Sophomore Jinx Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 Tomas Plekanec© Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports Aveteran of 1,001 NHL games, Tomáš Plekanec has announced his retirement from the game, via Czech journalist Matěj Hejda. Citing health issues as the reason for his decision, Plekanec ends his playing career several years removed from his last NHL game, after three full, highly productive seasons playing in the Czech Extraliga. A third-round pick of the Canadiens at the 2001 NHL draft, the versatile center would become one of the faces of the Canadiens franchise in the team’s post-lockout era. After back-to-back AHL All-Star campaigns, Plekanec broke into the league at the age of 23, scoring 29 points in 67 games. Early in his career, Plekanec was defined by how quickly he climbed the Canadiens’ depth chart. In his age-24 season, Plekanec scored 20 goals and 47 points, beginning to establish himself as a true top-six center in the NHL. In his age-25 season, Plekanec had soared to 29 goals and 69 points, a performance that helped the Canadiens to the second round of the playoffs and earned him a third-place Selke Trophy vote. In 2009-10, Plekanec had the best season of his career, scoring 25 goals and 70 points. He was the top scorer on an underdog Canadiens team that took out two heavyweight Eastern Conference contenders en route to the Conference Finals, helping the Canadiens on their deepest playoff run since their 1993 Stanley Cup championship. That playoff run marked the beginning of a competitive era for the Canadiens that included three division titles and another run to the Eastern Conference Finals. By 2017-18, the Canadiens’ decline had mirrored Plekanec’s fading on-ice value, and near the end of that season the Canadiens made the shocking move of trading their beloved two-way center to their arch-nemesis Toronto Maple Leafs. Plekanec spent a short period of the following campaign with the Canadiens, a move that allowed him to play his 1,000th NHL game with the team before departing for Czechia. This season has been Plekanec’s third as captain of Rytíři Kladno, a team he has also led in scoring during that span. Beyond just his consistently strong NHL career as a member of the Canadiens, Plekanec also had a highly respectable international career. He represented Czechia at two World Junior Championships, eleven IIHF Men’s World Championships, and two Winter Olympics. A valuable leader, Plekanec had the honor of captaining Czechia on multiple occasions, including at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Although a gold medal eluded him as team captain, he won the gold at the 2001 World Juniors and also took home two bronze medals and a silver at the World Championships. Although it’s unfortunate that health issues have ended Plekanec’s career before he might have wanted to hang up his skates, he nonetheless ends his professional career with so much to be proud of. He wasn’t the flashiest player, but he was a consistent two-way force. Sporting his signature turtleneck, Plekanec was one of the faces of the most competitive era of hockey in recent Montreal Canadiens history. We at PHR would like to extend our best wishes to Plekanec and his family as he begins his retirement. Always liked this player, had a decent career, 1000 game and 600 pts milestones reached. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 Yup. Hard not to like a guy like Plekanec. Montreal fans sure love their players. If a guy plays hard and is giving it 100% he’s forever loved there. Best hockey city there is. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwijjibo Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 (edited) The guy was seriously underrated. Hope his health issues aren't serious. To this day I still think Plekanec when I see a number 14 Habs jersey Edited October 28, 2023 by qwijjibo 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 20 minutes ago, qwijjibo said: The guy was seriously underrated. Hope his health issues aren't serious. To this day I still think Plekanec when I see a number 14 Habs jersey The #14 makes me think of a young Rejean Houle. Although he was a winger, his game was quite similar to Plekanec. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 Solid career and long tenure with the Canadiens. I wonder if this'll impact Kladno and make Jagr consider finally retiring or not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 He sits at 7th in games played all-time for the Canadians. That's a pretty incredible accomplishment considering it's a 100+ year old franchise and he was never a star. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Korea Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 48 minutes ago, Diamonds said: He sits at 7th in games played all-time for the Canadians. That's a pretty incredible accomplishment considering it's a 100+ year old franchise and he was never a star. Why hang onto aging, overpaid veterans when you can just snag the next French Canadian phenom? It was a good strategy for about 70 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down By the River Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewbieCanuckFan Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 3 hours ago, Miss Korea said: Why hang onto aging, overpaid veterans when you can just snag the next French Canadian phenom? It was a good strategy for about 70 years. They had this "territorial protection" rule where they could snag a solid prospect without it costing any kind of draft pick. Can't remember for how long it lasted (I would imagine the other five of the 'original six' had this "rule" as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Korea Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 34 minutes ago, NewbieCanuckFan said: They had this "territorial protection" rule where they could snag a solid prospect without it costing any kind of draft pick. Can't remember for how long it lasted (I would imagine the other five of the 'original six' had this "rule" as well. I assume this is even after the draft was introduced? Because drafting only became a thing in the expansion era. Funny enough, the California Golden Seals and Montreal Canadiens switched their 1971 first round picks the year before in a trade. Guess who ended up in last place and guess who got the Stanley Cup + Guy Lafleur? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoop Hogg Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 6 hours ago, -AJ- said: Solid career and long tenure with the Canadiens. I wonder if this'll impact Kladno and make Jagr consider finally retiring or not. I doubt it. That team would most likely fold without Jagr playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 Just now, Snoop Hogg said: I doubt it. That team would most likely fold without Jagr playing. Kinda just want Jagr to call it already and take a well-earned rest. Feels like the team is just on life support. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoop Hogg Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 Just now, -AJ- said: Kinda just want Jagr to call it already and take a well-earned rest. Feels like the team is just on life support. You’re not wrong. However, I can’t see him retiring any time soon for that very reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophomore Jinx Posted October 29, 2023 Author Share Posted October 29, 2023 1 minute ago, -AJ- said: Kinda just want Jagr to call it already and take a well-earned rest. Feels like the team is just on life support. I think he'll break Gordie Howe's record for oldest pro player at 52, he turns 52 during this upcoming season, he must be aware of it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 Just now, Sophomore Jinx said: I think he'll break Gordie Howe's record for oldest pro player at 52, he turns 52 during this upcoming season, he must be aware of it.... Not really the same when Howe was a 3rd line NHL player and Jagr is a middle six forward in the Czech league. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophomore Jinx Posted October 29, 2023 Author Share Posted October 29, 2023 5 minutes ago, -AJ- said: Not really the same when Howe was a 3rd line NHL player and Jagr is a middle six forward in the Czech league. Yup, for sure, but it is a great story and it would still be an amazing accomplishment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewbieCanuckFan Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Miss Korea said: I assume this is even after the draft was introduced? Because drafting only became a thing in the expansion era. Funny enough, the California Golden Seals and Montreal Canadiens switched their 1971 first round picks the year before in a trade. Guess who ended up in last place and guess who got the Stanley Cup + Guy Lafleur? Yeah I think I got the time periods mixed up (heh, easy to do if one wasn't around then & just going off of memory). Yeah the Canadians were sneaky as **** back then. Guess how they managed to secure that pick when it looked like a certain team (I can't remember the team; maybe the Kings?) were a lock to finish last & get first crack at Lafleur? They deliberately made a lopsided trade with that certain team so that other team would be far more competative in the 'home stretch' of the regular season (and likely move up the standings). That Sam Pollock was really shrewd. Edited October 29, 2023 by NewbieCanuckFan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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