that Lenny beat out for the goalie spot on the '02-'03 Canada World Junior team was Cam Ward, who's been absolutely great for Carolina.  And Chris Kunitz of Anaheim has been real strong at forward for the Ducks - he was a Hobey Hat Trick finalist with Lenny.  Kunitz is a power forward type with good hands whose presence might make it more difficult for Shane Hynes to move up, although if Hynes develops, two is better than one.

[Rich S]

IIRC, he's had some injury problems the past couple years and may not be as healthy as he'd like.

Many pros retire before they sustain a more serious injury, especially after having accomplished as much as Joe has.  At that age, they are looking ahead towards the rest of their lives.

[billhoward]

[quote Rich S]IIRC, he's had some injury problems the past couple years and may not be as healthy as he'd like.

Many pros retire before they sustain a more serious injury, especially after having accomplished as much as Joe has.  At that age, they are looking ahead towards the rest of their lives.[/quote]

Amazing what not being at each others' throats (during the season) can do to your perspective of the other guy's perspective. Rich speaks the truth. Pushing 40 is old for hockey and young for life. Joe might be thinking about how more pounding his knees can take and whether another year of hockey takes 5 years off his ability to walk without pain. Plus if you retire on the top of your game (a little late for Joe), people remember you more positively. Babe Ruth was lousy at the end and people still remembered him, but there are many more where you wonder why he didn't call it a career two years before he did.

[French Rage]

[quote calgARI '07]Expect Murray to be moved this summer.[/quote]

Back down or to another team?

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote billhoward]Babe Ruth was lousy at the end and people still remembered him, but there are many more where you wonder why he didn't call it a career two years before he did.[/quote]
Like watching Willie Mays--the greatest I've ever seen (and, no, even I don't go back as far as Ruth)--embarrass himself with the Mets at the end of his career.