Older, wiser Carbonneau rejuvenated

By Bill Nichols for The Dallas Morning News, January 20, 2000

ANAHEIM, Calif. - When Guy Carbonneau met with Stars general manager Bob Gainey last summer to talk contract, they talked about Carbonneau playing a limited role this season.

By signing another deal with Dallas, Carbonneau became the oldest player in the NHL. But his role has hardly been limited.

Carbonneau, who will turn 40 on March 18, has been one of the Stars' best players through the first 45 games. His gritty play, his smarts and his keen performance on a penalty-kill unit that leads the league have helped stabilize a team rattled by injuries.

He entered Wednesday's game against Anaheim having missed only two contests, including one because of injury. His plus-nine rating ranks second on the team to Darryl Sydor, his five goals are one more than he scored all of last season, and he has 91 hits while averaging about 16 minutes per game.

When Carbonneau signed his contract, Gainey and coach Ken Hitchcock talked to him about slowing down, skipping practices and playing perhaps 50 games.

That plan was quickly shelved after the second game, when players began going down with injuries. Instead, the banged-up Carbonneau trudges on as the consumate warrior, battling his own injuries in hopes of leading his team to its second-straight Stanley Cup.

"That's the reason why I play the game," Carbonneau said. "I could have come back and taken things easy. It's a pride thing. When somebody tells you you're only going to play this many games and in a certain role, you want to prove them wrong. Once the contract was signed, I had to prove to them that I deserved the ice time."

After playing on three Stanley Cup-winning teams and in 1,292 NHL games, Carbonneau still thinks he has something to prove.

"That's what makes him Guy Carbonneau," teammate Brett Hull said. "He loves the game."

Carbonneau is not big on farewell tours. Although he said this is probably his last season, he refuses to rule out the possibility of playing another season. And with the way he is playing, that does not seem so far-fetched.

"I don't know," Carbonneau said. "Everything is up in the air. I do not want to make a decision. I still enjoy playing. Will I enjoy it next year? I don't know. I want to go as far as I can and see what happens. I've never thought it was fair to say, 'This is my last year' during the season because it would distract the team."

On one hand, Carbonneau would like to spend more time at home with his wife Line and daughters Ann-Marie and Kristina. But hockey boils in his blood.

"It's definitely a tough decision," he said. "I've been looking at it the last five years. It scares the hell out of me. I'm 40 years old. I've played the game [professionally] since I was 16. You have to do something else, and that's scary.

"I'm two different people. Off the ice, I'm kind of shy. But once I have my equipment on, I'm the best in the world. I can trust my instinct. Off the ice, what can I do? All I've done is play hockey. That's the tough question."

What he has done on the ice amazes people close to him. Instead of slowing down, Carbonneau still seems to play every game as if it were Game 7 of the Cup Finals. That competitiveness is what has separated him from other players over his 18 seasons.

"When it's the last minute of a game, I want to be taking the faceoff," he said. "All my life I've been like that. When I grew up, I was 5-11, 150 pounds and nobody said I could make it."

Considering the impact he has had with his defensive play and on the penalty kill, Carbonneau should be mentioned a legitimate candidate for the Selke Trophy, given to the league's best defensive forward.

In addition to his strong play, Carbonneau's leadership has been vital to the Stars, who have used a lot of new players in signficant roles because of injuries. Hitchcock has been forced to play the veteran more than he has wanted, not only because of the absence of key players, but because of how well Carbonneau has played.

"This is the best he's played in the past three years," Hitchcock said. "It allows me to use him in more roles. Carbonneau's strength is that he has a feel for the game. He understands the nuances and embraces challenges. Some people play their whole lives without understanding those things. He gets damaged every game because we play him so much. For us to be successful, we've got to find times to rest him."

And from Bill Nichols' e-newsletter, "Inside the Dallas Stars," 1/21/00

Q: Last summer it was reported that Guy Carbonneau was signed to a two-year contract. All talk is of him retiring after this season. He continues to amaze. What's your take on this?

NICHOLS: Carbonneau signed a one-year contract with a one-year option to the team. That means the Stars can sign him again, instead of him becoming a free agent, if they want to. Carbonneau said he hasn't decided for sure, but he talks as if this is his last year. He will turn 40 on March 18. But he wants to leave the option for returning open for two reasons. First, he doesn't want a farewell tour because he knows that he would be the subject of media attention in each city, which he says would distract the team. Secondly, he is playing well, and there is still an outside chance he will return for another season. He's in great shape, and obviously can still make an impact. I think he's been one of the team's best players this season. But my guess, and it's only a guess, is that Carbonneau will retire and get into coaching or management. He loves the game and could do a great job in a number of roles, whether it's coaching, scouting or working with young players.