http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/

Retards…..

After battling concussion symptoms since last October, Keith Primeau makes if official and finally retires.

Some quotes from Primeau

“To the fans of Philadelphia, I am sorry I could not overcome this injury and for dragging this out as long as I did, but I did it all with the best of intentions and with the thought of returning home to play in front of 20,000 screaming fans. Thank you for your prayers and for your unwavering support.

“To my teammates, past and present – this is what, I believe, makes the team so hard to walk away from, because of the friendships we developed and the bonds we formed. Thank you.

“In a sense, it feels somewhat like failure. This decision will allow me to live a normal life and, in time, offer few reminders of my injuries.”

“I think a career of concussions has a cumulative effect.”

Keith was a first round pick by the Detroit Red Wings, 3rd overall back in 1990. He played 6 years with the Wings before being traded to Hartford (Carolina) in 1996. Keith played 3 years with Hartford/Carolina before being traded to the Flyers. He also played in 2 All-Star games and 1 Olympics with Team Canada.

As a Flyer Keith was the Captain and was a breath of fresh air after Flyers fans had to deal with the long strung out soap opera that of the Lindros situation. He is remembered by fans for scoring the winning goal in the 5th overtime against the Penguins in the first round of the 2000 playoffs. More recently he is remembered by literally carrying the team in the 2004 playoffs only to lose in game 7 of the conference finals to Tampa Bay. Many fans only memory of Keith is as the captain that carried the team through the playoffs.

But everything wasn’t so rosy with his hockey career. Keith demanded a trade from Detroit to a team where he could be the Number 1 center and got it. In Carolina he complained that Carolina was not a hockey town and how empty the seats where at the home games. Things got worse when Carolina tried to resign him. Primeau refused to go to arbitration, a war of words erupted which led to Primeau vowing never to play for Carolina again and he got it. Even in Philadelphia Primeau sparked some controversy. After losing to the Ottawa Senators (2001-2002) in the first round of the playoffs Primeau spoke up and spoke out against Coach Bill Barber. Barber who had coached the Flyers for just 2 years, previously coached the Phantoms to their first Calder Cup in 1998, a Hall of Famer whose name and number hangs from the rafters in Philadelphia. Oh and he had to deal with the death of his wife from cancer that season. Primeau wanted a ‘better’ coach and got it. 3 years now with the coach he wanted and still not a trip to the Finals. In a way it is a little funny each team Primeau played for and demanded to be traded away from went on to win the Stanley Cup, after he left.

So the Primeau era is over, along with the soap opera he created. A kid with so much potential, who burned his bridges in Detroit and Carolina. What he could become was never realized except for the one playoff run in 2004. Because of that run he has many fans in Philadelphia, unfortunately in Detroit and Carolina there are few if any. But I am sure that most hockey fans wish him luck with his health as he moves on to the next stage in his life.

I officially take myself off of hiatus. What in the name of all things good is everyone upset about at Bobby Clarke? This is part of the NHL, and the NHL Official Rule book. I for one just see this as another rant and rave by the “small guy” in the NHL complaining about the big clubs. Well, GUESS WHAT? There’s a salary cap now and a CBA that says Clarke can do exactly what he just did. So sit down, shut up, and move on. We can’t spend any more money than you can, and you’re getting free money from us, because our fans are better than yours.
Okay, now let’s look at it constructively –

Clarke went out and made a decision, a decision that was never going to actually come through. The Canucks are obviously going to match the offer and re-sign their boy. To quote Clarkey, “I’m trying to make my team better,” Clarke said. “There’s a rule that says we can put out offer sheets. So I did it. You know, it’s funny, they made new rules so we’re operating in a system where we all get to spend the same amount of money. Philadelphia and Detroit can’t spend any more than Nashville or Anaheim. Those are the rules. We all live by them. No one can accuse Philadelphia or Detroit of spending more money than everyone else now. But when I go and use a rule that is there, everybody is all over me about it.”
Here are some more interesting quotes:

“To me, our thinking is completely backward,” Clarke said. “I lost Kim Johnsson to (unrestricted) free agency because the Minnesota Wild gave him $4.8 million. Well, the Flyers had to give (revenue sharing) money to Minnesota and other teams and I don’t like that but it’s the rules. And then Minnesota takes that money and signs my player and there are no rules to say I can keep him if I match. I wish I had all the options with Kim Johnsson that Vancouver has with Kesler. They can match and keep him or they can let him go. It’s up to them.”

“A lot of guys in this league like the rules when it suits them and they don’t like them when it doesn’t. Too bad for them. I’m just playing by the rules that are there. To be honest, I’m surprised more teams aren’t doing it.”

Keith Primeau expects to announce his retirement by the end of the week according to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday.

“I’ve had those discussions with my wife and I will have something more to say about it either Wednesday or Thursday,” Primeau explained to The Inquirer.

Been waiting for this. Hopefully this drama will be over soon.