Jim Slater On Leaving Winnipeg

[The Unknown Poster]

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/09/17/ex-jet-slater-looks-to-europe

Ex-Jet Slater looks to Europe

Jim Slater has come to terms with the fact he’s no longer the longest-serving member of the Winnipeg Jets.

 

But that didn’t mean it was easy to swallow when the veteran centre wasn’t among the many players showing up for medicals as NHL camps opened in most cities on Thursday.

 

“My agent (Mike Liut) called me (Wednesday) around three and he was talking to a few teams but just kind of said there is not anything going on for you over here,” Slater said in a telephone interview from his off-season home in Michigan. “Last night was a tough night, I didn’t get much sleep. I kind of tossed and turned, I was thinking, my mind was racing. This morning was tough, but I still went in for my workout and skated here.

 

“It’s been very stressful, for sure. You go through a couple different feelings along the way as the summertime goes. But I wasn’t the only one going through it this summer, I’m sure.”

 

As the Jets look to add a bit more youth to their lineup this season, Slater was one of the casualties.

 

An unrestricted free agent, Slater had hoped to remain with the Jets but was confident he would land somewhere else if the team decided to move on.

 

“It was a strange off-season that seemed to be happening for a lot of guys and I was included in that. It’s something you’ve got to roll with,” said Slater, who has 67 goals and 138 points in 534 NHL games. “I had an offer on the first day of free agency and didn’t want to take it, I wanted to see what else is out there. We were talking to about eight to 10 teams throughout free agency and nothing really came about. Then you see a lot of guys unsigned and you’re thinking, ‘geez, this isn’t supposed to be how it is.’

 

“Then you get later and see the guys that are accepting PTO’s that are established players and you know it’s a different type of summer when that starts happening.”

 

Slater, 32, is ready to regroup and has turned his attention to playing in Europe this season and is considering offers from teams in the Kontinental Hockey League, Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden.

 

“I’m still positive that I’m going to go over to Europe and do well over there and hopefully next year, maybe come back and see what happens,” said Slater. “I’m going to go to a good league over there and play well and live a good quality of life over there and hopefully have a good year and open up some eyes back over here in North America. It’s going to be a great experience. I just want to get going now and get playing. I prepared like I was getting ready for NHL training camp and now when I do go over to Europe, I’m going to be getting right into games. It’s a different transition for me, but it’s one I look forward to. I’m going to enjoy myself and there’s a lot the European teams offer. I’ve heard good things from guys who have gone over there.”

 

Slater is confident he’s got plenty of gas left in the proverbial tank.

 

“You know you can still play and you still want to play,” said Slater, who was chosen in the first round (30th overall) by the Atlanta

Thrashers in the 2002 NHL Draft. “When that opportunity isn’t there for you, you kind of reflect and wonder what do you do. But I feel I can still help a team. I’m one of those guys who still loves the game and wants to play. Wherever I end up, I’m going to do my best to help the team win.”

 

As the conversation continued, Slater also took some time to discuss his time in Winnipeg, a place that was dear to his heart as he spent a lot of time getting involved in the community.

 

“I loved my time in Winnipeg,” said Slater. “When we came from Atlanta to there, I was really stoked and excited to play for a Canadian city. It met every one of my expectations. Had a great time there and met a lot of great people. The city wasn’t too big, wasn’t too small.

The community was wonderful, the people there were very nice and kind and open-hearted. Nothing but good things to say about the city.  “It’s tough. You grow to be a part of it and then you’re not there anymore. You’ve got to be strong mentally and try to move on and smile because it happened. Don’t cry because it’s over. I look back and we had great memories, what more do you want.”

 

Helping the Jets qualify for the playoffs and being part of the first white-out since 1996 stand out as a few of the highlights.

 

“Playing in Winnipeg, I got to do some things not a lot of people get to do,” said Slater. “Obviously, the first year coming back was amazing, the buzz around the city. That was really cool. Then realizing our goal of making the playoffs last year, that was something that was big for the city, big for the fan base and big for us. It’s one of those memories that will stay with me for a long time.”

[TrueBlue4ever]

The first Jets jersey I got had Slater's name and number on it. Loved his all-around game (and he seemed to be a genuinely great guy on top of that), so I'm sorry to see him go. Bet he wishes he'd taken that contract offer in hindsight.

Secretly, I was hoping the club would offer him a small two-way deal and tell him they wanted him to play with the Moose in a Mike Keane veteran role, teaching the young'uns about being a pro and coming to practice with a good work ethic every day while still getting to play the game and remain in Winnipeg. Hold the carrot that if there was injury issues, he might be a fill-in call up for 4th line centre duty, but the goal was for him to finish off in the AHL and then have a scouting or coaching spot in the organization when he chose to retire. Would be good for him, and the club could show that they take care of their veterans and might draw other players to Winnipeg that way.

[Ducky]

I would love to see him stay with the organizaton but not on the ice as a Jet.

[blitzmore]

Class Act...but happy to see someone else get a chance, 4th line was not good at times.

[Brandon]

I'm surprised he didn't get a second offer.