Time For League to Treat All Players Like People, Regardless of Role

Over in New Jersey, Todd Fedoruk is trying to survive the pressures of addiction and an NHL comeback, as he works to catch on with the Canucks. Fedoruk is a 32-year-old enforcer who was out of hockey last season while he worked on some personal issues. Down in Tampa, Steven Stamkos is trying to establish his new contract doesn’t mean more pressure for the young star. Both players are under a tremendous amount of pressure. While Stamkos has a contract, he now has to live up to the dollars that appear on it. Who’s to say that’s more or less pressure than trying to catch on with a team, liked Fedoruk is trying to do. But obviously, there’s a huge difference between the two players. Stamkos is a talented offensive player. His talents are relatively rare within the hockey world, which is how he is able to command a large salary. Fedoruk’s skill set is less rare, making it harder for him to find a job. When you’re an NHL enforcer, there’s usu...