The Duke's Clock Is Ticking

by Joe @ MHH on Aug 5, 2008 12:33 PM MDT in News Comment 22 comments

Jes Golbez over at the Fanhaus posted a link to a Czech interview with Milan Hejduk that, upon translation, suggests that The Duke is both injured and nearing the end of his career.

According to Jes' translator:

He says that his health problems have limited him already for some time and that it won't get much better. Milan has an option to undergo major surgery, but would need to rehab for nearly a year after that and it isn't absolutely sure that his knee will be all right again after that. Right now he is at about 80% of his mobility.

And Hejduk also says that once his current contract with the Avalanche has expired, he'll retire from professional hockey.

That's more good news for the Avalanche in this off-season from heck. It's not quite severe enough to be from hell (at least not until Super Joe announces his retirement in a few weeks), so I'll go with "from heck" for now.

The Duke playing at 80% mobility pretty much makes him a liability in my mind. Sure, he's still got great hands (ladies...), but if he can't move he can't score. If it's true that his knee has limited him "for some time," that explains his declining production over the past couple of seasons. 25-30 goals ain't bad, but from a guy who was capable of 50, it's a definite decline.

Please tell me Paul Stastny, Marek Svatos and Wojtek Wolski are planning some sort of coup this year. The old guys aren't going to cut it anymore.

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not to be redundant but...

well hell

hockeynana

by hockeynana on Aug 5, 2008 1:25 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Are two yeas at 80% better than him having the surgery and likely retiring?

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Aug 5, 2008 1:34 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes

But his declining production is some concern for an offense with some questions particularly if Joe retires, and/or the young players don’t pick it up.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Aug 5, 2008 1:46 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

We’re used to seeing Milan Hejduk anchor the right side of the top line. Now we might see him on the second line and resting every third or fourth game. If the youngin’s don’t step up, that’s a major hole in the offense.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Aug 5, 2008 1:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shane over at “Colorado Avalanche Talk” posted a little about this on Sunday.
The Duke Stepping Away from the Throne?

Though the translation I saw was terrible, I don’t doubt that Hejduk’s knee could still be causing him some issues.
A lot of us expected him to take the reigns this past season when all the S-men went down, but he seemed to disappear more. While the knee could have been part of the issue, I still think there is more to it. Let’s all hope that the Hockey Gods decide to be more benevolent to the team these next couple of season and we get our money’s worth out of Hejduk and the youngsters really pick up the reigns for us.

"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-

by Americanario on Aug 5, 2008 3:08 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

personally

I think that this is all getting vastly overstasted

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 5, 2008 3:17 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

and I don’t even know what “overstasted” means…

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 5, 2008 3:17 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the bigger question is why is Hejduk being vastly “tasted over” multiple (overs) times? And what does he taste like? Wait…scratch that last question. I don’t want to know.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Aug 5, 2008 3:27 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the next episode

Of “Ask a puck bunny”... (fill in the blanks.. or don’t)

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on Aug 5, 2008 5:08 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Avs are being systematically dismantled by injuries. If we all thought last year was a fluke injury year, just wait. I predict:

Leoprone will be injured in the second game and out for half the season.
Jack Johnson will slam Smyth into the edge of the turnbuckle (that’s what its called, right?) during the preseason.
Heduk will be out after the first month and return at 60% in time for the playoffs.
Svatos makes it to the All Star game where Chara accidentally steps on him (Chara never sees him from way up there). Out for the remaining season.
Foppa returns after Christmas only to tear both of his groin muscles again, resulting in a broken toe, and out until the playoffs.
Foote will play 60-65 games.
Stastny gets gallbladder stones and is out for a month.

Oh Hockey Gods – what must we sacrifice to bring the Avs back in good graces?

Don't Go, Joe!

by texacogirl on Aug 5, 2008 7:15 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Sacrifice

Oh Hockey Gods – what must we sacrifice to bring the Avs back in good graces?

I think the answer is Red Wings fans

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on Aug 5, 2008 7:30 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mel Gibson will direct.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Aug 5, 2008 7:37 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where can I sign up?

"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-

by Americanario on Aug 5, 2008 10:17 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

when it comes to sacrifices, the answer’s always red wings fans.

by Savage33 on Aug 6, 2008 3:25 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leoprone will be injured in the second game and out for half the season.

That’s not a prediction texacogirl, that’s a fact of life.

by Savage33 on Aug 6, 2008 3:27 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

Yeah, I guess it is.

Don't Go, Joe!

by texacogirl on Aug 6, 2008 8:13 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just pray that Budaj stays healthy.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Aug 6, 2008 9:56 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he may have been the only Avalanche player unhurt last year. Probably because he sat on the bench so much. Lord help him this year.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Aug 6, 2008 10:04 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe someone should be looking into protection amulets for him.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Aug 6, 2008 10:07 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or a big padded suit.

Oh wait…

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Aug 6, 2008 11:35 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Surgery

I think Hejduk would do well to take the surgery. He’s been a very loyal Avs fan and no-one would blame him from taking care of his body first. It’s totally different than Theo lowballing us for half a Million.
I don’t think Hejduk will like having to play at 80%. He’s a very competitive sniper and I don’t think he’ll be happy having to hold back cus his knee might die on him.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Aug 6, 2008 3:36 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know. Seems like a toss up to me. Miss a year on a surgery that may or may not work or keep playing like you are. A failed surgery could end his career or put him in the ranks of Forsberg. Maybe Hejduk has found a way to compensate that is more satisfactory than the unknown (to state the obvious).

Don't Go, Joe!

by texacogirl on Aug 6, 2008 8:16 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs