On the ice, hockey players are expected to be fearless. They go to the hard areas, win board battles, and if need be, they push the rules. There is regular chirping, subtle slashes, and in some cases, outright goon-ery. It’s part of the game, and the expectation is that all players participate to one degree or another.
Younger bodies bring in fresh legs and cheaper contracts. At some point, older players can’t keep up and find themselves without a playing role in a game that is likely the only way of life that they have ever known. A good number of retirees find themselves in management once their playing days are over.