Gilbert Brule trying to resurrect his NHL career. UPD: will attend Phoenix camp

[sureLoss]

Blames the downslide of his hockey career on his father. Claims his father took most of the money he made with Edmonton and even threatened to release private photos. Also claims the Oilers pressured him into taking medication to help deal with his depression (and claims the medication made the problem worse).

http://www.theprovince.com/touch/story.html?id=8668967

Brule was depressed about his fractured relationship with his father, Chris Brule — a man, who until recently, had been heavily involved in his son’s career, even long before he became a star with the Giants.


The medications Gilbert was on seemed to exacerbate the problem.
Brule says he entrusted his father with the care of the money he had worked so hard for, with the understanding that he was building a company for him.
Instead, he says his dad was doing something else with the money, something that ended poorly.


“Basically, he was taking money from me,” Brule said last week before one of his rigorous workouts aimed at getting his hockey career back on track, as the 26-year-old, free-agent centre is looking for a tryout with an NHL team this fall.

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Brule’s talked his issues through with a couple of professionals, and he’s seeing a sports psychologist to seek improvement in his performance. The problem first reared its head in earnest when Brule was with the Oilers, and he got down over the fallout from the broken relationship with his dad.


“I went to see a therapist, who prescribed temporary medication, and I really don’t believe in taking drugs for a problem like that. I thought it should have been dealt with in a different way. But the Oilers wanted me back on the ice as soon as possible. It’s a business and I understand that, and I’m not trying to throw the Oilers under the bus; they reacted as any team would and should.


“But the medication didn’t make me better, it made it worse. And all the while I was trying to play through this. Now I’ve talked those issues through, my head is clear, I feel good. It’s actually fun again to be on the ice. That’s the thing with my father. I’m really happy and grateful that he got me into hockey, it’s just that any regular relationship with him while I’m playing isn’t going to work.”

[MrMastodonFarm]

Looks like the Oilers put the welfare of their own team above the welfare of a young man.

Damning insinuation, if true.

[Hatter]

It's a sad parent that cheats their child. I hope he gets his career back on track.

[dammage79]

Best of luck to him. Hope he gets it all back on track.

[trackercowe]

Former top ten pick, only 26 years old; I'd say he'll get a shot somewhere. I'd even give him a shot here if we don't sign or trade for any other new players.

Feel bad for the guy though, his misfortune just goes to show how poorly their careers might fare if you're drafted by one ####ty organization (Columbus) only to get dealt to one that might be even worse (Edmonton).

[4oh3]

I picked him up in nhl 13 got me about 23 goals but seriously that's sad about his father and his depression issues. Come to calgary bud!

[Dion]

Good to see Brule rising above the issues he had with his father and his depression. He's headed in the right direction and hopefully he can resume his career that was cut short.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Looks like the Oilers put the welfare of their own team above the welfare of a young man.

Damning insinuation, if true.

Not the first time with the Oilers, the Sheldon Souray story was fairly disgusting.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Doesn't sound completely different than what Souray said about the Oilers management putting the welfare of the players at risk.

To think at one point there was a Crosby vs Brule debate and now Brule is entering that "what ever happened to" territory. Honestly, I wouldn't be upset if he was offered a tryout or 2-way contract by Feaster though.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Not the first time with the Oilers, the Sheldon Souray story was fairly disgusting.

Or Mike Comrie's contract dispute made personal by K Lowe.

[Stupid]

I have to admit I don't know much about him. Would he be a good fit for us? He's young and seemed to have had promise at one point in his career.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Looks like the Oilers put the welfare of their own team above the welfare of a young man.

Damning insinuation, if true.

I'd slow down on that one. There's a big leap from prescribed antidepressants to forced to get back to the ice

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Dion

Or Mike Comrie's contract dispute made personal by K Lowe.

While another embarrassing moment for the circus up north, I don't know if a contract dispute and a fight over cash can hold a candle to what Souray alleged. Putting someone's health at risk is just a whole other level.

[Alberta_Beef]

I would give Brule a tryout, wouldn't hurt anything. Even if he doesn't earrn a job with us he could earn one elsewhere.

[FlamesFanStrandedInEDM]

Brule is one of the great guys of the NHL. I remember that story about him donating $10,000 of his own money to help out that sick kid in Boston.

I really hope he finds his way back.

[StrykerSteve]

I would love to see him offered a tryout here in Calgary.

[Da_Chief]

Terrible thing for a father to do this. Still only 26 and plays bigger then he is. He says he's head is clear. If he can be half or even quarter good as he was suppose to be coming outta juniors he'll have a career. I'd give him a tryout here.

Future 4th lineup of Bouma-Reinhart-Brule would be hard to play against.

[BurningSteel]

Come on Feaster wheres the tryout offer?

[Canada 02]

hope his life is in order, but he can resurrect his career somewhere else

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I'd slow down on that one. There's a big leap from prescribed antidepressants to forced to get back to the ice

And also a depressed person may be to depressed to realalize they need medication.