Comments on: Final Grade: Milan Hejduk

By: Mike Thompson

Mike Thompson — Tue, 08 May 2007 18:45:06 +0000

IMO, Hejduk hasn’t been the same player the last few years. Several of his countrymen on my beer-league team who have followed his career since infancy are of the same opinion. Your comment about his confidence is dead-on. I also wonder if he wasn’t thinking in terms of his career before he and his wife started their family. Perhaps he has a little trouble focusing on the here and now (i.e. championships) at the beginning of the season and is more worried about longevity and injuries over the long haul? Just a theory. Still, I agree that he’s a bargain and hopefully a staple in the Avs lineup for years to come.

By: Dear Lord Stanley

Dear Lord Stanley — Fri, 04 May 2007 17:13:22 +0000

Didn’t Hejduk play regularly on a line with Forsberg back when he scored 50 goals one season? If my memory serves me correctly, Hejduk always excels when he has a dynamic, playmaking center on the same line because he finds open ice so well. Keep him with Son Of Peter and all should go well.

By: Kylie

Kylie — Fri, 04 May 2007 01:05:15 +0000

Just keep him with Stastny next season and we all will be fine…

By: Draft Dodger

Draft Dodger — Wed, 02 May 2007 16:53:39 +0000

yes, it’s true that from Game 39 on, Stastny and Hejduk were together for good. But still, in those first 38 games he played all but 15 with Stastny.

I agree very much with the rest of your comments. His creativity was lacking, and I too am not sure if it was Stastny or some other factor that helped him turn stuff around.

By: Dario

Dario — Wed, 02 May 2007 16:21:23 +0000

It should be pointed out that Hejduk started playing with Stastny at center instead of Arnason at around game 40 of the season. Coincidence?

The first half of the year I swore he played the game like he was at left wing intead of the right wing. He would always, and I mean always race down the left hand boards, do that heal-toe drag move right in to the chest pad of the goalie for a whistle. He wasn’t making bad plays but his creativity was just bad. I don’t know if Stastny helped him be more creative or what clicked but he was unbelievable those last twenty games or so. He’s a bargin at 4 million and it’s hard to believe many (including myself) considered him trade bait at the deadline. His knee is healthy and he got his speed back this year. I think Hejduk and Stastny will be a mainstay for this organization for a long time to come.