Detroit Red Wings: Justin Abdelkader proves it’s hard to say goodbye
Justin Abdelkader says goodbye to his hometown Detroit Red Wings.
The NHL – and sports in general – can be a cold place.
Fans, pundits, and general observers alike can get so wrapped up in wins and losses, stats, and standings that the human aspect of the game sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. The players on the field, on the court, or on the ice are people too, but their value all too often gets boiled down to a last name and a number in a colorful jersey and a boxscore.
But in his guest column with The Players’ Tribune, now-former Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader brought a little humanity to the game we all love so very much.
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For those who don’t know, Abdelkader grew up in Western Michigan, played his college hockey at Michigan State, and was, in a bit of serendipity, drafted 42nd overall in his hometown team in the 2005 NHL Draft.
Needless to say – though fortunately for long-time fans, he said loads on the subject – this was a dream come true for Abdelkader. After a few years with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Abdelkader was eventually called up by the big club for two games in 2008-09, two more games in 2009-10, and 50 games in 2010-11, before officially joining the roster full-time in 2011.
From 2011-20, the Red Wings experienced about as many ups and downs as any team in the NHL. They won 40-plus games three times, made it to the playoffs for five straight seasons, and even advanced to the Conference Semi-Finals in 2013.
Sure, the team was bad for the back half of Abdelkader’s tenure with the club, but he didn’t care; he was a Red Wing. The team he watched from childhood, would dress up as for Halloween, and dreamed of playing for when playing his junior ice hockey for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
While some players want to earn massive contracts, win championships, or make it to the All-Star game – or routinely all three – Abdelkader just wanted to play for Detroit, play for his people, and live out his boyhood dream.
But what happens when the team – your dream team – no longer feels the same way? Well, in Abdelkader’s case, you get unceremoniously bought out of the final three years of your seven-year, $29.75 million contract extension and hit the free agent market at the tender age of 33 after a pair of underwhelming seasons.
To some, this would be a dream come true. Abdelkader’s Red Wings are clearly no longer contenders in the Central Division, and at 33, he still has plenty of good hockey to play. Why not sign a one-year deal with a contender, play up your value, and pursue another long-term deal in 2021?
Because, again, all Justin Abdelkader ever wanted was to be a Red Wing, and now, that dream is over.
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In all likelihood, Justin Abdelkader will still have a professional hockey career whenever the 2020-21 season rolls around. Granted, he probably won’t be making an average of $4.25 million for his services, but frankly, he’ll be fine. But what he won’t be is a member of the Detroit Red Wings, which, unfortunately, is, was, and always will be his dream.