Great feedback regarding Lidstrom, thanks! I'm looking at where Lidstrom was after the '02 season and I think it kinda makes sense that he contemplated returning to Sweden. He had 3 Cups, 2 Norris, 1 Conn Smythe, and had been a perennial all star...what else was there to do? I don't mean that in an egotistical way but more from an achievement standpoint, had he left I'm guessing that he wouldn't look back and have any regrets having both team and individual success, his health, and financial security. And the only thing that was pretty much left was the Olympic Gold which Lidstrom went on to win in '06.
Bengt Åke Gustafsson returned to Europe for good after the 1988-89 season with the Capitals (72-18-51-69), he did play another 10 years with Sweden and Austria. He left to be closer to home and family, He had offers to come back, but stayed put.
Doug Cress Washington Post 2/13/92 'Gustafsson Knows When He's Well Off'
Gustafsson: "...some of the offers I have taken quite seriously. I was considering a proposal from Detroit a couple of years ago. I mean the money was really, really good. Bryan Murray was coaching Detroit, and I had enjoyed playing for him for 7 or 8 years in Washington. It was a tough decision". He would've been a nice addition to the Red Wings but I would have liked to have seen him stay with the Caps. The money and work was there if he returned but made the choice to be closer to what matters most to him and there's no fault in that. 629-195-359-554 +45, 18-5-10-15 playoffs, all with Washington.
Bossy was a real bummer, It wasn't until after the fact that I heard the level of discomfort he dealt with on such a regular basis, what's frustrating is that he still wanted to play but physically couldn't, perhaps modern procedures would have helped him.
Yeah, I guess Todd Bergen and Keenan was kinda of a similar situation to Pavelich and Sator in New York...good players with the wrong coach (or right coach wrong player) Pavelich went on to play in Europe and had a brief NHL return with San Jose. Bergen hung up the skates for good in '87 after a year with Springfield (AHL), he did have abdominal injuries but was said to have been somewhat turned off by the game due to his time in Philly. 14-11-5-16, with at least a point in 10 of those 14 games.