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

[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?

[Alberta_Beef]

People really need to stop just assuming there are substance abuse issues. It's sad that this is where people are going.

Lack of motivation and not enough ability to make it as a pro are much more likely culprits.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Lack of motivation and not enough ability to make it as a pro are much more likely culprits.

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.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by fotze

Paging undercoverbrother.

Hey I'm not judging, just guessing. He's already much more successful in life than I am by just making the dub.....or peewee.

You maybe just maybe there is something to the burn out concern.

[Sylvanfan]

Howse's father and the rest of the family were well known in Prince George. Most of them were exceptionally skilled at hockey or fastball, and feared for their toughness. But they didn't seem to want to stray too far from home. Could be a case of a guy who'd rather stay close to home and do his own thing, rather than operate on someone else's schedule and rules, no matter what the upside may be.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Howse's father and the rest of the family were well known in Prince George. Most of them were exceptionally skilled at hockey or fastball, and feared for their toughness. But they didn't seem to want to stray too far from home. Could be a case of a guy who'd rather stay close to home and do his own thing, rather than operate on someone else's schedule and rules, no matter what the upside may be.

Sorry for being OT but what is fastball? (yes i did already google it, am just getting hits on the pitch and the 90s rock band)

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Sorry for being OT but what is fastball? (yes i did already google it, am just getting hits on the pitch and the 90s rock band)

Softball with wind mill pitching. Guys can throw 85-90 miles an hour from like 48 feet. They can also throw 4-5 games over a weekend.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Softball with wind mill pitching. Guys can throw 85-90 miles an hour from like 48 feet. They can also throw 4-5 games over a weekend.

Ah... have seen that sport in NCAA women's competition in the States.

Anyway if he's done it would be great if the Flames could clear the contract... I think they only have 46 right now but picking up somebody with some scoring punch at the AHL level on a 2 way to play with the young guys down there would be better use of it.

I think he was scheduled to make over 200K even if he was in the A this year - lot of money to leave on the table for him.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I think he was scheduled to make over 200K even if he was in the A this year - lot of money to leave on the table for him.

No, only $67,500 in the AHL.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by getbak

No, only $67,500 in the AHL.

Yep my bad... was looking at his potential NHL bonuses - 210k. So if he's got a job lined up up north somewhere and is sure he isn't going to make it maybe it makes sense.

[taco.vidal]

A lot of guys get far on talent (applies to sport as well as other aspects of life) but never reach their full potential because of lack of motivation and discipline.

Take a look at the league or even a specific team and you'll see a huge range in motivation and discipline amongst players.

Go back a couple of decades and you'll see a time where a ton of players got by on talent alone (ie. the days of showing up to camp to get in shape).

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.

[blankall]

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?

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.

[BigBrodieFan]

No one knows what these kids are going through, what they are dealing with, and what's going on in their personal lives. Just saying, it's important to remember that we are essentially talking about a kid who has his whole life ahead of him, there is no use speculating on his reasons for not wanting to move forward. Good luck Ryan.

[indes]

Originally Posted by fotze

Don't want to leave out the throwing away an opportunity millions of people would die for a week earlier. Thats not an important thing to consider at all.

Obviously it could be anything else (as I have even talked about in this very thread).

Maybe you haven't read anything here but a message board isn't a court of law. We all make guesses on all things Flames related with very little information.

If someone gave me $1000 to bet on what the story is with him and I had to bet on something, whether it is a. Just is sick of hockey b. substance issues c. injuries, d. family issues.

I'd take b. I wouldn't bet my own money but I would bet someone else's money.

I've read plenty on this message board for 1. For 2 reading your initial post has to be one the most smug and ignorant things I've read on here. (and there are plenty of those)

Just to jump to the unsubstantiated conclusion that he was drunk and then continue to jump even further to "substance abuse issues" is so asinine and ridiculous I don't even know where to start.

There is a multitude of things that could be going on in someone's life (lot's that actually aren't substance abuse problems) that could cause them to drop out of a long shot chance of making the show.

It really pisses me off when someone just trots by on their high horse and insinuates that someone else must have "issues" because they did something not most people would do.

Speculation is one thing but throwing out accusations of that kind with absolutely no information is pretty thoughtless.

[strombad]

I think we should be all be able to appreciate the humour involved in the fact that making a WWF reference was the final straw for people to start claiming Howse had substance abuse problems.

Lots of people don't make the NHL, whether because of talent or desire. And hey, a lot of 20-somethings smelt what the Rock was cooking back in their formative years. An alcoholic, this does not make.

He's not an alcoholic, he's just a jabroni.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Softball with wind mill pitching. Guys can throw 85-90 miles an hour from like 48 feet. They can also throw 4-5 games over a weekend.

Fastpitch softball is the name we're looking for here.

Fastball is simply a pitch from baseball/softball... and also a terrible band from the 90's.

[FAN]

It is sad that some are speculating that Howse has a substance abuse problem. Not only is that unfair to Howse, it is also unfair to the Calgary Flames organization.

The Flames are a classy organization and I would expect the organization to grant Howse personal leave and do everything to help Howse and get him to seek help if he was indeed dealing with personal issues such as substance abuse.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Let's get back to groundless speculation here people.

If he idolizes professional wrestlers, then he must be using steroids. The Flames obviously suspended him because they didnt want the bad publicity of their player being caught juicing.

Only explanation.

Unless someone has an even more sensational and damning speculation??

[getbak]

https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/s...67275860942849

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie
Ryan Howse's contract officially terminated by CGY last week. No longer on CGY reserve list. Player didn't report/no longer wanted to play.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Let's get back to groundless speculation here people.

If he idolizes professional wrestlers, then he must be using steroids. The Flames obviously suspended him because they didnt want the bad publicity of their player being caught juicing.

Only explanation.

Unless someone has an even more sensational and damning speculation??

When people said his family has a history of fastball, they meant speedball. He's been suspended for his heavy use of cocaine mixed with heroin. It's the only possible explanation.