12/21/24
January 06, 2004
Lemieux out for the season.: "Super" Mario will have season ending hip surgery next week. But he still refuses to retire. Has the time come for Mario to hang 'em up?
Hey, it's working out for Messier. If Mario were to stay healthy, I have no doubt that he'd still be a top-tier player. Unfortunately, he can't stay healthy.
posted by mkn at 04:05 PM on January 06, 2004
Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Let him play next year, but restructure his contract, a la Lindros, to a per-game basis. And move the team to Winnipeg.
posted by garfield at 04:21 PM on January 06, 2004
(awaiting tide of anti-Mario invective) I say if he's willing to become the bionic man in order to play, then let the man play. In Winnipeg, of course.
posted by Succa at 04:43 PM on January 06, 2004
Don't players draw their salaries while on IR?
posted by billsaysthis at 04:44 PM on January 06, 2004
*jumps in on moving the team to Winnipeg bandwagon* I'd call them: Winnipeg Wilder.
posted by mkn at 04:45 PM on January 06, 2004
He should have retired two years ago.
posted by Samsonov14 at 07:43 PM on January 06, 2004
Mario is still playing? Shit, I'd rather have Claude. And hoorah for Winnipeg! They can put the arena next to the tree!
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:14 PM on January 06, 2004
Winnipeg is currently building a new arena, NHL team or not.
posted by mkn at 09:29 PM on January 06, 2004
Winnipeg is currently building a new arena, NHL team or not. They need someplace to put the extra snow, right?
posted by billsaysthis at 10:14 PM on January 06, 2004
So I should probably drop him from my fantasy team, right?
posted by emoeby at 10:45 PM on January 06, 2004
This actually may be a cost saving measure for the Pens. My understanding is that league insurance will start paying a players salary once they have missed 30 consecutive games. If you come back for so much as 1 game you have to start all over again. Now I don't know what Mario is at as far as missed games, but if he kept doing this out for 3 weeks, back for 1 week buisness the insurance would never kick in and pick up his salary. Therefore why struggle through the season just to play the odd game and still not the make the playoffs (The Pens don't have a hope with or without Mario). Rather do the season ending surgery, get the insurance to pick up Mario's salary, and look forward to a better CBA next year. The Pens could use the money they safe to pay their goalie (Fluery... see Team Canada at the world Jrs.) Of course given that Mario is actually the owner I guess he could always give himself a pay cut. Thats a whole other thread.
posted by camcanuck at 11:38 AM on January 07, 2004
I should also add that if Mario retired the Pen's would still have to pay his salary. If he is injured for the duration of the season and then retires the insurance would pick up his salary.
posted by camcanuck at 11:45 AM on January 07, 2004
camcanuck, you're right on the money. The insurance is going to pick up 80% of his remaining salary, saving the Pens approx $4m.
posted by garfield at 12:35 PM on January 07, 2004
Is that their Fleury money? It better be...
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:34 PM on January 08, 2004
Don't get me wrong, I've always liked Lemieux. He's a great player. But his insistance on playing into his advanced years could be detrimental to the development of the team, not to mention the Pen's allotted salary. Is Mario emulating Gordie Howe here?