its about time! Lemieux to announce retirement
Mario Lemieux
TSN.ca with CP files
1/24/2006 11:12:52 AM
One of the greatest NHL players in history is calling it a career.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have called a press conference where Mario Lemieux will announce his retirement. TSN, The NHL Network and TSN.ca will carry the announcement live at 2pm et/11am pt.
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.
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 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.
His 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 rookie forward Sidney 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 Pens will save more money now with Lemieux gone, 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 Art Ross 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.
More details to follow.
