Sixteen years at the NHL level often grants you one last horrah. If the picture is painted correctly, it’s a reflection of the player’s career. It’s the showcasing of the painted canvas in the gallery of NHL greats. But for veteran Kirk Maltby, who has been a part of the Red Wings organization for longer than ten years, that won’t be the case. When it came down to it, the forward was just another piece of depth on a talented roster for of NHL quality forwards.
For Maltby it was Grand Rapids or bust.
After serving the Red and white proud, Maltby has decided to end things on a good note. The veteran will hang up the skates, instead of giving it another go at a lower level of competition.
Instead, Maltby will become part of the Red Wings front office as a pro scout.
Maltby is one of the very few grinders in the history of the game to find a way to stick in the same city for most of his career. A member of all the post 1997 stanley cup teams, his canvas of pure hockey memories painted for hockey fans across Michigan will always be special.
Whether it be his time on the famous grind line, his keen ability to create the short handed goal, or just his pure toughness yet gentleman like demeanor off the ice. This is a guy that fans will always respect because for the most part, he left it on the ice.
And when there was nothing left to give, he decided it was the right time to hang it up.
There is no doubt that Maltby will be a valuable part of this 2010 squad. It just not be in the role he quite pictured it. Instead of grinding it out on the ice, it will be his time traveling on the road and preparing his squad for play as a scout that will give him a feeling of accomplishment.
That’s why this decision makes so much sense. Ever since Maltby has been here, it has been installed in him to win right now. He has always given that to the fans of the Detroit Red Wings.
Now that level of rising to the competition and constant fight heads to the front office.
Watch out teams across the NHL, cause the annoyance that is Kirk Maltby on the ice, is moving up to the press box.
With the Red Wings organization yet again benefiting from the team oriented Kirk Malby.
Original Story:
http://octopusthrower.com/2010/10/12/...
