Eurolanche

Hejduk´s career is nearly over

Eurolanche Fan Club exclusively obtained the following information about Milan Hejduk from a source close to him: „Milan will not get an offer from the Avalanche. He wants to play, but if he does not get good offer from another team, he will retire.“ We called to Hejduk for several times last days, but he has never answered. He turned his US mobile off days ago that indicates he has been in Czech Republic since the last week.

New Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy recently revealed top three lines without Hejduk´s name there. Simply, there has not left a free place for him. Hejduk played two averaged seasons over the last two years, but we have to admit there were not many positive exceptions on entire roster. Hejduk scored 14 goals and added 23 assists for 37 points in 2011/12. Most of the time, he played in two bottom lines that convinced him to give up the captaincy in the summer. In the last season, he scored only 4 goals and gained 11 points in 29 games.

Hejduk is the biggest victim of team´s struggling and catastrophic results from the last two seasons. New management and coaching staff has had not easy work to do. Partly, they have to re-build already re-built team with no big interventions with top young players. Roy wants to get more and more wins immediately and probably he does not think that Hejduk could fit in his fast and speed plans.

Of course, such a great player, who scored at least 20 goals in 12 straight seasons, should deserve better retirement from the franchise. He won Maurice Richard Trophy in 2003 for 50 goals and Stanley Cup in 2001. We have to also understand new policy and the direction of new staff. It is not their fault what happened to Hejduk and rest of his teammates under Joe Sacco. And everybody knew it was not going to be easy for Sakic and Roy.

Hejduk´s best days are gone. He still can play at solid level, but he does not fit in the new Avalanche concept. If he does stay in Denver, he would play in the fourth line. It is nothing special, just look on Steve Yzerman´s end in the NHL. He played in the fourth line. Not everybody could have such a great retirement game like Ray Bourque.

Last year, Milan said he would not have a problem with playing for another NHL team, if he gets good offer. Now, it is the same. It would be strange to watch him in the different jersey, but if he feels he still can, do it. This all is not a big Roy´s and Sakic´s mistake, so I do not understand surprised and shocked fans. Too naive? Maybe.