Nashville Veterans Share What Gets Better with Age
While the years in this sport take a toll physically, Nashville’s veteran leaders believe some aspects of hockey get better with age.
Over the next week, two of Nashville’s veterans will reach career milestones. On Saturday, Ryan O’Reilly will play his 1200th NHL game, and next week Roman Josi will earn his Silver Stick as he reaches 1000 career games.
While these remarkable NHL milestones are a celebration for both player and league, getting older in the NHL isn’t something that is usually talked about in the affirmative. A player loses a step. Declining statistics. Can’t keep up. Doesn’t evolve with the game. More injury prone. The cameras come out for the Silver Stick presentation, but the whispers of impending demise and taking a roster spot from a shiny new up and coming young prospect comprise a lot of the conversation around aging veterans.
While the years in this sport take a toll physically, Nashville’s veteran leaders believe some aspects of hockey get better with age.
O’Reilly, who will play his 1200th career NHL game on Saturday night in Las Vegas, embraces the efficiency he’s learned over his long career.
“With the age and experience we’re able to fine tune exactly what you need for when you need it,” said Ryan O’Reilly.
“Efficiency is something that I think naturally develops with age - seeing what you need, how you need to get going, or having a feel for the game,” O’Reilly said.
“When you’re young, you don’t really know. You’re kind of trying things, but I think it just constantly develops over time where you’re able to have a better plan for everything.”
Thirty-five year old Josi appreciates how much easier it is to recognize what his body needs to be at his best.
“As a young kid you just kind of play and you’re not aware of things as much,” Josi said.
“Now I know when to listen to my body and when to take a step back and get more rest.”
Andrew Brunette, who played 1100 NHL games himself, knows about the benefit of experience, but he acknowledges that aging affects every athlete.
“Father Time always win,” Brunette said.
But while veterans may lose a step as they age, Brunette pointed out that an experienced player like Roman Josi can still carry his team.
“As time goes on you can’t play at a certain level all the time, but [Josi’s] got a pretty good understanding of when his game needs to be risen, and that’s on both sides of the ice. He realizes what the team needs and he’ll find a way to make that happen.”
Keeping perspective also becomes easier with age and experience according to Josi.
“You look at hockey a little bit different than when you were 22. You’ve been through a lot in your hockey career, so mentally, you learn a lot. You go through those experiences and you can handle different situations a little bit better because you’ve been through it already.”
Adaptability on the ice is critical as the seasons pass according to Brunette. Steven Stamkos is a great example of that.
Stamkos, who has played 1210 games in his career, is finding new and different ways to contribute in his “hockey twilight” years.
“He’s changed a little bit of where he goes and where his shot selection is,” Brunette said of Stamkos.
While fans have gotten to see several of those legendary power play goals from his office, many of Stamkos’s goals have come from the greasy areas. He is playing a different style of hockey than in his early years and finding success.
“He’s driven, he loves the game, and he’s proud,” Brunette said.
“The guys that play that long usually have that in common.”
These three Predators veterans are proof that some things can get better with age.