Dear Jeff Finger,
It’s not your fault. Really it isn’t. In fact, you deserved better.
When you left Colorado after the 2007-08 season and became a free agent, you seemed to be the definition of a late-bloomer. After spending three years at St. Cloud State and four more in the AHL, you crept into the NHL with five points in your first 22 games, and 19 points in your first full season.
If you were 21 people would say it’s the start of a promising career.
Instead you were really just a guy who had waited, and waited for his shot, finally got it, and made good.
When you hit the free-agency market that summer, there were bound to be suitors: You had proven that you could move the puck, you were tough, and you were willing to do anything to keep the puck out of your own net. In your last season in Colorado, you were fourth on the team in blocks (with two of the three guys ahead of you playing ten more games), first on the team in hits, you had the fourth-best plus-minus rating, and you averaged basically 20:00 a game.
If you had to make a comparison to another NHL player, you’d be Greg Zanon w ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Bryan Thiel
Takin’ a T/O with BT: The Maple Leafs Won’t Say it, but Thank-You Jeff Finger
October 15th, 2010 by Bryan Thiel Leave a reply »
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