Pre-Game Talk: Milan Hejduk Appreciation Thread

[Pokecheque]

The Man, The Myth, The Legend, and my ALL-TIME favorite Avs player. And probably the last number the Avalanche will raise to the rafters for a good long time at the very least.

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[Pokecheque]

 

[dahrougem2]

Greatest NHL swimmer of all time

 

[Foppberg]

His backstroke is unbelievable. Top 10 all time.

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

4th-best Avalanche captain of all time

 

[The Kingslayer]

I still remember that drag move top shelf goal in game 2 against the nucks in 2001. So pretty.

 

[Freudian]

His shot was a thing of beauty. Almost all wrists. So quick and accurate.

 

[The Kingslayer]

His shot was a thing of beauty. Almost all wrists. So quick and accurate.

Best wrist shot according to Joe Sakic. I don't disagree. Joe's shot was more powered by his legs. Hejduk can be at a stand still and let off a missile similar to Ryan Getzlaf.

 

[member 116861]

I'm surrounded by Canucks fans, this guy made their life hell. Thank you, Mr.Hejduk!

 

[Pokecheque]

The best part about that swim video remains Sandis Ozolinsh's reaction

 

[Avs_19]

Great player, great career.

One of the kids needs to go swimming on the ice in his honour tomorrow night. Although, it'd be kinda funny if someone like Soderberg did since it'd be just as surprising as Hejduk doing it.

 

[Hesher]

My favorite Czech player by far.

 

[dahrougem2]

Great player, great career.

One of the kids needs to go swimming on the ice in his honour tomorrow night. Although, it'd be kinda funny if someone like Soderberg did since it'd be just as surprising as Hejduk doing it.

Soderberg needs to do this.

However, I'd be just as happy seeing Yak do it. He'd probably try swimming the entire rink.

 

[Avs_19]

Soderberg needs to do this.

However, I'd be just as happy seeing Yak do it. He'd probably try swimming the entire rink.

Yakupov would do it for sure. Rantanen is a goofball so he'd probably be a good candidate as well. Same with Barrie but obviously that one can't happen right now.

 

[Pokecheque]

The thing that sold me on him that I've said ad nauseam on these boards was his supreme adaptability. He could be the fancy sniper playing up-tempo, open-cycle hockey when playing with a guy like Joe Sakic, and then turn it around and play low along the boards and get the greasy goals in the slot when alongside Paul Stastny, or a combination of the two with Peter Forsberg. Hell, he and Alex Tanguay played an entire game with Travis effing Brigley at center and it somehow worked. He doesn't get enough credit for being as complete a player as he was.

The one and only time I ever remember him looking out of sorts on the ice was when they put him on the point of the power play. You could tell he got nervous about turning it over and overhandled the puck. Thankfully that experiment ended quickly.

A shame he was only captain for one season but I think the decision to relinquish the C was his choice.

 

[dahrougem2]

IIRC I don't think he ever wanted to be the captain of the team. We just didn't have anyone else lol.

 

[Lonewolfe2015]

I always forget he was captain of the team briefly, such a forgettable period of time. Hejduk was great to watch though, had an uncanny chemistry with almost everyone. Just made the team better and did his job.

 

[Ivan13]

Duke was the best. Loved his game and how he handled himself. We so need a guy like him today.