Canucks' Myers And Predators' Schenn Took Totally different However Related Roads To 1,000 Video games

Any participant who seems in 1,000 or extra NHL regular-season video games should do one thing proper. However there are a lot of methods by which a participant can get to that plateau.

A really small quantity of NHL gamers are superstars who’ve lasted a dozen seasons or extra. Some gamers get there as a result of they’ve confirmed to be difference-makers in a number of markets. After which there are gamers akin to present Vancouver Canucks blueliner Tyler Myers and Nashville Predators D-man Luke Schenn.

Myers celebrated his 1,000th career game this weekend in opposition to Philadelphia, whereas Schenn logged his 1,000th game this week as properly. Whenever you break down every of their careers, you see a participant doesn’t have to be a star performer to realize profession longevity the best way Schenn and Myers have.

Schenn had a really excessive bar to clear when the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted him fifth general in 2008. There was rapid strain on the then-19-year-old when he joined the Leafs for the 2008-09 marketing campaign. Whereas Schenn did his greatest to dwell as much as expectations in his 4 seasons in Toronto, he in the end was dealt to Philadelphia for star Flyers left winger James van Riemsdyk in 2012. And from there, the highway to 1,000 video games received a lot rockier for Schenn.

Certainly, after three-and-a-half years in Philly, Schenn was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings in January 2016. After only a half-season in Los Angeles, he moved on once more, this time to the Arizona Coyotes for 2 years, then to Anaheim, the place issues actually received problematic for him. The Geese rapidly demoted Schenn to their AHL affiliate in San Diego after which traded him to the Canucks.

Schenn then bounced between the AHL and NHL for the next season earlier than lastly re-asserting himself as an NHLer with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019-20. Since then, Schenn has moved between the Vancouver Canucks for a second stint, the Maple Leafs for a second stint and now, to the Nashville Predators, the place he’s nonetheless a key puzzle piece at age 34. It might’ve been straightforward for Schenn to surrender his combat when he was an AHLer, however he as an alternative doubled down on himself and was rewarded with profession longevity and two Stanley Cup championships with the Bolts in 2020 and 2021.

Myers, in the meantime, was drafted seven spots behind Schenn in 2008, though his profession hasn’t had the identical challenges simply to stay an NHLer the best way Schenn’s profession has. Myers initially succeeded vastly in his rookie NHL season, profitable the 2009-10 Calder Trophy because the league’s prime rookie. Myers had a stable sophomore season, however well being issues saved him from taking part in 74 video games or extra in a marketing campaign from 2011-12 to 2016-17.

Myers did get extra lucky on the well being entrance within the final seven seasons, taking part in 77 or extra video games in all 5 seasons the place that was attainable. And whereas he hasn’t gained a Cup, he has been a key a part of Vancouver’s success, getting again to the 24-assist mark final season, his greatest complete since 2017-18.

Myers and Schenn aren’t Hockey Corridor of Famers, however there’s one thing to be mentioned for his or her dogged willpower to play in hockey’s greatest league so long as their physique can maintain them. They’re nice examples for not-exactly-elite gamers to attempt to comply with.

Solely 400 NHL gamers have been ok and lucky sufficient to play 1,000 video games, so Schenn and Myers are in elite firm. Their longevity and resilience are admirable, they usually’re each taking part in till their aggressive tank is empty. Congrats to each on a momentous achievement.

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