With the world waiting on a few players to decide if they are going to play or not in the upcoming year … I sit back and ponder, How in the HELL do you take so much time deciding if you are going to play the BEST game on earth.  I find it odd that there are players still “thinking” about whether or not they want to play or retire.  I have always thought, if you have to think about doing something – then there is something holding you back.  If something is holding you back from making a decision, then there could be something holding you back from taking the shot, making the hit, connecting the pass, etc … you see where I am going with this.  If you cannot wake up every morning and say to yourself “HEY – You play in the NHL … How incredible are YOU?”  Then you need to seriously think about your career choice.  Granted, I have never “played” in the NHL … I was employed by the San Jose Sharks for their 03/04 season, and I woke up every morning, looked at myself in the mirror and said “HEY – you are part of an NHL franchise!!!  How incredible are you?”  It was the BEST year of my life (until I met my wife of course!)

These thoughts cross my mind when I think about players like Mats Sundin, Joe Sakic, Teemu Selanne, Scott Niedermayer … players who are awesome at this sport, who have so much more to give us fans.  I don’t know what on earth they could be thinking about … at the same time, why do the organizations allow them to string them along for so long?  Look at the bind Teemu and Scott put the Anaheim Ducks in last year.  Granted, Teemu and Scott were in separate boats (so to speak).  The point remains … if you do something you love and you do it well … do you need that much time to decide if you are going to continue doing it?  My personal feelings tell me that if there is hesitation in my answer when asked “Bill – will you please come back to the Sharks next year” (to which my answer would be an instant - YES!!!) I should pass on the offer and allow the team to move on.

I recently read a story on this topic where Steve Yzerman and Joe Nieuwendyk were interviewed by the Canadian Press regarding players that need time deciding if they want to play or not.  I won’t say that my mind has been changed, but I now look at the issue from another viewpoint and can respect those players put in this decision.  If you don’t remember, Steve and Joe were forced to retire, not by the league, but by the sport.  They were both victims to injuries that gave them no other option but to hang up their skates and step aside.  Steve Yzerman, who is now working in the front office for the Red Wings, had to announce his early departure from the ice in 2006 due to repeated knee injuries.  He held a press conference in July to inform everyone that he had decided to end his career and even then, it took him more than 2 minutes of talking before he said the word “retirement.”  Steve was pretty confident he was playing his last season, but after the Playoffs ended he still took two months to decide and tell the Red Wings.  He told the press ”The only reason I retired was health, I loved playing the game and everything about it. If I could have remained healthy and trained and what not, I would’ve kept playing but I just physically couldn’t do it anymore.  Once I had done it, I felt really good about it, I knew it was the right decision at that time.”

Joe Nieuwendyk joined the Toronto Maple Leafs management team earlier this summer after retiring in December 2006 because of a back injury..  He too knows the importance of being close to what you love.  Joe told reporters ”My desire never wavered, I loved it right until the very end. I really don’t have any regrets - I played until I was 40, which is more than a lot of guys get to do.”

Steve’s advice to players deciding their future is simple - ”If there’s any doubt and guys aren’t sure, I think they should be playing.  You can be retired for the rest of your life. You’ll know when you’re done.  If you’re not 100 per cent certain that you don’t want to play anymore, then the decision is that you should be playing.”  Joe added:  ”People always told me: ‘Play as long as you can.’ I think these guys you’re talking about still have some good years left in them.”

I have read stories and have had conversations regarding Sundin, Sakic, Sellane and Neids … I, myself, have been holding the pitchfork and torch ready to mount a crusade against these indecisive fools!  However, after reading this story from Steve Yzerman and Joe Nieuwendyk … my stance has softened a bit.  I know some of my friends and fans around the world have grown impatient as they wait, frustration can be heard when certain “hockey purists” are asked their thoughts on these players.  What I now understand, and what I have become enlightened to is that these guys are looking down the double barrel shotgun of 82 regular-season games!  Heavens forbid they make it into the post season … that is a tough decision to make … and to make it permanent!

I have set down my torch and pitch fork … however, I still think that if there is hesitation – listen to it!  Don’t try to convince yourself that it’s not telling you something important.  At the same time … be cautious about how your actions (or non-actions) affect an entire organization.  If Mats should return, I will welcome him into my home with open arms and a frosty beverage as he wages war on his opponents, that goes for Sakic too!

Tags: Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin, Retirement, Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne