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Salming · 10-09-2024, 06:52 AM

The offseason before season 79 saw something monumental happen. William Salming, a legendary Finnish two-way winger, ended his 20-year journey as an Seattle Argonaut. It was because Seattle just had to move on to the next phase in its rebuilding process. There was no room for Salming anymore in the team even though William still scored 32 points last season as a part of third line. But at the same time it felt somehow right that Salming ended his story in the Seattle at the same time than captain Vaseline Podcalzone who eventually retired as an Argonaut. But after carefully listening his advisers, Salming decided to continue playing hockey two more seasons. In this interview for the Hamilton Times he tells us why and what were the reasons behind the decision.

Interviewer: Hi William and warmly welcome to the Hamilton. People remember you from your time in Seattle. You played there 1320 regular season games during 20 seasons and scored impressive 955 points. You are also a two-time Challenge Cup winner and 23rd member of the Quad Gold Club. But from now on you are a Hamilton Steelhawk Steelhawks

. Why?

Salming: Thank you, I am very happy to be here finally. I flew back couple of days ago to the North America from Europe because the training camp is once again ready to begin. To answer your question, I indeed carefully thought if I still want to continue my playing career or not. The most important thing was that I still enjoy playing ice-hockey so I felt I am not ready to retire just yet. And like you said, I am pretty close to 1000 career regular season points. If I play next two seasons well, I think that milestone is possible to achieve. But at the same time I need to take care of my body even better than before to not hurt myself and stay injury-free. My only demand in the contract negotiations was a two-year deal because I don't want to search anymore a third club where to play. Hamilton will be my final destination.

I began my career in Quebec City Citadelles in the SMJHL and now I have a chance to end it in another Canadian city called Hamilton. The circle closes. I never thought I would play anywhere else than Seattle but Hamilton is known for its steel manufacturing and it matches that way too to my grinding two-way player profile. Maybe that could be a marketing angle for the others too in the future. I didn't want to join another team just to chase 1000 points. There had to be something else too as a storyline and reasons mentioned above are things which helped me to accept the contract offer from GM aleks and not to retire as a one-club man. I believe I don't have to regret the decision later and people will still remember me from my time in Seattle. Aleks also wants me to be a mentor and role model for the younger generation and it inspires me. I try to teach them how to play a long and then maybe successful career too. That is something I tried to do already in Seattle. A two-year contract means also I have played in the SHL on four different decades when season 80 begins (S59-S80). My mindset throughout my career has been that team achievements have meant more than individual glory but that is a nice bonus to have. I am the last man standing from the draft class of season 56 and it feels weird.

I didn't expect to find a club which could compete for a cup because unfortunately my skills and fitness level decline every year so I really appreciated that aleks contacted me and told his vision. Hamilton has a great history as a franchise and it is a steady organisation even though a long-time GM Hallsy just stepped down so it was also part of the decision to join the club. And of course there were some familiar faces from Team Finland (puolivalmiste) and Seattle (jeffie43, Gwdjohnson and juniped) but I am also excited to meet new people.

Interviewer: The reasons behind your decision seems valid. Did you have any farewell message to the people in Seattle Argonauts

?

Salming: For sure. I have always performed well in meaningful games so to have a playoff game as a last game of my career as an Argonaut feels right even though we lost it to the Los Angeles Panthers 9-0. Experiencing playoff hockey with a new generation was fun and symbolic because we returned to the playoffs for the first time since season 72. The drought was way too long in my opinion, hah. So it was a good time to pass the torch forward like Podcalzone has said. It has been an honour to wear the Argonauts jersey in 1627 (1320+170+137) games when you add together regular season, playoffs and pre-season and score altogether 1204 points (378+826=1204). Even though my main task was always to offer solid and responsible two-way game and kill penalties.

I will probably write a longer retirement post when the time eventually comes but already now I said thank you for all the teammates, coaches and management people from past 20 seasons. I have only positive memories about all of them. Especially I said thank you to GM Tig for selecting me as a 44th overall pick in the entry draft. His decision to believe in me has been a huge motivation boost year after year. I gave my heart and soul for the franchise and I am glad it was rewarded twice on seasons 67 and 68.

For the fans I wrote a short letter. I hoped to be able to say goodbye to them too in one of the home games of the upcoming season. They have been simply sensational during my time there. In the end I wished all the best for the future for the Seattle. I am sure it will be fantastic in that organisation. Keep grinding and eventually good things will happen. Give yourself a chance to succeed that way. Vamos.

Interviewer: Okay, thanks for the detailed answer. But let's move on. What are your expectations for the upcoming season?

Salming: My expectations are that we are able to compete about playoffs spot even though our division will be a tough one and we lost some key players on the offseason. But it is a chance for others to step up and take a bigger role. If you never get a chance, you can't never succeed. The general manager of the Vegas Golden Knights, Kelly McCrimmon, said in the last month that it is unbelievable what people can do they get a chance. In my opinion the ethic should always be to play for the win and not to tank. Because tanking purposely can damage the culture in the organization. Okay, if we are last in the standings after trying our best we can accept it but tanking only to get a better draft pick is not the right choice in my opinion. It is vital to keep a good atmosphere in the organization also during "bad" and tough years. It will help in the future when is time to try to push towards Challenge Cups again. We don't want to destroy the magical and mythical winning culture that has been created to this organization during previous years. That was my message also in the Seattle during the rebuilding process.

We have still 8-9 players who are in the good age and can lead the team well. For example Trevor Lahey, Jani Mänty and Activity Check are elite forwards and in the back end Luka Nogoalov is a solid net minder. I guess personally my role will be pretty similar than it was in the Seattle during last seasons. I hope to contribute secondary scoring from the bottom lines and offer two-way game in the PK. Maybe I get some occasional PP shifts too, you never know what the coaches decide and who are the hot players when the season begins. I am excited to take first strides at the FirstOntario Centre and its shining ice when the pre-season finally begins this week. I have heard only good things about the atmosphere so hopefully there are many fans in the stands also in those matches. I also like the color scheme of the jerseys here in Hamilton and can't wait to wear the uniform.

Interviewer: Before we are ending your annual media day, I have one more question. Team Finland won the silver medal in the World Championships and you a former captain. Did you watch the gold medal game and what are your thoughts about that?

Salming: For sure. I love international hockey and a lion jersey. Boys played well and maybe next year they return the gold medal to Finland. The round robin was a roller coaster but they played well enough in the end and then experience was a key thing in the playoffs even though Canada beat them in the final. Many guys had a good tournament and future is bright.

Interviewer: Thank you William and best of the luck for the season 79.

Salming: Tack så mycket. Kiitos paljon. Thank you very much. It was a pleasure as always.