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

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by mattcoco35

This one frustrates me a bit. I understand personal problems, but what I don't understand is working your whole teens and early twenties to make it to the show, and then to decide (when closest) that it's not what you want! Sigh. Having tried and got so close only to not make it, I wish there was a player like this in front of me, because I would have made it and held on a tight as possible to the opportunity. In that light, I guess another kid is one step closer which is a positive!

If it makes you feel better, it probably wasn't an on/off lightbulb kind of moment as you imagine it. He probably didn't enjoy it too much the entire time, and enjoyed it less and less the more he played, until something reached a tipping point recently.

[West Karma]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

If it makes you feel better, it probably wasn't an on/off lightbulb kind of moment as you imagine it. He probably didn't enjoy it too much the entire time, and enjoyed it less and less the more he played, until something reached a tipping point recently.

Agreed! Maybe he will like working at the Chrysler Plant more!!

[Coach]

Originally Posted by West Karma

Agreed! Maybe he will like working at the Chrysler Plant more!!

Maybe he will. So what's wrong with that?

Playing in the NHL takes not-stop work and complete focus. It literally takes over your entire life 8-10 months at a time. You are told where to go, where to sleep, what time to sleep, when and what to eat, etc...

An yeah you get to play hockey for a living, but it's not for everyone.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Maybe he will. So what's wrong with that?

Playing in the NHL takes not-stop work and complete focus. It literally takes over your entire life 8-10 months at a time. You are told where to go, where to sleep, what time to sleep, when and what to eat, etc...

An yeah you get to play hockey for a living, but it's not for everyone.

Aside from the 2-4 month break that sounds like any regular Job + Wife lifestyle.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Aside from the 2-4 month break that sounds like any regular Job + Wife lifestyle.

Really? Your job dictates your diet? When you have to sleep (and no being up at a certain time isnt what I'm talking about. I mean it's 1 pm you HAVE to go to sleep. It's 9 pm, you HAVE to sleep)? That you have to be in extreme physical condition? Requires your focus all the time? Not just when you're there doing your stuff, but all the time. Does your job have you consistently travelling to the point that your really don't have a "home" anywhere? Hockey is ALL NHL hockey players do and have done their entire lives. Is your job literally ALL you do? Not to mention the eventual physical toll it takes on your body. Even the softest of professional athletes leave their games with life-long debilitations. Some minor, some more severe. But you dont have a decent NHL career without walking away with some bruises.

Again, yes they get to play a game for a living, yes they make a lot of money, and yes they get a couple months off after doing their job almost 24 hrs a day for the last 8-10 months. No, it is not for everyone. If Howse looked at what he would have to do in order to even have a shot at the NHL and decided that he could not commit himself in that way than good on him for figuring it out sooner rather than later. He's still 22. He has plenty of time left to make a life for himself doing something completely different.

[EYE_Overstand]

Dear R Howse,

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.


Eye_Overstands

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by EYE_Overstand

Dear R Howse,

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.


Eye_Overstands

Dear Eye_Overstands

Words hurt.

R. Howse

[macrov]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I'd say NHLers are in the top 5 per cent of human beings in motivation and discipline. Guys like Howse who don't quite cut it are still probably in the top 25 per cent - much less and he probably drops out of hockey when he's 14. So I don't like the term 'lack of motivation'. I'd wager Howse has shown more motivation and discipline in hockey over the last five years than most people on this forum have over their own vocations.

My thoughts exactly.
Heres a study:
In the 1991 and 1992 OHL Drafts, there were 232 Ontario developed players selected by the 16 junior teams from 30 000 active players.

Out of those 232 players drafted to the OHL, only 105 ever played one game in the OHL.
Out of those 105 players, only 90 finished their full 3 or 4 years of eligibility in the OHL and only 42 played NCAA Division I hockey!
There were 48 players that were drafted by a National Hockey League team
Of the 48 drafted players only 39 signed contracts with NHL teams.
Of the 48 signed players, only 32 have seen action to date in an NHL game.
Of the 32 players with NHL experience, only 15 have played more than one (1) full NHL season!
Of these 32 players, only 21 were active in the NHL as of April 1, 2002 .
Of those 32 who have played an NHL game to date, only 18-20 will earn a second contract with an NHL team.
Of the 32 players who have seen action in an NHL game, only six (6) have qualified for the NHL's Player Pension (minimum 400 games in the NHL!).

So basicly, Howse finished in the top 39 out of 10000. Top 5% Maybe top 0.5%.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

If it makes you feel better, it probably wasn't an on/off lightbulb kind of moment as you imagine it. He probably didn't enjoy it too much the entire time, and enjoyed it less and less the more he played, until something reached a tipping point recently.

Great response! I totally agree with this. Life if like that, sometimes there comes a point where people turn a page; On the surface it doesn't make sense but to the person making the decision it can make perfect sense. It's kind of like the John Gaudreau, he wants to spend time with brother and finish his college.To most people that decision probably looks crazy on surface but it makes sense to him.

[macrov]

Personally, I think its exactly what he said. He didn't love it enough. I love hockey, but I couldn't do what NHL Players do. I don't have it in me. Think about, the guy has been breathing, eating, sleeping hockey for 7 or 8 years now. And every year he has to get significantly better to keep up to stay with the cream of the cream of the cream of the crop.

You begin to burnout. The hours and effort required increase each year. And its not a question of "Do you love the game?," but "do you love it enough?" To reach the level he reached requires an immense skill of talent, hard work, and smart work. He probably loves the game more than any of us do, but there was 300 people in the world that loved it more.

[sureLoss]

Re-starting his pro career:

Darryl Wolski @darrylwolski
Former Calgary Flame prospect Ryan Howse signs with Stockton in the ECHL @NHLFREEAGENTS @fan960boomer @NHLFlames

[saXon]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Re-starting his pro career:

Darryl Wolski @darrylwolski
Former Calgary Flame prospect Ryan Howse signs with Stockton in the ECHL @NHLFREEAGENTS @fan960boomer @NHLFlames

I guess working at McDonalds wasn't panning out.

[Scoreface]

Nice awakening. All the best!!! No need to slag the guy. He'll earn his stripes if he wants to.

Maybe he is working his way up to the K. Horak feeding him pucks sounds familiar. He could do well if reunited there.

[Scoreface]

He'll have to go through Edmonton's system to get there tho. Unless he has a NGC. (No Good Clause.)

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by saXon

I guess working at McDonalds wasn't panning out.

So you're the guy who, after everyone else beat him up, decides to kick sand in his face as he's getting up?

[StrykerSteve]

Good for him, I wish him all the best. He had a solid skill set, hopefully he can put it all together.

[btimbit]

Nice to see. If his heart wasn't in it taking a step back could have been the best thing for him. Wish him luck!

[saXon]

Originally Posted by Delgar

So you're the guy who, after everyone else beat him up, decides to kick sand in his face as he's getting up?

So you're the guy who, being part of a group who lays a beating on a guy, claims innocence in the matter while wiping the blood off his shoes.

Take a hike.

[CalgaryFan1988]

He hasn't been out of hockey too long and he's only 22 (I think). Hopefully he can have himself a career, if that's what he wants to do.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Good for him. As much as we all love the game, it's not the top priority in our lives (or shouldn't be, anyway). If he feels better and wants to give it another go, good for him. Best of luck to him.