Howse's contract terminated. Update: 'I don't want to play. My heart's not in it.'

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Ducay

People here are angry because he gave up "the dream" all us plebs have (to get paid to play), but most people don't realize the AHL and ECHL isn't the same as the NHL lifestyle. Its a grind, and I can see it getting painful if you're not dedicated and working towards getting a call up.
If he has no drive or beliefs he'll make the big show, he's probably better off getting a quicker start to another career. Smart move for the kid. Probably make way more than $67k in PG anyways.

Yep, and even at the NHL level you're making a lot of sacrifices to be there. Sure you're compensated pretty handsomely, but if you really didn't have a passion for playing hockey the hard work and sacrifice would be tough regardless of the paycheck.

We probably all know a couple of people who could have gone into something that was highly paid but instead went after something they loved despite the lower wages.

[Inglewood Jack]

I don't think anybody should have a problem with Howse deciding that professional hockey's not for him. but from the article in the Herald, it sounded kind of like all he did was tell Conroy he wasn't sure about coming to rookie camp, then after that more or less completely stopped responding to the club's attempts to contact him. at the very least he should have got on the plane that Feaster booked and explained what he wanted to do in person, it's the smallest courtesy for the organization that put its resources into your development.

it's kind of like how anybody can quit their job, nothing wrong with that, but what if you decided to quit by suddenly just not showing up to the office, and not returning your manager's phone calls? hopefully he can figure out what he wants to do instead, but the maturity level has got to improve if he wants to succeed anywhere, not just in hockey.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I'm finding this thread fascinating; very revealing. Everyone's parenting style is coming out in full force, except for one thing that we've forgotten: Ryan Howse is not our child.

[Badgers Nose]

Stupid to pass up a million dollar a year career during essentially the probation period.

If he can't see that he has mental issues or lacks a killer instinct - both major warning signs for the Flames IMO.

That does not mean its not woth getting him in to see a shrink and fixing his head.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Stupid to pass up a million dollar a year career during essentially the probation period.

If he can't see that he has mental issues or lacks a killer instinct - both major warning signs for the Flames IMO.

That does not mean its not woth getting him in to see a shrink and fixing his head.

He wasn't making anywhere close to a millon dollars a year.

[Muta]

Howse handled it unprofessionally by not showing up to camp, etc. Termination of the contract was the final nail in the coffin.

However, if he doesn't have the passion for it anymore, who cares? I'm sure millions of people have lost passion for their work around the world, and have done something about it. Howse is no different, and to him it's evident that his decision is more than just about money, which is quite a amazing considering what he gave up. Kudos to him for having the balls to do it.

This stuff happens, and there's nothing wrong with it. Howse is completely free to explore other career paths, that's his right. The only thing he did that was bad was be unprofessional with the Flames by not reporting to camp.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Stupid to pass up a million dollar a year career during essentially the probation period.

If he can't see that he has mental issues or lacks a killer instinct - both major warning signs for the Flames IMO.

That does not mean its not woth getting him in to see a shrink and fixing his head.

When exactly did he make a million dollars?

I also like the idea that anyone who is motivated to do something for reasons beyond money should see a shrink.

[Drury18]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...162/story.html

Little more of the story in the Herald. Sounds like Howse did this a couple times and the Flames and Heat went to some great lengths to try to keep him on board and help him out.

[Owen15]

Originally Posted by FBI

Isn't it "C'est La Vie" ?

Didn't he play left wing for the Flames back in the early 80's?

[kyuss275]

Nothing wrong that Howse's heart was not in it anymore. No point on going on if you don't want to do it. Howse still should have handled it with more class and told them to their face and returned phone calls. Obviously he is young and has a lot of growing up to do.

[Buff]

Why is this such an issue? He was likely never going to make the NHL. He was a long shot even when he was drafted. Maybe he loves hockey and likes to play it but not to the extreme of being a pro. Can't fault him for hanging on to see how far his talent can get him, but in the end he went as far as he was comfortable. He is done now. No big deal.

Just because a person has a talent to do something doesn't mean they should exploit that talent for monetary gain. You do things because you enjoy it. If you can make money and still enjoy it then good for you. If not, then you need to quit so you can still enjoy it in some capacity.

There is nothing wrong with his decision to quit. Only the matter in how he handled it but again, no big deal. It doesn't affect me, I can't see why it would be such a concern to many other posters on this board. Maybe you should go back to watching daytime soaps if you need the drama that badly.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

He wasn't making anywhere close to a millon dollars a year.

Originally Posted by valo403

When exactly did he make a million dollars?

I also like the idea that anyone who is motivated to do something for reasons beyond money should see a shrink.

I guess it takes a lot of imagination to see this is a career that can make him millions of dollars. Even if his ceiling was Swiss league or something like that, we are still talking hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

He just spent more than half his life getting to this point, the rewards for going a bit further are massive and he decides to quit. Maybe he is burned out, chances are he will someday be burned out of whatever he takes up now, only he will probably make a lot less.

If he were my kid, yeah I would get him counselling now so that he does not regret it down the road when it's too late. Maybe they already did that. Who knows?

Money makes everything in life better. The more I make the happier I am and the more freedom I have. Nobody is saying it's the only thing, but if you can't see how financial freedom makes life better than I don't know why I would even want to spend another character acknowledging you.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Bull####. Spoken like someone who's never even had a real dream, let alone chased it. Better to go down fighting tooth and nail into oblivion than ever wuss out.

I eagerly await your inspiring, made-for-tv-movie summary of your personal fight against all odds to fulfill the life-long dream you've always had.

I think I might know you! You're the guy at beer league who snows the goalie and wants to drop the mitts because there's still a chance someone will notice?

[albertGQ]

I could be a doctor or lawyer if I really wanted to. But my heart is not in it and that's something I don't want to do despite the money

So I don't blame Ryan at all. Not sure why some posters think he needs mental help because he didn't want to play hockey anymore

Daigle didn't enjoy playing hockey but did it for the money. I don't want an Alexandre on our hands

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Stupid to pass up a million dollar a year career during essentially the probation period.

If he can't see that he has mental issues or lacks a killer instinct - both major warning signs for the Flames IMO.

That does not mean its not woth getting him in to see a shrink and fixing his head.

Yes, because we all know that money is THE most important thing in the world.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I guess it takes a lot of imagination to see this is a career that can make him millions of dollars. Even if his ceiling was Swiss league or something like that, we are still talking hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

He just spent more than half his life getting to this point, the rewards for going a bit further are massive and he decides to quit. Maybe he is burned out, chances are he will someday be burned out of whatever he takes up now, only he will probably make a lot less.

If he were my kid, yeah I would get him counselling now so that he does not regret it down the road when it's too late. Maybe they already did that. Who knows?

Money makes everything in life better. The more I make the happier I am and the more freedom I have. Nobody is saying it's the only thing, but if you can't see how financial freedom makes life better than I don't know why I would even want to spend another character acknowledging you.

Umm, no we're not. Very, very, very few professional hockey players make anywhere close to that number, and among those that do most of them only make it for a few years. You have a pretty warped view of the reality of professional hockey.

Perhaps you should seek counseling if you think that financial rewards are so important that you should continue to do something you no longer want to do on the miniscule chance it could make you rich.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Ryan Howse is starting over at the age of 22. Plenty of people are forced to start over at much later stages in life, most professional hockey players have to start over in their mid-30's when they've never played an NHL game in their life and have nothing beyond the earnings they've had for those years.

Starting over at 22 is pretty simple. Even if he bums around for a year not sure what to do he can start University next fall and still come out way ahead of the game.

[devo22]

People on here focus way too much on the money aspect. With the Flames, he earned what? Two years of AHL salary (~65k or something) plus two signing bonuses of 90k each? That's A LOT of cash for "normal" people. He's set up quite nicely financially, I'd like to think. No point in wasting another year simply for the money if he doesn't like what he's doing.

I wish him all the best for his future!!!

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Ryan Howse is starting over at the age of 22. Plenty of people are forced to start over at much later stages in life, most professional hockey players have to start over in their mid-30's when they've never played an NHL game in their life and have nothing beyond the earnings they've had for those years.

Starting over at 22 is pretty simple. Even if he bums around for a year not sure what to do he can start University next fall and still come out way ahead of the game.

Also, doesn't he get a CHL sponsored scholarship for time spent in the WHL?

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by FakenHaken

Also, doesn't he get a CHL sponsored scholarship for time spent in the WHL?

I am pretty sure that was voided when he signed his pro contract