By Tim Ubels (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: February 6, 2013
It’s every young hockey player’s fantasy to one day pull an NHL team’s sweater over their head and play in front of tens of thousands of roaring supporters. Unfortunately for most young talent primed to one day enter the National Hockey League, that task is easier said than done. Star rookies like Edmonton Oiler’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Montreal Canadians forward Alex Galchenyuk enter the league in their draft year and never look back. But for other players, it can be quite the journey.
Enter Quintin Laing – a Harris, Saskatchewan native who was drafted 102 overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 1997. To date, Laing has played just 79 games in the NHL throughout his 13-year professional career. His longest stint with a National Hockey League team was with the Washington Capitals from the 2007 2008 season to the 2009-2010 season, due to his skills as a defensive specialist on the Capital’s checking line and penalty kill.
Described as “a heart-and-soul guy” by teammate Brooks Laich in an interview with The Washington Post, Laing made a name for himself as a utility player that would fill any role to help the team win, included sacrificing his body to make the play. Capitals goaltender Brent Johnson praised Laing’s sacrificial efforts, remarking to Laing after he went down to block a shot with his chest, “Seriously, you keep that up and you’re going to be here.” He made a good impression on his teammates and coaches, which is vital for minor league call-ups, who know that their stay is not always permanent and that a bad shift may spell the end of their stint in the NHL.
His great work ethic, dedication to the team, and reputation as one of the AHL’s top defensive forwards made him a fan favourite in Hersey and caught the attention of the Washington management. Laing made his return to the big leagues on March 19, 2009, after a rash of injuries in the Washington lineup forced coach Bruce Boudreau to call up Laing once again. Unfortunately for Quintin, he began experiencing some abdominal pain after only his first game back. Doctors diagnosed it as a torn spleen, ruling him out for the rest of the season with the Capitals.
Laing received one more chance to stick with the Capitals in the 2009-2010 season, but this opportunity was ended abruptly after a slapshot hit him in the jaw on November 17, 2009, in a game against the New York Rangers. With a broken jaw and his second serious injury within a year, Laing was put on long-term injury reserve and not re-signed by the Capitals in the summer of 2010.
Now three years removed from his last stint in the NHL, Laing, 33, has found a home in the AHL, wearing the C for the Abbotsford Heat for the past two seasons. Along with teammate Barry Brust, Laing took part in this year’s AHL All-Star Classic, serving as the captain for the Western Conference team, helping them defeat their Eastern Conference rivals 7-6 on January 28.
Adjusting to life in the minor leagues can be difficult. Whether it’s the taxing bus rides, or the inconsistent play of young teammates trying to break into the NHL, a team’s stress level can be high. But veteran players like Laing improve this lack of cohesiveness and continuity in their team’s game by providing guidance for younger players, helping them adjust to their new roles in the AHL and letting them know what to expect when they make it to the NHL.
If all goes well for Laing, sometime in the near future he could be centering a checking line at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. But for now, Laing continues to lead by example in Abbotsford, rounding out his game and waiting for his next opportunity to demonstrate his defensive abilities at the NHL level.
