Justin Abdelkader's summer included training with a boxing guru to improve his fighting skills, signing a two-year deal with the Red Wings and taking classes at Michigan State to get closer to earning his degree. After completing nine credits this summer, Abdelkader needs only 11 more to officially become a graduate of MSU.
↵↵↵"Eleven credits away," said Abdelkader, who is majoring in business management. "Hopefully next summer I'll be done. I might try to take an online class during the year. I took nine credits this summer.
↵"Knowing I'm that close is really nice. I've been grinding away at it. To have a degree will be really nice."
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Abdelkader will obviously be a little busy since he is expected to be with the Red Wings all season, but he wouldn't be the only NHL player to take online classes. Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jack Johnson, a former Michigan Wolverine, has been taking summer classes and online classes during the season to get closer to earning his degree. Hockey definitely comes first, but balancing a professional sports career and school is certainly possible.