Former NHL defenceman Slater Koekkoek reveals how a meeting with former GM Ken Holland made him walk away from the league

[The Burdened]

 

[GMR]

He should have asked Holland if that means he would sign him to a five year contract with an NTC.

 

[Fatass]

Sounds like a compliment. This is a guy that a coach would want on the ice late in the game holding on to the lead. He’s a “clock killer”.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

Oh no, my job is paying me millions of dollars to just be average at my job and doesn’t expect me to perform above real expectations.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

This sounds very unHolland like

That's true. Him being awake is very unlike him.

 

[Ghost of Murph]

The comment describes dozens of pro hockey players.

I'd like to know what percentage of the general white collar workforce are essentially "clock killers." Has to be significant.

 

[brentashton]

Ken wasn’t wrong.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Babcock would have asked him to make a list of the most impactful defensemen on the roster and then asked to see his phone

 

[EXTRAS]

The irony being that after he quit hockey he started picking up casual shifts as an unskilled labourer and finding more fulfillment in that than sitting on a bench. Now he's started his own business where he helps labourers (often of the minimum wage variety) find work.

Maybe but he also could have finished 2 or 3 more years making 800k and then done that. Leaving a couple million on the table in your 20s seems unadvisable.

 

[DingerMcSlapshot]

Maybe but he also could have finished 2 or 3 more years making 800k and then done that. Leaving a couple million on the table in your 20s seems unadvisable.

He was done. Shoulders were destroyed.

 

[Acallabeth]

Oh no, my job is paying me millions of dollars to just be average at my job and doesn’t expect me to perform above real expectations.

Just average at the job with ridiculously high standards, I must say.

 

[Paper]

Maybe but he also could have finished 2 or 3 more years making 800k and then done that. Leaving a couple million on the table in your 20s seems unadvisable.

Or he could do something that was better for his mental health that he was struggling with. He wasn't hurting for money, his wife is also from money, at least not hurting, and now he has a business that appears to be taking off. And he is happy.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Former Oilers Defenseman reveals the words from Ken Holland that ended his career

He played in two seasons with the Oilers, only a total of 37 games, before calling it a career.

www.yardbarker.com

if calling him a "clock killer" made him walk away from the league, maybe the issues begin with Koekoek

pretty harmless "criticism"
change the misleading thread title

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Didn't even realize Slatter retired. Just another dime a dozen run of the mill dman who is just a warm body on the ice.

 

[tanti9]

I am conflicted in this, I think Holland could have handled the situation differently (player management) but it is not his job to make players happy but to ice the best team he can to win the Stanley Cup. Some players need different types of motivation (different type of society than 30 years ago) and it is the coaches or managements best interest to get the best out of player's they have brought in.

Also, as an individual you have chosen your pathway of gaining employment in this world. Slatter worked his way up to becoming only a few % of people to play in the NHL. Maybe, he stalled at this point and realized he was not going to be there long term. If he was not cut for this mentally, there is a long list of people not making it other professions. I hope the best for Slatter and hope he finds his way.