LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH & NOT SO RICH
Differences between what NHL, AHL offer keep players motivated
Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson spent the last four months of the 2015- 16 season in the NHL, living the high life.
For road trips, he would walk right onto the tarmac and climb aboard a chartered plane with all first- class seats and several upscale meal options. On the road, hewould stay in a Ritz- Carlton, a Four Seasons or the like. ike. He would work out at palatial al gyms and skate in state- of- the- e- art arenas. And his paycheck k was about 10 times larger than it was while he was playing ng for Rock of Rockford in the American Hockey League.
So when he didn’t make the Hawks out of training camp mp in the fall of 2016, the comedown wn was sudden. sudrsh. And harsh.
‘‘ We started rted with an eight- hour ur bus trip to Cleveland,’’ d,’’ Gustaf-suckling.
Gustafsson said, chuckling. ‘‘ We stopped at Chipotle. I mean, Chipotle tle is good, but it’s not quite the same.’’
For players ers who bounce from the AHL to the NHL and back, life in the big league serves both as a cruel tease and a healthy motivator. For players who spend years in the NHL, only to be demoted to the AHL — players such as defenseman Cody Franson and forward Lance Bouma — the lifestyle change can be jarring and demoralizing. No matter who you are and what you’ve done, once you’ve gotten a taste of the NHL, nothing else can compare. ‘‘ Every player, since they were a kid, dreamed of playing in the NHL, not the AHL,’’ said forward Tomas Jurco, who has been up and down with the Red Wings and Hawks. ‘‘ So once you’re here, you’ll do anything you can to stay here.’’ Players are quick to point out the AHL isn’t isn t agony. You’re still playing hockey. You’re still making good money, especially if you’re on a one- way contract. A And the Hawks have made s sure the Ice Hogs are one of the better- outfitted teams in the AHL. But the bus bu trips are long. The occasional sional flights fligh to Texas, California Ca or the East Eas Coast are commercial comm and in economy ec class. The hotels are modest. mode The arenas are more bare-bones. The schedule sched is strange — often three games ga min three nights over a weekend, end then three t or four days off in a row. And everybody’s goal is tomove up.
So when an NHL player is demoted, it can take a few days to accept the situation. Ice Hogs coach Jeremy Colliton knows to keep his distance early, especially with longtime NHL vets such as Franson and Bouma.
‘‘ You have some conversations — we know you’re there, we care about you — but sometimes it’s just best to not get too deep into things for a few days, let them sort of accept the fact they are where they are,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘ But at some point it’s time to get back to work because, in the end, we’re all being judged every day.’’
Franson has earned universal praise for the way he has handled his demotion after nine NHL seasons, almost serving as an extra coach. Bouma is adjusting well, too.
‘‘ It’s really not hard at all,’’ said forward Vinnie Hinostroza, who has been up and down a handful of times in the last three seasons. ‘‘ You’re still playing hockey; you’re still doing the same job.’’
After not making the Hawks out of camp last fall, Hinostroza made a point of keeping a positive — and determined — mindset in Rockford. It paid off, as he earned a call- up in December and now is entrenched in the NHL as a productive player.
And while he said the bus isn’t bad — ‘‘ You play cards, you watch a movie and you’re there’’ — he still hopes he never will be on one to Cleveland again. That’s the real dream.