MINOR ROLE, WITH MAJOR INFLUENCE
Tom Kostopoulos said this is his last season. Like the Sedin twins, who were drafted in the same year as him, he’s done playing hockey. Well, maybe.
You never quite know with him.
The 39-year-old journeyman thought he was done in 201213. But then the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins called and asked if he wanted to extend his career in the minors for one last season. One season turned into six and now he’s one of only four players to have appeared in 600 NHL and 700 American Hockey League games.
“It’s definitely a passion for the game,” said Kostopoulos, whose 11-year NHL career has been bookended by stints in the minors. “And Pittsburgh set me up with a nice role here where I enjoy working with the younger guys and also try to win games. I take it seriously — maybe too seriously.”
But this year is probably his last — for real this time. The body, which is pushing 40 and has played in more than 1,300 professional hockey games, is not responding the way it used to when he was younger. He’s a bit slower, a bit older and this season has missed more and more time because of injuries.
In other words, the fourth-line grinder is finding hockey to be bit of a grind.
“Every year I wait until the season is over, but I imagine this will be it,” said Kostopoulos. “I don’t know, it’s probably getting time to move on. I want to go to the playoffs and have one more run at this Calder Cup and seeing what we can do. And after that start thinking about what’s next.” Coaching would seem like a natural fit. After all, he’s been filling a sort of Reggie Dunlop role for the Penguins in the last few seasons.
It’s about a four-hour drive from Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township to PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The distance has seemed even shorter in recent years with the Penguins’ AHL affiliate graduating everyone from Matt Murray and Jake Guentzel to Conor Sheary and Brian Dumoulin to the big club. Even head coach Mike Sullivan made the jump. Kostopoulos has not been one of them. When the Penguins offered him a contract and the letter “C” on his jersey, it was assumed there would be no callups, no chance to stay in five-star hotels or fly charter like he once had with Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Montreal, Carolina, Calgary and New Jersey. He was there to simply play hockey and mentor the kids, although not necessarily in that order.
“We thought it would be for one year,” said Kostopoulos. “Four years later, we’re still signing one-year contracts because it’s been good for me and good for my family. It’s been fun. Every year, I assume it’s going to be my last. It just gives you an appreciation for the game.”
As an NHLer, Kostopoulos was an energy line forward with limited skill. He was generally good for seven or eight goals and 15 to 20 points per season, but his main job was to finish checks, kill penalties and get into the occasional fight. In the AHL, he has been able to play more of a starring role. Kostopoulos has led WilkesBarre/Scranton in scoring in two of the past four seasons. He finished second the other two years. This season, which has been cut short by injuries, he has 17 points in 25 games. For a player who was a seventh-round pick in 1999, it’s impressive considering the Penguins’ farm system is deep with NHL talent. “Playing with him is so easy,” said Teddy Blueger, a secondround pick of the Penguins. “He’s just so smart. Honestly, he’s probably the best linemate I’ve ever had.”
On a team where leading scorer Daniel Sprong is only nine years older than Kostopoulos’ daughter, the old man hasn’t quite learned to slow down. According to Blueger, he’s still “an animal in the weight room.” And he’s usually the one breaking up the monotony of a bus trip by putting on his headphones and singing at the top of his lungs to whatever’s on his iPod.
“He’s got his headphones on, so I’m not even sure he realizes how loud he is,” said Blueger. “He pretty much just screams it.” As the Penguins eye their third straight championship, Sullivan called Kostopoulos’ role “invaluable” and said the veteran “brings so much to the team, I can’t say enough about him.” Indeed, he does not have his name on the Stanley Cup, but for a team that has won back-toback championships, he’s played a big part in getting a lot of the names on the Cup to the NHL. “To see those guys develop and become really good NHL players, I take pride in that,” said Kostopoulos. “We’d all like to hold the Cup, too, but that can’t happen. Still, it’s rewarding. We’re all fans too.”
A year from now, Kostopoulos will be just that. And yet, you get the sense he’s not quite ready to fully close the door. After all, he’s having way too much fun. “It’s interesting,” he said. “My body feels better the longer the season goes. It feels the worst in training camp when you’re getting back at it. But once you get going, your body seems to catch up and I’ve been feeling better and better.
“It’s almost better not to stop.”