I don't really look at myself in that category, but hearing your name mentioned alongside them is something I'm proud I've accomplished, and I take that as a huge compliment. |
I had a pretty clear picture once the season was cancelled last year (in February). So really in the last couple of months I was ready to announce this, but I've been pretty busy with the kids here. With everyone making their announcements, my agent called me and said we should get this thing official. So here were are. |
I never thought about [my legacy] when I was playing. I would never have thought I could play that many seasons or wind up second [all-time] in assists. I just enjoyed playing the game. |
I think anybody would certainly be honored to have their name mentioned with Wayne Gretzky, |
I think every team heads into the season believing they have a chance, and certainly we're no different here, ... And I think our experience two years ago shows that it's certainly possible. And look at Anaheim last year. Nobody picked them to have a chance and yet they got there. I think we're certainly capable of doing that. I think our team is ready to get back to the level where we were two years ago. |
I think you always hope you can play forever, but you always realize that time will come, ... I was fortunate I was able to make a decision, move on and do it comfortably. |
If it comes that the four of us are wearing a jacket at the same time, that's certainly a picture I'd love to have in my rec room. |
If that happens, I certainly want a picture of all of us for my own wall, |
It was a fun ride. I've enjoyed my time on the ice and I've enjoyed more and more people getting interested in the game of hockey. |
It's great, unfortunately it cost me a lot of money to fill up the building. |
Looking back overall, it was a long ride. I certainly wasn't expecting it to be that long, but I certainly enjoyed many aspects of it and look back with fond memories and absolutely no regrets. It was a great part of my life. |
My personality is not one that goes out looking for that (publicity). If anything, I probably bring a little bit of that on myself because I tend to shy away from that limelight. But it was never about that. It was about playing the game. And the thing I'm most proud of over the length of my career is probably the consistency. That is the best part. |
Nobody believed we could do what we did, and we almost went one step further and really surprised them, ... The entire ride has been memorable and fun. I have no regrets. It's been a great part of my life. |
Off the ice, you just want people to think you are a good person. |
Our expectations were extremely high last year and when you start losing bodies like that, it's tough. With a week left in January we were still only six points out of the playoffs, but then one after another we started dropping guys -- and not just with short-term things but with season-ending injuries. I think at one point we had 13 guys out of the lineup. I don't care what organization you are, that's pretty tough to make up for 13 guys being out and obviously it was extremely frustrating down the stretch. |