At Random: Hendy
6 years ago
While there’s no doubt whatsoever that the playing career of former Edmonton Oiler Matt Hendricks is winding down and will likely end when his one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets is done, I’m not so sure his days in the NHL will be over when he finally peels off his equipment for the last time.
Without the kind of natural ability to make it and stay in the NHL on talent alone, Hendricks has been a player who has had to study the game, know every angle and work harder than the next guy to stay in the game. In other words, Hendricks is a perfect candidate to become, if he chooses, an NHL coach down the road.
For generations, NHL benches have been populated, with varying degrees of success, by journeyman players whose understanding of what it takes to play the game and willingness to work and lead far outstripped their ability on the ice. There have been some pretty good examples of that here in Edmonton – from Glen Sather at the top end through the likes of Craig MacTavish, Teddy Green and Ron Low to Brian Watson and Dallas Eakins.
You could argue that current coach Todd McLellan falls into that NHL journeyman-turned-coach category, but it’s a stretch. Drafted in the fifth round, 104th overall, by the New York Islanders in 1986, McLellan got a five-game cup of coffee in The Show before turning his attention to the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-did profession. Hendricks has 521 games on his resume.
IN THE CARDS?
Mar 3, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Adam Pardy (6), goalie Cam Talbot (33) and center Matt Hendricks (23) celebrate win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. The Oilers defeated the Flyers, 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The point is, some marginal players have gone on to pretty good careers as coaches over the years. As an aside, some great players have had pretty marginal careers as coaches – Wayne Gretzky is right at the top of that list (143-161-23 .473 in Arizona). In the 214 games he spent with the Oilers – his longest stint with any team – Hendricks contributed to making this team a more accountable and competitive group despite limited playing time. Those are traits that bode well if Hendricks wants to stay in the game as a coach.
“I hope I left a bit of an impression on the young guys,” Hendricks said in June before being picked up by the Jets. “You feel a bit of gratification knowing that the ship’s going in the right direction now that you’re leaving. That you did accomplish the goal they brought you in for. If I were marking myself, it would be more about the intangibles they bring you in for.”
I won’t try to push Hendricks into retirement yet – he’ll go kicking and screaming as most heart-and-soul guys do – but I won’t be the least bit surprised if he ends up behind an NHL bench one day. The Oilers will miss Hendricks. Not as much for what be brought on the ice as for what he brought to the team in the form of leadership and moxy fans and media types don’t see behind closed doors.
WHILE I’M AT IT
- Still with the journeyman coaching angle . . . Chicago’s Joel Quenneville, a solid but unspectacular blueliner in a playing career that spanned 803 games, sits second in career coaching wins, with 851, behind only Scotty Bowman. He has three Stanley Cups and a Jack Adams Award. I was still wet behind the ears as a sportswriter when I first interviewed him as a member of the Hartford Whalers during the 1983-84 season.
- I’m not surprised Floyd Mayweather whupped up on Conor McGregor Saturday night. While the bout went longer than most expected, it wasn’t close. Mayweather led 87-83, 89-82 and 89-81 on the scorecards when the fight was stopped during a barrage that saw him land 14 straight punches. I am surprised anybody would consider a sideshow like this entertaining.
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