New Jersey Devils forward Curtis Lazar answers whether it is more difficult to achieve the NHL dream or sustain it.
The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft is mere days away.
It is an exciting time as young hopefuls look to achieve their dreams and hear their name called after being selected to one of the league's 32 teams.
With so many young hockey players beginning their own unique journey, the question arises: Is it more difficult to achieve the NHL dream or to sustain it?
Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News posed that exact question to three current New Jersey Devils players and former captain Andy Greene. This week, we will run a daily series focusing on one player who will give his perspective and thoughts on sustainability in the league.
First up is fan favorite Curtis Lazar.
"Achieving and sustaining your career are both difficult.
"I personally dealt with a lot of people doubting me growing up as I chased my dream of making the NHL," he said. "A lot of people thought the decisions and sacrifices I made were a waste of time, that it was not going to translate to results. That (motivated) me even more to make it."
Of course, the versatile forward understood why there was doubt.
"The facts and percentages are against all athletes to make it to the NHL," he said.
Lazar beat those percentages and achieved his NHL dream when the Ottawa Senators selected him in the first round, 17th overall in 2013.
"Once I started to get my feet wet in the NHL, that hunger stayed as I chased the Stanley Cup for the first time while also trying to grow my role within the lineup," Lazar said.
Now that his dream has been achieved, his focus has shifted to sustainability and finding a role for himself.
"I think the average length of a career is only four years," Lazar said. "The way the game is trending now (between) the youth and evolution of speed and skill, more players are knocking on the door to take your job. I have had to change the way I train and adapt to this "new age" to keep my job and really focus on being the best I can be within the role I play to make myself a valuable piece to my team."
Lazar has been in the NHL for ten years playing for the Senators, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and Devils. At 29, he is coming off the best season of his career, earning 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists).
When circling back to the question at hand, Lazar carefully weighed both options.
"Both are extremely difficult, but I think sustaining your career is tougher," he said. "Mainly because we are already playing at the highest level, which most hockey players from around the world aspire to make, not to mention the pressure of performing on a nightly basis in a results-based league. If you fail to get the job done, the team will look elsewhere."
On Tuesday, we will hear from veteran defenseman Brendan Smith and the importance of being able to adapt.