Glen Metropolit is the latest NHLer to leave for a team overseas, although it’s reasonable to assume that he can be placed in the “Had Few Other Options” category rather than the “Wanted More Money” bin. Renaud Lavoie of RDS Hockey reports that Metropolit signed a two-year contract with EV Zug of the Swiss Elite League. Lavoie picked up a quick quote from the winger.
Metro on leaving the habs: “It was a great way to finish my nhl career. That means a lot to me”.
While his impact on the game was minimal, it seems that he was well-liked by many of the teams he skated for. It probably doesn’t hurt that his last name is a dream come true for lazy pun makers such as myself, who could refer to his home as “The Metropolitan Area” and his fans as “Metropoliticians.” (OK, now I’m going to miss him.)
At 36 years old, we’ve probably seen the last of Metropolit in the NHL. As far as his new team, EV Zug features one familiar face: Jussi Markannen, the goalie who ended up starting most of the Stanley Cup finals for the Chris Pronger Era Edmonton Oilers after Dwayne Roloson went down with an injury.
Good luck to Metropolit as he finishes his career in Europe.