In the National Hockey League, you have two types of players. The flashy, first-line guys that light up the scoreboard every night (see Alex Ovechkin), and the not-so-flashy second and third liners that consistently win faceoffs and cycle the puck down low. Look up the definition of that second group in the dictionary and you'll find Rod Brind'Amour.
The Ottawa native known as "Rod the Bod" was known for his intense workout sessions, often heading straight to the gym after the game and staying there until the lights went out. Brind'Amour spent his lone college season with the Michigan State Spartans after being drafted 9th overall in the 1988 entry draft by the St. Louis Blues.
Brind'Amour joined the Blues at the end of the collegiate hockey season for the 1989 playoffs. He made his debut against the Minnesota North Stars in game 5 of the Blues' divisional semifinal and scored on his first career shot on goal. Following the 1990-91 season, Brind'Amour was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, where he would become one of the Flyers' most popular players. It was there that Brind'Amour cemented himself as one of the NHL's career iron men, starting in a franchise record 484 consecutive games.
Following an ankle injury during the 1999-2000 season, Brind'Amour was traded to Carolina for Keith Primeau. Neither player was happy with the trade at the time, but during the 2001-02 season Brind'Amour officially put the Hurricanes on the map. He teamed up with Bates Battaglia and Erik Cole to form the infamous "BBC line," leading the Hurricanes on a Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Finals before falling to Detroit in five games.
Brind'Amour never scored the flashy goal. In fact, his most famous tally might have been the go-ahead goal in game one of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. After the Hurricanes overcame a 3-goal deficit to tie the game late, Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson misplayed the puck behind his net with under a minute remaining. Right on cue, "Rod the Bod" was there, stealing the puck from Roloson, scoring the empty net goal and changing the entire complexion of the series.
For most Hurricanes fans, the one memory that will always be etched in their minds will be seeing an emotional Brind'Amour hoisting the Stanley Cup at the end of that seven game series. Brind'Amour tore his ACL during the 2007-08 season but returned to the Hurricanes in 2008-09 to lead them to the eastern conference finals, exemplifying his dedicated work ethic.
Brind'Amour's career was characterized by gritty, classy play. He showed younger players the ropes and set the standards in the dressing room. When his playing career was winding down, he gave up his captain's "C" to a younger Eric Staal, knowing that he had solidified his legacy and couldn't play the game he loved forever.
Brind'Amour was a classic hockey player and set the standard for how the game should be played. He might not be on the ice next season, but after accepting a job with the Hurricanes' front office, he'll be around.
Brind'Amour played in the NHL for a remarkable 21 seasons, and when he receives that call from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, he'll be remembered forever.
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