04/23/24
September 14, 2005
A quiet legend hangs 'em up.: Ron Francis announced his retirement today. His career has seen him win 3 Lady Byng trophies, 1 Frank J. Selke trophy, 1 King Clancey trophy and 2 Stanley Cups. He is currently 4th in total points and 2nd in assists, and his 22 straight seasons of scoring at least 50 points is second only to Mr. Hockey. I'm sure one day we'll see him in some team's front office.
With the retirement of other hockey greats this week,it should send a clear message to all hockey fans . The product called hockey isn't going to be worth watching. I have no problem if all the 36+ year old players want to retire. Let them. It's been a nice run, but the league they used to play in is gone. This is the new NHL. Replace the clutchy-grabby-slow veterans with the younger, speedier rookies and you'll do nothing but improve the quality of the game. I can't remember the last time someone got excited about going to watch Ron Francis play. He's a sure-fire HOF'er, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking he was some sort of draw for the fans in the past 10 years. Crosby, Phaneuf, Carter, Ovechkin, Ryan, Johnson, Nash, Heatley, Kovalchuk, Zetteberg, Datsyuk, Staal, Zherdev, Horton, Bouwmeester, Spezza, Ruutu, Hemsky, Gaborik, Hartnell, Frolov, Richards, Havlatt... All of these guys are under 25 years old. They will take the game on their backs. Speed, strength, skill...they have the tools, and with the new rules, they'll (hopefully) have the opportunity in the next couple of years to bring the crowds back.
posted by grum@work at 11:20 PM on September 14, 2005
I am only a casual hockey fan, but I am looking forward to see what the "new" NHL is all about. It should be an interesting season!
posted by daddisamm at 11:34 PM on September 14, 2005
I am only a casual hockey fan, but I am looking forward to see what the "new" NHL is all about. It should be an interesting season!
posted by daddisamm at 11:35 PM on September 14, 2005
I am only a casual hockey fan, but I am looking forward to see what the "new" NHL is all about. It should be an interesting season! I'm the same...but the future may be more promising than we first think...
posted by supersly26 at 02:16 AM on September 15, 2005
The product called hockey isn't going to be worth watching. Right. It's all been downhill since Eddie Shore hung 'em up.
posted by yerfatma at 07:19 AM on September 15, 2005
You know Eddie Shore!?! My h'allergy to de fucking fans has return.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:43 AM on September 15, 2005
You sit for two minute. You feel shame.
posted by yerfatma at 09:01 AM on September 15, 2005
Piss on Eddie Shore...
posted by MeatSaber at 09:20 AM on September 15, 2005
Owwwwwwwnssss. Owwwwwwwwwnnnnnsssss.
posted by ajaffe at 09:26 AM on September 15, 2005
Piss on Eddie Shore... You're talking about a dude who once used a mirror to watch a doctor re-attach his severed ear. I dare you to turn off all the lights and say that three times in front of a mirror. I double-dog dare you - Because Eddie shore will rise from the grave, appear behind you, and beat you senseless. I know, because a kid in my high school tried this at summer camp and he's still in a wheelchair. Anyway, as for Francis, it's the perfect time to hang 'em up. He leaves the game being remembered as a productive player. Remember how Paul Coffey left the game? Shamefully would be the best word to use. Not every Hall of Famer can go out like Ray Bourque, so it's nice to see guys like Messier and Francis decide to leave the game before they become a burden to their teams.
posted by Samsonov14 at 06:22 PM on September 15, 2005
Sammy, twas just a line from Slap Shot, not meant as a dig toward a former hockey great... =D
posted by MeatSaber at 07:04 AM on September 16, 2005
it's nice to see guys like Messier and Francis decide to leave the game before they become a burden to their teams. This is similar to a speech I gave my grandma right before "the accident".
posted by yerfatma at 07:06 AM on September 16, 2005
I just picture you walking around the thanksgiving dinner table with a baseball bat giving the "enthusiams" speech from The Untouchables....
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:21 AM on September 16, 2005
Teamwork, teamwork.
posted by yerfatma at 08:25 AM on September 16, 2005
Sammy, twas just a line from Slap Shot, not meant as a dig toward a former hockey great... =D Oh. I knew that.
posted by Samsonov14 at 05:27 PM on September 16, 2005
Ron Frances's retirement is another sign of the NHL's decline.With the retirement of other hockey greats this week,it should send a clear message to all hockey fans . The product called hockey isn't going to be worth watching.