Bye JR?
July 22nd, 2009, 12:50 pm
This sure sounds like JR is hanging ’em up. And you know what? I’m happy about that. JR is a great presence in the room, and I’m sure he helped a lot of the young players learn about life and success in the NHL. But there are two reasons why I’m glad (if it’s true):
- I don’t like to see great players go out with a whimper. Not that he’s going out with a bang (13 points in 42 games last year), but there sometimes it’s a little sad to see a legend try and make it happen when they are barely hanging on. Claude Lemieux is an obvious parallel. Not that I think Lemieux embarrassed himself or anything like that, and not that I want to begrudge a guy who loves hockey a chance to give it another go-round, but you like to think of Roenick in his prime- skating hard, hitting hard, scoring goals, eating steak in Vancouver, etc.
- You have to really contribute on the ice. Even last year, there were flashes of the ‘old’ JR, making something happen, but too often his minutes were uneventful. For a supposed Stanley Cup contender, you don’t want to have uneventful minutes, even on the 4th line.
Reading this over again, it sounds like I’m trying to disparage one of the greatest American-born hockey players ever. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Rather, I’m encouraging him to move to the next stage in his hockey career, hopefully involving a broadcast booth, a front office, or even a league or PA office. Or a podcast, hehe.
Speaking of which, the newest episode is out.
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I have to admit, I’d be a little disappointed if JR left. His offense on a per minute basis was actually pretty good last year, the best outside the top two lines (even above Cheechoo I believe). As much as he might have been overrated in his time with PHO and LA, he has been quite underrated here. I truly think he still has the skills to be a contributor on a championship calibur club. Whether he has the body to make it through the grind, I dunno.
I think Joe Sakic was a class guy, but I think there needs to be more Jeremy Roenicks in the NHL.
Good post dude. Sure sounds like J.R. has made up his mind. Honestly, I kind of forgot that he was even an option for next year when we talked lines the other day.
If he retires, there will be a big party at the Tank for him one night, that’s for sure.
So my big question is, if he has decided to hang them up (and he’s decided something) why is he not saying it out loud? I don’t see how it gains him anything to keep it a secret that he’s retiring (if that’s the case). If he isn’t retiring then resigning would push the Sharks closer to the cap and make things seem just that much tighter in SJ.
I just don’t see why a man as notoriously outspoken about… well, everything, would not say that he’s retiring if that is the case.
I could be wrong and the SJ cap thing is just me squirming to hope that he’s still returning, but this whole thing is mildly confusing.
I have watched JR since his first shift in Chicago and from that point on fell in love with his game. He was certainly a terrific player in his days there, and the city of Chicago loved him. He never should have left.
Since that time while his points per season were never quite the same he was still an asset to any team that he was on. Well maybe not his LA year.
I’ll never forget his goal against Belfour in game 7 against Toronto, as well as his game 7 against the Flames in the 08 playoffs.
If he does hang them up, I am truly going to miss him. The NHL needs more players that play the way he does, and can offer the color that he has provided.
Maybe he’s made his mind up to “contemplate retirement” until, oh, about the Olympic break. Maybe he thinks he can finish it where it all started – be the “experience” guy the Hawks need to put them over the top going into the playoffs.
Dudes, just wanted to say thanks for getting the new podcast out so soon after the last one got delayed a few days…I’d expected you to skip a week. Very noble of you both to push on despite the lack of any significant news whatsoever. Keep up the great work.
for JR to stay he needs more minutes and dedicated PP time, no 4th line bangin and grindin, he is to old for that crap. let him skate and use his creativty and sniper shot in the TM system.
i liked what i saw with JR cheech and mitchell on a line together.
JR give it 1 more year
trade for nolan and sign friessen too, there is yer grit banging wiuth a ring and leadership
@ Jeremy
I think you nailed it. I could totally see him waiting around and pulling the same thing Niederm. did with the Ducks. Good call.
Tom and Jeremy,
It’s an interesting theory, but given how tough it is to get an NHL job these days, I think it’s doubtful JR could get away with something like that.
Second, I think the SN thing was much worse since he was under contract, and put the Ducks in a bind (had to trade Andy MacDonald for Doug Weight for Pete’s sake) when he did finally decided to come back.