Swan songs: with labor trouble looming, this could be the final season for a host of veteran players, including several legends and future Hall-of-Famers

Hockey Digest, Jan-Feb, 2004 by Barry Wilner

Steve Yzerman

Detroit Red Wings

Yzerman, considered the best leader in the sport, worked so hard to come back last season it is unfathomable that he wouldn't want to continue. But more than another season on the ice isn't probable, so a work stoppage figures to signal the end of the line for one of the Wings' all-time greats.

Over Already?

WITH MORE AND MORE CLUBS FOCUSING on the bottom line, the expected labor stoppage has already had an effect on some aging veterans who found no takers for their services this summer. While some like Mike Richter and Kirk Mueller have officially retired, some of these players would be happy to put the skates back on if the right team comes calling.

Adam Oates

The Ducks turned down Oates' $3.5 million option, leaving the 41-year-old center out of options. Edmonton signed the 19-season veteran in November, hoping he could still help the team with its power-play or faceoff troubles.

Doug Gilmour

Gilmour was traded to the Maple Leafs in a deadline deal last March, but various injuries limited the former Toronto great to just one game and he has officially hung up his skates.

Phil Housley

Another late season pickup by the Leafs who didn't pan out, the 39-year-old Housley, an Olympian in 2002, is still looking for work.

Adam Graves

Graves, who earned over $3 million last year with San Jose, is out of the NHL for the first time in 16 years. He working out at home in Toronto hoping to catch on with a team looking for a locker room presence

Cliff Ronning

The third-leading scorer on the Wild last season with 48 points, the diminutive Ronning turned down a deal, but found the market for 38-year-old centers to be diminished.

Steve Thomas

After scoring some big goals for the Ducks in their Finals run last spring, the 40-year-old winger was not offered a new contract. The versatile winger signed with Detroit--no stranger itself to 40-year-old players--in November.