It wasn't so very long ago that Daniel Cleary was parading through the streets of Harbour Grace with the Stanley Cup in tow, showcasing hockey's Holy Grail — which Cleary and his Detroit Red Wings teammates won in the spring of 2008 — to his beloved hometown.

Then, a scarce three years later, Bonavista's Michael Ryder brought the Stanley Cup to this province, proudly carrying it through the streets of his hometown. As a member of the Boston Bruins, Ryder's day with the Cup was, of course, spent in this province.

How quickly the glory days pass us by. This season, only Purcell can be considered a full-time NHLer. - Don Power

Those were heady times for Newfoundland and Labrador hockey fans.

Not only did this province get to experience a pair of Stanley Cup champions, but there were five other N.L. natives playing in the top hockey league in the world, either on a full- or part-time basis. Fans from this province had a local athlete they could cheer for playing virtually every night of the week.

Ryane Clowe, Teddy Purcell, Colin Greening, Adam Pardy and Luke Adam were shining lights on their respective NHL clubs, too.

How quickly the glory days pass us by. This season, only Purcell can be considered a full-time NHLer.

Changing landscape

In what seems like the blink of an eye, neither Clowe, Cleary nor Ryder are playing in the NHL.

Cleary initially made the Red Wings out of training camp — he was one of the 23 men named for opening day — but was subsequently put on waivers and demoted to the American Hockey League.

Waivers, for those who don't know, means a player is released by his team and is available to all other NHL clubs for a small price. If that player "clears waivers," or is not selected by another club, the team can send him to their minor league affiliate.

Ryder is a player without a contract. He is an unrestricted free agent who just finished a two-year, $7-million contract with the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils have yet to sign Ryder this year, so the 35-year-old is looking for work. As a streaky goal-scorer who has been criticized for his skating during his career, Ryder's NHL life may be behind him.

Former Devils forward Ryane Clowe was forced to retire recently following multiple concussions. (Al Bello/Getty Images/File)

Anything can happen of course, and goal scorers are always in demand, but as of now, Ryder finds himself on the outside looking in.

Clowe, Ryder's teammate on the Devils last season, was forced from the game due to repeated head injuries.

At just 32, Clowe has suffered four concussions in the past two seasons, and doctors advised him to quit while he was ahead — or while his head still functions. Although he can't play, Clowe will still be paid the remaining $14.55 million over the next three years.

The big, bruising winger played a physical style of hockey that eventually caught up with him. The checking and fighting led to some serious head injuries — Clowe's last game was Nov. 6 of last season — and his eventual retirement.

Not quite ready for retirement

Colin Greening seemed to have secured a permanent position with the Ottawa Senators back in 2011-12, playing a bit with star Jason Spezza.

Colin Greening, seen here in a 2013 photo, didn't play in an Ottawa exhibition game at Mile One Centre in St. John's in late September. (Jana Chytilova/Getty Images)

He was awarded a big contract from the Sens, but never recaptured the magic of that one season. Last year he played just 26 games and didn't seem to be the same player.

He was cut from Ottawa during training camp, where he suffered a head injury in an exhibition game, and was sent to the Binghamton Senators.

It was so bad for Greening that he didn't even play in an Ottawa exhibition game at Mile One Centre in late September. The St. John's native, who turns 30 in March, was told by general manager Bryan Murray before departing for Binghamton, that if they can move him to another team, they will.

But for now he toils in the AHL, despite having two years and $2.65 million remaining on his contract.

The AHL is also where Luke Adam earns his keep. A second-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres, Adam never really caught on there and was traded to Columbus.

However, things didn't work out well there and he signed with the New York Rangers this summer. Sadly for Adam, he was sent to the Hartford Wolfpack during training camp and will play in the American league again this season.

Winnipeg Jets' Dustin Byfuglien (33) and Adam Pardy (2) a goal in this 2014 photo. (John Woods/Canadian Press)

Adam Pardy made the Winnipeg Jets out of camp, having signed a one-year, $1-million contract this summer. At six-foot-four and 227 pounds, he's a large body on defence for the Jets, but is one of nine D-men on the roster, so he will battle for ice time this season.

The Jets are his fourth NHL club, as Pardy has previously played for Calgary, Buffalo and Dallas. At 31, he's probably lasted longer than most people expected, but he's probably not quite ready for retirement yet.

There's a good chance he'll be watching more games from the press box than actually suiting up and playing this season.

Future players to watch for?

All of which leads us to Purcell, the sole Newfoundlander with a chance to make an impact this season.

The veteran right winger turned 30 in September and is part of the Edmonton Oilers, which is full of young talent. At the start of camp, Purcell was slated to play right wing with top draft pick Connor McDavid and Taylor Hall.

However, at the start of the season he was with Benoit Pouliot and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Not bad, but not as good as playing with McDavid.

There are naysayers in Edmonton who expect him to be traded before the season ends as the Oilers go all out with their young players, but moving an offensive player who scored just 12 times in 82 games last year — and is making $4.5 million this season — may not be an easy task.

And no doubt there will be another group of players for us to focus on in the near future. There are a number of kids playing major junior, with Clark Bishop of St. John's — a Carolina Hurricanes draft pick — leading the way.

But it's amazing how quickly glory days can pass you by.

Follow Don on Twitter @PowerPlay27 and read more columns.