Fleury Wants to Return to NHL
41-Year-Old Forward Has Not Played in NHL Since 2003
It was reported on Wednesday by ESPN that Theo Fleury wants to come back to the NHL. However, not only will he have to impress a team enough to invite him to tryout, but he will have to be reinstated by the league.
This story is very similar to the Michael Vick case. However, instead of setting up illegal dogfights, Fleury violated the league’s substance abuse policy. He was indefinitely suspended following the 2002-03 season.
Not only did he violate the league’s substance abuse policy, but Fleury has battled alcoholism throughout his career. However, he has been sober for four years thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous and his family’s support.
While it seems likely that Fleury will be reinstated by the league, it seems highly unlikely that he will make a significant impact on any team that decides to give him a shot.
Lemieux’s Return to NHL Failed
The biggest piece of evidence against Fleury’s unlikely impact is Claude Lemieux. After a five-year absence from the league, Lemieux returned to the NHL last season playing for the San Jose Sharks at the age of 43. He only played in 18 games, registered one assist and retired again in the offseason.
It appears the “new” NHL left Lemieux behind. If Fleury does play this season, it will most likely leave him behind as well. The game is much faster today than it was when Fleury was playing.
Fleury is Too Old
The other factor that will lessen Fleury’s impact is his age. He just turned 41 in June, and he’s not getting any younger. There aren’t many players that are in their forties that continue to play at the level they played when there were in their late twenties or early thirties.
Chris Chelios, 47, has been one of the exceptions to the rule. However, last season he only played in 28 games for the Detroit Red Wings without registering a single point. The Red Wings released Chelios in the offseason and he has yet to find another team thus far.
Fleury Could be a Great Leader
On the other hand, if Fleury does have one thing going for him, it’s experience. He has played in the NHL for 15 years and he would be a great mentor for all of the younger guys on the team.
Not only would he be a great leader on the ice, but off it as well. Fleury has hit rock bottom, and completely turned his life around. The younger players would benefit greatly from hearing his stories.
So will Fleury be playing hockey in the 2009-2010 season? It’s very likely he will be reinstated into the league, but it seems very unlikely that any team will want to take a risk with a player that is in his forties and has been out of the league for six years.
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