Where are they now?

By Garth McLennan, Sports Editor

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Barret Jackman
Once a Vancouver Canuck menace in
the playoffs, Barret Jackman is currently
toiling away with the St. Louis Blues,
who are poised to once again miss the
playoffs, although they still have hope.
Jackman, 27, has gone through numerous
injury problems over his career and
that coupled with playing in such a
downtrodden market have kept him from
being recognized as one of the league’s
better defenders.

Jackman is now in his sixth season
with St. Louis and is working off a four
year, $14.4 million contract signed last
February that pays him $3.6 million
annually.

The Blues’ blueline has been
devastated by injuries this year but
Jackman has unexpectedly remained
healthy. He’s had to step up with 2006
first overall pick Eric Johnson sidelined
all season after a golf cart accident and his
hard-nosed, rough-and-tough style of play
are one of the main reasons why the Blues
are still competitive in the playoff hunt
this year.

Chris Chelios

Believe it or not, Chris Chelios is still playing in the NHL at age 47 with the Detroit Red
Wings, and is currently recovering from a broken leg that he sustained at the beginning of

this season.

Despite being the oldest active player in the NHL, Chelios hasn’t slowed down
much over time. This is his 24" NHL season in 25 years and he has stated that he isn’t
planning on retirement anytime soon. While his ice time on the Red Wings blueline
has diminished from what it once was, Chelios hasn’t complained. He’s stayed in
phenomenal shape and has said that he will play for the league’s minimum salary in the

future.

Chelios is expected to suit up for Team USA at next year’s Winter Olympics and that will
be the three-time Stanley Cup winner’s fifth Olympic appearance and in all likelihood, his

third time captaining the squad.
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Chris Osgood

Goaltender Chris Osgood is in the midst of
a confusing, but not unsuccessful, part of
his career. After drifting around aimlessly
for years following championship seasons
with the Detroit Red Wings, Osgood is
once again back in the Motor City and
coming off a Stanley Cup-winning year
last season. His strong play in the post-
season earned him a new three year, $4.5
million contract that pays him $1.4 million
this year and $1.1 million next season. He
got this deal at age 35, which is an unusual
age for any player to be given a long term
contract.

However, it hasn’t all been great for
Osgood. While the Red Wings are once
again one of the league’s top teams this
year, Osgood’s personal performance has
been spotty at best. He’s ranked dead last
among all goalies this year in both saves
percentage and goals against average,
which are the two primary statistical
categories for goaltenders.

While Osgood may be struggling, he’s
still holding down his starting position and
Detroit is winning, so it’s tough to ask for
more.

 

Dominik Hasek

One of the best goaltenders of all time,
Dominik Hasek had a bittersweet ending
to a storied career last season. While he
was successful in capturing the Stanley
Cup for the second time with the Detroit
Red Wings, Hasek’s play was abysmal in
the opening round of the playoffs and he
lost his starting job to Chris Osgood.

The Wings stuck with Osgood for
the remainder of the post-season and
Hasek watched from the bench as his team
marched on to the Cup.

It was a tough conclusion for Hasek,
who had been the squad’s starting goalie
all season beforehand. Still, the six-time
Vezina Trophy winner and future sure-fire
first-ballot Hall of Famer was able to end
his playing career with a championship,
and not too many can say that.

Hasek announced his retirement
shortly after the Red Wings’ Cup win
and returned home to his native Czech
Republic. After his previous retirement in
2002, when he last won the Stanley Cup,
Hasek took a year off and played inline
hockey.