Lemieux ends magnificent 17-year career.

[KenJi]

TSN.ca with CP files

1/24/2006 5:26:44 PM

One of the greatest NHL players in history has called it a career.

Mario Lemieux announced his retirement at a news conference today in Pittsburgh.

''The time is right because I can no longer play the game at the level I'm accustomed to,'' Lemieux said in making the announcement. ''I think the best decision is to retire as a player and turn the game over to the younger guys who are the future of this team and this league. It's a young man's game now.''

Lemieux, 40, has not played since Dec. 16 because of problems caused by an irregular heartbeat. He had been working out regularly and seemed determined to play again this season.

Phoenix Coyotes' head coach Wayne Gretzky says it's tough to see a great player call it quits.

''He's meant so much to not only the National Hockey League, but the city of Pittsburgh and that franchise,'' said Gretzky. ''The good news is we've got some good, young players like Crosby and Ovechkin come along, so I'm sure they'll carry the torch.''

Lemieux first retired in 1997 following years of back pain, a rare bone infection and a bout with cancer. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame later that year, when the Hall waived the three-year waiting period.

Lemieux had a message for the younger players in the NHL.

''All I can say to the young players is enjoy every moment of it,'' he said, pausing as he grew emotional. ''Just enjoy every moment of it. Your career goes by very quickly. It's a great game and you guys are all very special to me in the NHL.''

Lemieux assumed ownership of the team when it came out of bankruptcy in 1999. He then unexpectedly came out of retirement on Dec. 27, 2000, and helped the Penguins advance to the Eastern Conference final in the spring of 2001.

He did not play a full, injury-free season upon his return, missing most of two seasons with hip problems and another full season when the NHL shut down last year.

Lemieux recorded seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 26 games this season with the disappointing Penguins.

''Mario's exceptional play earned him accolades,'' NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. ''His ability to face adversity earned him respect. His devotion to Pittsburgh and the Penguins earned him admiration. His dedication to hockey - at both the NHL and International levels - earned him the enduring appreciation and thanks of everyone associated with the game. We celebrate his playing career and wish him only the best in the future.''

Penguins' rookie Sidney Crosby had high praise for Lemieux as well.

''I think the thing that sticks out for me is just the adversity he's faced throughout his career, on and off the ice and how he came through it,'' Crosby told TSN. ''I think it's a lesson that everyone can take.''

Lemieux's retirement is the latest in a string of setbacks in the Penguins' season that began with such high hopes. The team spent a lot of money trying to surround Crosby with a quality cast.

But the team has struggled with a record of 11-29-9 and is second-last in the NHL with 31 points.

Free-agent forward Ziggy Palffy, who the team signed to a $13.5-million US, three-year contract in August, retired last week. The Penguins will save more money now with Lemieux gone, as he was earning $3 million this season on a one-year deal.

Lemieux is considering several offers to sell the team and there is no guarantee the new owners will keep the team in Pittsburgh.

He is seventh on the all-time NHL scoring list with 690 goals and 1,033 assists in 915 career games.

Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy - which is given to the NHL playoff MVP - twice, in 1991 and 1992, the years he lead the Penguins to their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.

Over his 17-season career, Lemieux won the Art Ross Trophy - which is given to the NHL's scoring leader - six times. He won the Hart Trophy - which is given to the regular season most valuable player - three times. He was also named rookie of the year in 1985, winning the Calder Trophy.

Sad he DIDN'T even get to play 1000 games.

[TrixX]

we'll miss ya lemieux

my friend rob is probably crying right now........

[tiedye]

there's a man who went out with dignity. What was it? 6 goals short of Messier and like 900 games less than him? And Lemieux was one of the few who actually scored 100 goals his first year. (I think one of less than a dozen players to do so too). Much respect.

[KenJi]

^ 100 points my friend 100 points not goals.

He had 43 goals. Not even Gretzky has scored 100. 92 Goals is the single season record *Gretzky*

[inside]

We'll all miss Super Mario. Remeber him decking the puck in and out of Ray Bourques skates as he was racing back to his own end the rink. That was killer.

Wtf ever happend to Pallfy. What a fuckin flake that guy was. Should have stayed in LA.

[KenJi]

Palffy was no fluke.

He just had a couple of really big injuries.

[Liqwid]

Originally Posted by KenJi

Penguins' rookie Sidney Crosby had high praise for Lemieux as well.

he like lives with him......

sweet....

i <3 sidney.

.dalyn.

[Dj Franco]

The greatest talent in Hockey History hands down. Wayne may have the records, but the combination of size, and skill will never be matched. We're lucky to have seen someone like him in our lifetime, cause we will never again

[inside]

Originally Posted by KenJi

Palffy was no fluke.

He just had a couple of really big injuries.

Everytime I hear about him they always say "mysteriously retired". I really need to get basic cable so I can watch sportsnet all day.

[KenJi]

He had 42 points in 42 games on that shitty pens team, and his body unlike crosby has been put through hell the last 5 years mostly while he was on L.A.

I wouldn't wanna play on the pens either lol

[KenJi]

Originally Posted by Dj Franco

The greatest talent in Hockey History hands down. Wayne may have the records, but the combination of size, and skill will never be matched. We're lucky to have seen someone like him in our lifetime, cause we will never again

Definetly size. Goal scoring skills yes, but playmaking as good as Mario was Gretzky was better, and even Adam Oates may have been a better play maker than Mario.

but Goal scorer hands down number one.

The saddest part is we don't k now how much greater he could have been had he been healthy. Story of alot of players though including Cam Neely.

[maztraz]

One of my all time FAvorites

[Goodfellow]

Originally Posted by KenJi

''The time is right because I can no longer play the game at the level I'm accustomed to,'' Lemieux said in making the announcement.

aka : Didn't want to play for such a shitty team.

haha

it's too bad he had to end his career on such a bad note. leaving half way through the season like that.

[KenJi]

^ Crosby is left on a lifeless penguins team without life support *aka no lemieux and palffy* haha

[Mangle]

He was the greatest goal scorer in NHL history.

[DJDeeb]

If Lemieux only had more healthy seasons then he would of broken all of Gretzky's records.

[KenJi]

^ Maybe but Gretzky has more than a 1000 point advantage over Mario.

[tiedye]

Originally Posted by KenJi

^ 100 points my friend 100 points not goals.

He had 43 goals. Not even Gretzky has scored 100. 92 Goals is the single season record *Gretzky*

my bad, that's what I was getting at anyways.

[Pennywise]

one of the greatest to ever strap on a set of skates.
he will be missed on the ice..but wont be done with hockey for a long time.

[KenJi]

The thing with Mario is he's had a fantastic player career but he's a horrible owner and GM.

From what I've heard and all that he doesn't have much respect from people as a GM or Owner.

It could be one reason the penguins are doing so bad and palffy has retired

[DJDeeb]

Originally Posted by KenJi

^ Maybe but Gretzky has more than a 1000 point advantage over Mario.

There were a couple seasons i remember that he only played 60 games and managed to walk away with the Art Ross ( getting something like 120+ points ).

If in those years he played all 80 games he would of easily got 200+ points.

[KenJi]

I still don't think he would catch Gretzky's final record.

Gretzky surpassed 200 points 4 times.

Mario might have came close though, but a 1000 points is a pretty big gap.

Definetly would have surpassed Gretzky's record of 894 goals though easily, I dunno about 900 assists though.

His highest assists in a season is 114 in a full season. Gretzky has had 8 seasons with more than 114 assists. 7 of those over 120. Even with L.A he got 122 assists.

[Dj Franco]

Originally Posted by DJDeeb

There were a couple seasons i remember that he only played 60 games and managed to walk away with the Art Ross ( getting something like 120+ points ).

If in those years he played all 80 games he would of easily got 200+ points.

You may be thinking of 1992-93. He started the year scoring at an incredible pace. He got 110 points in his first 39 games but got cancer and missed 22 games. His first game back he had radiation treatment that morning and played that evening, not skating and not practicing for weeks. He managed 2 goals and 1 assist that night. He went on to win the scoring title with 69 goals and 160 points in 60 games. He finished the year on pace for 95 goals and 218 points which would have broken Waynes goal and points in one season record, this all while being extremley fatigued from Radiation treatments that he endured for 5 weeks. Not to mention before he even got cancer he was on pace for 232 points which would have completley destroyed gretz's records. Mario was Simply amazing

[BrownThug]

Originally Posted by Dj Franco

You may be thinking of 1992-93. He started the year scoring at an incredible pace. He got 110 points in his first 39 games but got cancer and missed 22 games. His first game back he had radiation treatment that morning and played that evening, not skating and not practicing for weeks. He managed 2 goals and 1 assist that night. He went on to win the scoring title with 69 goals and 160 points in 60 games. He finished the year on pace for 95 goals and 218 points which would have broken Waynes goal and points in one season record, this all while being extremley fatigued from Radiation treatments that he endured for 5 weeks. Not to mention before he even got cancer he was on pace for 232 points which would have completley destroyed gretz's records. Mario was Simply amazing

you know your shit.

[KenJi]

Single season record he may have but I don't think he would have surpassed Gretzky's all time records.