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Hockey Greats Just a few of the great players who retired or left the NHL since I started following the game... Updates & Changes to Hockey Pages Links Click on the picture
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"The Great One," Wayne Gretzky, acknowledged as the greatest player in the history of hockey, played with style and passion for 20 years. On his way to shattering most of the league’s scoring records, he became the leading ambassador and spokesman for the game. In 1999, No. 99 retired, displaying the same quiet grace with which he played, after leading the New York Rangers in scoring for the season. During his final season he surpassed Gordie Howe for the most goals all time, including the NHL and the defunct World Hockey Association. On November 22, 1999, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In the 2000-01 season, Wayne stepped into an ownership position with the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2005-06 he took over the coaching duties.
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In 1997, The Hockey News, the world’s premier hockey magazine, commissioned a panel of experts to name the 50 best NHL players of all time. Mario Lemieux finished 4th, even as he announced his retirement from the game. With a relatively short career of 13 years (brought down by chronic back pain), Mario achieved two Stanley Cups with his only team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is widely credited with saving a faltering team with his sensational playing talent (he scored a goal on the first shift of his first game). In 1999, Super Mario again rescued the team, on the verge of bankruptcy, by exchanging over $20 million in deferred salary for a majority ownership of the team—the first former player to become a major sports league team owner. In 2000, Mario again played savior, by coming back from retirement - and scoring a goal and two assists in his first game back after nearly three years. Further health complications forced his final retirement at age 40 in 2006. |
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October 17, 2000, was St. Patrick's Day. On that day Patrick Roy won his 448th game, to pass Terry Sawchuck and take over the record for the most wins by a goalie in NHL history. After starting his career by leading Montreal to a cup as a rookie, Roy developed a reputation for being able to beat you with both his mental and physical abilities. In addition to two cups in Montreal, he picked up another with the Avalanche in their first season in Colorado. Following the 2002-03 season, Roy announced his retirement. He left the game undisputedly rated as one of the top goalies of all time. He won four Stanley cups, and is the career leader in victories, games played, playoff games, playoff victories, and playoff shutouts.
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No one in NHL history wore the 'C' as long as Steve
Yzerman. He was captain of the Red Wings for 20 years, taking the helm
as a 21-year-old in 1986, and led |
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Born in the Czech Republic, Jaromir Jagr showed flashes of brilliance early in his career, skating alongside Lemieux in the Penguins’ Stanley Cup victories. Named captain of the club in 1999-99, he emerged as a solid leader, winning the Art Ross trophy for the most points in the regular season. He also captured the most valuable player award, as well as what many players feel is the most meaningful trophy of all, the Lester Pearson Award, player of the year as determined by vote of his fellow NHL players. In 1999-2000 he again captured the Ross, and entering the 2000-01 season was acknowledged by The Hockey News as the world's best. Prior to the 2001-02 season, he was traded to the Washington Capitols. Although it's felt he did not live up to his potential in the nation's capital, a trade to the New York Rangers in 03-04 eventually led to a revitalized career. He was credited with leading the Rangers back to the playoffs in 05-06 for the first time in several years. His improved play led The Hockey News to name him the number three player in the league. He has apparently concluded his NHL career, choosing to play in Russia for the 2008-09 season. |
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