One More Day

You’re part of the plan until you’re not. That’s life as an overager in the QMJHL.

It’s just business that’s all, it’s just business.

Well sometimes that business is bull shit, but everyone knows that going in.

One can only imagine being an overager on a team loading up for a solid run at a championship in your final year in the league and having to at opportunity taken all away in a matter of what must seem like minutes.

All of the years of service somewhat disappears when the brain trust have to make a move which they think will put their team over the top. That’s life as an overager, you can be moved at anytime and anyplace obviously within reason.

You can all the no movement clauses in the world and still be forced out. It’s the shit end of the stick, but that’s the reality of it.

Some GM’s feel awful doing it or are forced to do it. Some are up front, transparent and honesty about it, while others perhaps may skirt the situation and keep the player and all those involved on the outside looking in.

Obviously, there’s no easy way to say it or do it. Trades suck. Trading a veteran leader, perhaps the heart and soul and character of your team at the end of the trade period because people feel it might be what’s best for the team so it gives the team the best chance to win is unimaginable, but that’s the life of a GM of a contending team in the QMJHL. Trades are part of the business and if you’re not will willing or able to pull the trigger or be part of it you might be in the wrong business.

Betrayed, could be the best descriptor perhaps every overager feels when shocking last minute trades surface. Nevertheless, there’s things that go on behind the scenes that not everyone is privy to, like the GM trying to make sure the overager is taken care of and perhaps playing closer to home to finish out their junior careers.

We all see the trade news and the movement of assets, but we don’t always see or ever hear about what lead up to it. Perhaps the overager has wanted to be moved to a contender ever since their arrival. Perhaps the GM has told them right from the get go that they are a pure rental.

We are one day away from the end of the 2023-2024 QMJHL Trade Period and we have already witnessed a plethora of moves involving impact veterans and overagers. One can only imagine what they must be going through, but you know something, the overagers handle the adversity like true professionals. For some it’s all boils down to playing out their career and pushing for their next dream whatever that might be.

For others, they might find themselves out of the league completely which must be a crazy blow to their psyche.

Trades might be exciting, intriguing and captivating, but for those involved they suck.

One day away, one more day of tension and uncertainty, one more day of not knowing or being left in the dark. One more day until they either get moved to a contender or a rebuilding club. One more day, but one last ride in the QMJHL. Life as an overager in the Q is never easy. Nothing is guaranteed even if it’s promised to you from the start. Things can change in an instant.

You’re part of the plan until you’re not.

One more day and let’s try to always remember the other side of the trade, the personal side of it the human side. Upgrade or status quo, that’s what every GM has to decide, the best GM’s will know what to do and how to do it, they will be transparent and honest. Trades suck, this time of year for hockey players and everyone in the Q sucks, but it’s just business right well that sucks to! One more day.