Worst swan songs

[Stray Wasp]

Didn't Marcel Dionne finish his career in the minors?

Sort of. He was demoted in 88-89, cut by the Rangers at training camp in 89 then refused to retire because he didn't want to sacrifice his contract.

http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1971/71002.html

 

[Hoser]

I remember Grant Fuhr's final season in Calgary and it being evident that he'd hung on one year too long. The final game was in Calgary against the Oilers, and a large contingent of Oiler fans headed down to the Saddledome to bid farewell to an Oiler legend. To the dismay of many, Fuhr didn't get the starting assignment in goal that night. But he came out and played the third period, with the coach explaining afterwards that he didn't want to start Fuhr an risk him getting lit up and embarrassed in his final game (this was happening with regularity by that point). So in the end, it was actually a classy move by the Flames, but boy were us Oiler fans steamed at the beginning.

I was also at that game and I still remember EVERYBODY in the Saddledome, Flames and Oilers fans alike, chanting "We want Fuhr! We want Fuhr!" at the second intermission. And when they finally took the ice for the third and Fuhr came out there was a huge ovation.

Unfortunately it really was obvious he just wasn't up to it anymore. He let in two goals on seven shots in that last period, and was credited with the loss.

 

[Jumptheshark]

here is the thing

we complain when playerrs play too long and then we complain when they go out when they decide to walk away when they are still productivity

no win situation

 

[Kyle McMahon]

here is the thing

we complain when playerrs play too long and then we complain when they go out when they decide to walk away when they are still productivity

no win situation

I know what you're saying, and I don't think I've ever complained that a guy walked away from the game too soon. I really don't understand why these guys play well into their 30's if they've already won a Cup and have all the money they'll ever need.

If I was an NHL player I think Cup + a few million $ = retirement, even if I was only 25 or 26. All that working out and training if I've already got a Cup and can live without ever having to work? No thanks, I'll take a beach and a golf course. But I'm probably never going to make the NHL, so I guess I'll never know.

 

[Weztex]

I know what you're saying, and I don't think I've ever complained that a guy walked away from the game too soon. I really don't understand why these guys play well into their 30's if they've already won a Cup and have all the money they'll ever need.

If I was an NHL player I think Cup + a few million $ = retirement, even if I was only 25 or 26. All that working out and training if I've already got a Cup and can live without ever having to work? No thanks, I'll take a beach and a golf course. But I'm probably never going to make the NHL, so I guess I'll never know.

That, is what they call passion my friend. While most of us would win the lottery and quit our daily jobs, these guys just keep on for the love of what they are doing for a living. This is the reason why I got so much respect for most of these professional athletes.

 

[lextune]

107 points in 165 games isn't exactly 'brutal'..

I should have stated that I was specifically referring to his final year as brutal. He got progressively slower and slower, (unsurprisingly), during the three years of his comeback. And during that last season he did not get many chances. Scoring 12 goals, which he had done in 20 fewer games the year before.

 

[Forsbergwannabe]

Darian Hatcher certainly had his share of problems keeping up with the opposition in his last fews years, but thats what injuries and rule changes can do to a player.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I know what you're saying, and I don't think I've ever complained that a guy walked away from the game too soon. I really don't understand why these guys play well into their 30's if they've already won a Cup and have all the money they'll ever need.

If I was an NHL player I think Cup + a few million $ = retirement, even if I was only 25 or 26. All that working out and training if I've already got a Cup and can live without ever having to work? No thanks, I'll take a beach and a golf course. But I'm probably never going to make the NHL, so I guess I'll never know.

They love what they do. I'll never begrudge a player for wanting to milk every last drop out of their hockey career.

Unless it's Billy Guerin, and he does it in Pittsburgh again this year.

 

[tommygunn]

I should have stated that I was specifically referring to his final year as brutal. He got progressively slower and slower, (unsurprisingly), during the three years of his comeback. And during that last season he did not get many chances. Scoring 12 goals, which he had done in 20 fewer games the year before.

That Nordiques team was brutal. Lafleur played respectable and was the top RW'er on the team, at age 39.

 

[Loto68]

Pat LaFontaine as a Ranger

Explain. He played pretty damn well for the Rangers, 62 pts in 67 games coming off a 13 game, 8 pt season, before he got a concussion colliding with a teammate.

 

[Blues88]

He played well... but then... there was THIS:

Keenan

Kariya is fast approaching a less than memorable ending to his career. Despite injuries, which were unfortunate, I think he has tainted his early appeal with what has appeared to be a selfish, "gun for hire" attitude. Loved him as a kid, but when he finally came to St. Louis....kind of disappointing.

Love Big Walt, but I think he should have hung them up before this past season or even earlier. Well received in the locker room by the younger guys according to some sources.

Some of these examples arent "swan songs" at all. MacInnis for one had an eye injury that forced him to embrace the inevitable. Trust me, no embarassement or sour taste left behind by him. Pure class.

 

[markrander87]

I know what you're saying, and I don't think I've ever complained that a guy walked away from the game too soon. I really don't understand why these guys play well into their 30's if they've already won a Cup and have all the money they'll ever need.

If I was an NHL player I think Cup + a few million $ = retirement, even if I was only 25 or 26. All that working out and training if I've already got a Cup and can live without ever having to work? No thanks, I'll take a beach and a golf course. But I'm probably never going to make the NHL, so I guess I'll never know.

I know he's by know means a star but Glen Murray pretty much fell off the face of the planet after the 2007-08 season.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Brett Hull with the Coyotes...

 

[Super Fadio Bro]

The Canucks could of put a better showing in Trevor Linden's last game of his career (I know they had nothing for play for but a 7-1 beating?!)

 

[sr edler]

alexander mogilny playing for the albany river rats

 

[jkrx]

alexander mogilny playing for the albany river rats

That was more because of a cheap move by the devils when Elias came back. They had no room under the cap and simply waived Mogilny who had been playing pretty good. I don't remember the full story behind it though.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

That was more because of a cheap move by the devils when Elias came back. They had no room under the cap and simply waived Mogilny who had been playing pretty good. I don't remember the full story behind it though.

Mogilny basically suckered Lou into thinking his hip would hold up. It didn't (of course, where were team doctors?). By the time Mogilny was sent down, he was basically a PP specialist who couldn't skate.

He actually would have counted against the cap in year 2 of the deal (the 35+ clause), but I think he (conveniently?) failed a team physical for his hip condition.

 

[The_Human_Atombomb]

Mogilny basically suckered Lou into thinking his hip would hold up. It didn't (of course, where were team doctors?). By the time Mogilny was sent down, he was basically a PP specialist who couldn't skate.

He actually would have counted against the cap in year 2 of the deal (the 35+ clause), but I think he (conveniently?) failed a team physical for his hip condition.

You should believe that a GM of Lamoriello's magnitude and experience, with a medical crew at hand, would be wiser when handing out contracts with that big of a risk connected to them.

 

[jkrx]

Mogilny basically suckered Lou into thinking his hip would hold up. It didn't (of course, where were team doctors?). By the time Mogilny was sent down, he was basically a PP specialist who couldn't skate.

He actually would have counted against the cap in year 2 of the deal (the 35+ clause), but I think he (conveniently?) failed a team physical for his hip condition.

Well I believe that a contract should always be honoured from both sides. That's why I think it was a cheap move.

However I don't find Mogilnys swan song anywhere near the worst in the league.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I know what you're saying, and I don't think I've ever complained that a guy walked away from the game too soon. I really don't understand why these guys play well into their 30's if they've already won a Cup and have all the money they'll ever need.
If I was an NHL player I think Cup + a few million $ = retirement, even if I was only 25 or 26. All that working out and training if I've already got a Cup and can live without ever having to work? No thanks, I'll take a beach and a golf course. But I'm probably never going to make the NHL, so I guess I'll never know.

You underestimate the pro athletes ability to piss away money.

 

[HFpapi]

First one to come to mind for me was Paul Coffey. Im 21 so he was a bit before my time, so i cant comment on his level of play in the later years, but I have a bunch of old Coffey hockey cards and he's with a different team in all of them. I find that it really hurts a players legacy when he becomes a journyman and bounces around a bunch of random teams after his glory days. I like to think i know my hockey, and i had no idea he played for Philly, Chicago, or Boston, so goes to show you how memorable those stints were.

I also think Chris Chelios needed to retire a long time ago. I think it's getting to a point where his legacy is more derivitive of the fact that he was an ironman and played well into his mid-forties, and less about the fact that he was a 3 time norris trophy winner and one of the most dominant 2 way defensman of his era. He was barely an nhl caliber player 5 years ago, let alone today.

 

[Fish on The Sand]

The Canucks could of put a better showing in Trevor Linden's last game of his career (I know they had nothing for play for but a 7-1 beating?!)

I came here to add Linden. Once he left Vancouver he quickly came undone and by the time his disastrous stint in Montreal was over he should have retired.

 

[sr edler]

linden was bullied out of vancouver and ended up on atrocious islanders|canadiens teams ... it was a lose|lose situation

 

[GCM]

The Canucks could of put a better showing in Trevor Linden's last game of his career (I know they had nothing for play for but a 7-1 beating?!)

Dan Cloutier, man. Dan Cloutier.

 

[Super Fadio Bro]

Dan Cloutier, man. Dan Cloutier.

He threw the Canucks' chances to go to the finals to the windows.