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Lemieux says goodbye for final time
By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins owner-player Mario Lemieux finally got his wish for an offensive-minded NHL only to realize that he no longer had the health or mobility to take advantage of it.
Mario Lemieux with daughters Stephanie, left, Alexa, center and Lauren. His wife Natalie watches.
By Gene Puskar, AP
Lemieux, 40, retired as a player Tuesday, moving permanently to the front office to concentrate on the sale of his team and lobbying for a new arena.
"The time is right because I can no longer play the game at the level I'm accustomed to," he said. "I think the best decision is to turn the game over to the younger guys."
Lemieux said an irregular heartbeat, which limited him to 26 games, also played a major role in his decision. He had another episode Monday night and said he was leaning toward surgery to correct the problem.
He conceded he was frustrated by his performance before he left the lineup Dec. 16. He missed most of 2003-04 with injury and didn't play during the lockout. This season he had to cope with a faster game.
"This is the new NHL, and it's built on speed," Lemieux said. "It's a young man's game now."
A six-time NHL scoring champion, Lemieux ended a career that placed him among all-time greats Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr.
"Winning two Stanley Cups allows me to leave the game in peace," Lemieux said.
By Gene J. Puskar, AP
Mario Lemieux has long had Hall of Fame numbers.
Nashville Predators general manager David Poile recalls seeing the 6-4 center in his early years "carry three guys on his back for 60 feet from the blue line and still score."
"It was like he had the wingspan of an eagle," Poile said. "He was magnificent to watch."
Said Gretzky, now the Phoenix Coyotes coach: "He was a big, strong man (who) played with intelligence. He had soft hands. I don't care how big you are, if you don't have soft hands, it doesn't matter."
Lemieux retired in 1997 after years of back pain, a bone infection and a bout with cancer. In 1999 he bought controlling interest in the Penguins, rescuing them from bankruptcy.
He shocked fans by coming out of retirement in December 2000.
"Mario has just been a tremendous ambassador for ... hockey in what he's done for the city of Pittsburgh and the grace with which he played the game," Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. "Wow, he's just a magician on the ice."
