NO PRACTICE SEEMS PERFECT

Allen Iverson was right - “Practice” is overrated.

Watching Mike Modano take a lot of days off and benefit from it by lighting up the night (and opposing goalies) has been a lesson in the overratedness of practice.

“Not a game, not a game. We’re talking about practice.”

Right after a dreadful loss at Philadephia a weary, unengaged looking Modano was excused from the between games practice in Montreal by the frustrated, and bewildered coaching staff. The next night Modano played an inspired game, scored a goal and has followed that with a run of outstanding play punctuated with 5 goals in the 7 games.

So was it the 39 year old body that needed the respite?

No, turns out it was his mind.

Mike says it’s the meetings and the talk and the thinking about things that grinds a guy down, especially those rare individuals who play into their late 30s. (Reminds me of that old story about Rick Chartraw’s retirement. Chartraw was asked if it was the grind of the schedule that made him call it quits and he replied, “No, I just got tired of showering.”)

I don’t think any other sport puts as much into their practice time as hockey does - it’s always full speed, full equipment, full contact – even on game days. Baseball rarely raises it’s heartbeat. Basketball? Remember that Iverson thing? And football, well at least they hit from time to time but they have a lot of those no pads walkthroughs, etc. Bottom line, I have yet to hear a young kid dreaming of playing hockey for a living say, “I’m gonna practice in the NHL!”

Some day the high forehead individuals that decide how often they practice will do away with the habit - and that’s what it is, a habit – of the game day morning skate. (Why in the world would you conduct a practice on the same day you will ask your players to exert 100% of their energy and attention in a game?! That’s just dumb.)

Dumb, is not a word ever associated with Mike Modano.

Smart, is how the Stars are handling him.

And if this successful arrangement continues to bear fruit we’ll soon be talking about “Playoffs” – right Jim Mora?