It can take time for Unrestricted Free Agent veteran NHL players to sign and not always because they are considering money or the city best for the family or even which team has the better shot at Stanley Cup rings. No, often veterans take time because the offers aren't coming fast and furious.
Or at all.
It seems irreverent if not sacrilegious to talk about Bill Guerin, Brendan Morrison, Teemu Selanne, Craig Conroy, Aaron Ward and Kim Johnsson as if no one wanted them. These are players fans have enjoyed watching for years. Decades even. No offers? Scandalous!
Modano, Turco Sign but Many 2010 NHL Veteran UFA Players Wait for Offers
It has taken awhile but on Thursday, August 6 there were media reports which said Selanne and former teammate Paul Kariya were set to sign in Anaheim for one more year together there before retirement. And Mike Modano signed with Detroit earlier that week while his former teammate Marty Turco ended up in Chicago to replace Anti Niemi, now an UFA. But there are still lots of older guys left unsigned.
Is it just a coincidence that of the 65 players signed on the first two days of 2010 free agency only three, Ray Whitney, Sean O'Donnell and Johan Hedberg, were over 35? Those numbers aren't very encouraging for older players and it seems unfair or at least poor judgment on the part of NHL GMs because even though they're older they are still some pretty fine players.
NHL Veterans BIll Guerin and Owen Nolan Used to be Sought After Free Agents
Imagine Guerin, Darcy Tucker or Owen Nolan as UFAs ten years ago. There would be bidding wars and numbers and rumors would be flying faster than an Al MacInnis slapshot (he's retired so perhaps not so fast anymore). But add one decade to the body and ten years of younger players coming into the NHL and suddenly former superstars, or their agents, are waiting for the phone to ring.
Here's an age checklist of arguably the best veterans still unsigned: Selanne is 40 (so is Modano), Kariya 35, Guerin is 39, Nolan 38, Morrison and Johnsson young at 34, Ward is 37, Tucker 35 (same with Turco) and Conroy 38. Other veterans looking for work include Fredrick Modin, Miroslav Satan and Andy Sutton, all five aged 35, Glen Metropolit, 36 and John Madden, 37.
Mark Recchi Example at 42 of NHL Veteran That is Still Effective
That's 16 players who between the ages of 34 and 40. Naturally all slowed down to some degree and while some could be like 42-year-old veteran Boston Bruin Mark Recchi - 18 goals last season,10 points in the playoffs - and continue to be effective, others maybe not so. The rumor mill suggests some veteran players are not getting offers.
Dara Torres is an American Olympic swimmer, the first American to swim in five Games. While training for her fifth in Beijing in 2008 she was asked why she still competed at age 41. She replied "the water doesn't know what age you are when you jump in, so why not?" For many NHL veterans the ice may not know what age they are but there is a reason why not.
Because NHL GMs do.
More Suite 101 Sports Stories by Marcus Hondro:
Blackhawks: No Change Still NHL Contenders
July 1 2010 Free Agency Day Won By Canucks
Great Hockey Fights - 1987 Junior Punch Up
The All-Time NHL Family Scoring Rankings
NFL Fans: CFL Has an Exciting Game
2010 FIFA World Cup Recap
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