Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
People burn out and let go of the dream. It doesn't mean they're lazy or unmotivated. And it's going to happen more and more as hockey has become a 10-12 month a year all-consuming lifestyle for the top kids these days. By 21, a lot of them have just had enough. And if they go on to have fulfilling careers and happy lives in other fields, who are we to judge?
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To add to this, the AHL/journeyman lifestyle is not for everyone, and, in fact, it's not for most. You'd probably live in a small town far away from home. You'd spend most of the year on the road. It'd be difficult to maintain relationships, friendships, or any kind of ties for that matter. At a sub-70k salary, you'd have to really love playing AHL hockey to want that.
The fact of the matter is that Howse would have struggled to secure an AHL spot this year. Had Howse stayed at camp, there is a very good chance he would have spent the entire season back in the ECHL. It's getting harder and harder for a middling prospect like Howse to secure a position with the Heat. It's no longer a given.