Washington Capitals Brooks Laich genuinely passionate about the game, paychecks not priority –NHL
Not many players would be in the National Hockey League (NHL) if they were not getting paid by their respective franchises for their services, but there is one performer who does it because he just loves doing it.
Washington Capitals' veteran centre, Brooks Laich, while talking to the media on Thursday, October 6, a few days before the club kicks off the new 2011-2012 regular season against Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, October 8, 2011, at home, said that his pay
checks are the last thing on his mind.
It might be surprising for many fans and players to hear something like that but for Laich, who is genuinely passionate about the sport, there have been times when he has even lost a few of his pay checks, either in his cars dashboard or the closet of his
house.
“There’s been twice that I’ve done that”, Laich said. “One time, my first year in Washington, we got a paycheck somewhere in February, then we went on the road for a week and I didn’t want to take it with me, so I put it in my glove compartment. And I got
sent to (minor league affiliate) Hershey for the playoffs”.
Even in his minor league years, Laich was not worried about the money and rather thought of it being too much according to his simple lifetime.
“I’ll never forget it. It was my first bonus check when I was 19 years old and it was for $46,000”, he said. “And I got it, and I looked at it, and my first thought was ‘This is too much money, I can’t accept this.’ And I just put it in my closet in my apartment”.
Currently, Brooks Laich is signed on to a long term contract, which he signed over the 2011 offseason. It is worth a reported $27 million, over a six-year duration, which will have him making an annual salary of $4.5 million.
Last year, the Wawota, Saskatchewan, Canada native, potted 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) in 82 games played and finished with an impressive plus-minus rating of 14.
Brooks Laich hopes to continue what he loves doing best and that is playing hockey.
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