PATRICK ROY ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT
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Goaltender Patrick Roy officially announced on Wednesday, May 28 that after playing in 1,276 NHL combined regular season and playoff games, he has played his last game in an NHL uniform.
“I became Patrick’s agent and advisor in 1983 when he was just 17 and playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League,” said Colorado Avalanche President and General Manager Pierre Lacroix. “That was 20 years ago. It was obvious that even at 17 Patrick would be in a league of his own and to recognize his assurance in his abilities was easy. When I say a league of his own I don’t mean only as a player, as Patrick pioneered the new style of goaltender evidenced by the two goalies that are currently competing in the Stanley Cup Finals. His innovative style and creativity will be a part of the game forever.”
Roy departs as Colorado’s all-time franchise goaltending leader in every category, including games played (478), minutes played (28,317), wins (262), goals against average (2.26), and shutouts (37). He established franchise single-season records for games played (65 in 1997-98), minutes played (3835 in 1997-98), wins (40 in 2000-01), goals against average (1.94 in 2001-02), and shutouts (9 in 2001-02). He won 30 or more games in every full season with Colorado, the lone exception being 1995-96, when he was acquired in early December of that season.
Said Patrick Roy: “I’ve had a blast; it’s been unbelievable. I’ve been so fortunate to have lived a dream and have fun for more than 18 years earning a living by playing the game I love. I will remember the good days and cherish the great moments. I’m leaving with the feeling that I’ve done everything I could to be the best. My passion and respect to the game guided me over my career, and I’ve played for the two best organizations in all of professional sports – one that possesses a great history and another that has established a winning tradition in a very short time. In both cities I’ve had and still have tremendous fans, and I thank them.
“I made this decision before the start of the 2002-03 season that it would be my last. I step aside with no regrets.”
Patrick concluded his 18th NHL season this past year by appearing in 63 games for the Avalanche, posting a 35-15-13 record with a 2.18 goals against average and five shutouts. He became the NHL’s all-time leader among goaltenders for game played October 24th at Phoenix and minutes played November 15th at Dallas. He surpassed the 60,000 minutes played mark on March 31st versus San Jose, and was named to participate in his 11th NHL All-Star Game. Roy was unbeaten in 26 of his final 30 starts (22-4-4, 1.69 GAA, .939 save percentage), and recorded his 30th victory on March 22nd versus Chicago, adding to his NHL record for the most 30-win seasons (13) and matching the NHL record for most consecutive 30-win seasons (8).
“When the opportunity to acquire a player like Patrick Roy presented itself in 1995, I was very confident in the player we were getting,” added Lacroix. “I knew he could backstop this young franchise to the next level and anticipated he would have a big impact – and he did. In 1996, we won the first of two Stanley Cups as well as the first major league championship for the Mile High City. As I look back, even I couldn’t have envisioned the impact he has had in Denver, or for that matter, in hockey. It gives us all a great sense of pride that Patrick Roy is retiring in a Colorado Avalanche uniform. He is a true champion of his day. Every hockey fan in Denver and throughout the world will always remember Patrick for his remarkable accomplishments.”
Roy leaves the National Hockey League as the greatest goaltender ever to play the game, and his regular season accomplishments can only be rivaled by his post season prowess. His regular season records include most games played (1,029), most minutes played (60,235), most wins (551), and the most 30-plus win seasons (13). His .618 winning percentage ranks him 8th all-time, and he ranks 11th all-time with 66 career shutouts. His 45 career assists are good for third all-time, and he is the only goaltender in history to notch 200-plus games with two different clubs.
His marks on the NHL’s record books continue into post season play. Roy is the NHL’s goaltending leader for most games played (247), minutes played (15,209), shutouts (23), consecutive wins in the post season (11 in 1993), and has the most 10-plus win playoff campaigns (9). Roy claims the NHL’s second longest scoreless streak in the Stanley Cup Finals (227:41, the longest since 1926), and became the first goaltender since 1965 to record two shutouts in the Finals (2001). His .616 winning percentage is good for third all-time.
“This is a tough day for me, but it is a decision which I took my time to reflect on and arrive at,” stated Roy. “When you spend 18 seasons doing something you love, it becomes a difficult decision. My family and I completely believe in it, and I am leaving the game with memories most are not as fortunate as me to have.”
Roy’s legendary career began in 1984-85 with one game for the Montreal Canadiens, and the following season he would win the Stanley Cup and claim the Conn Smythe Trophy as 20-year-old rookie. Over the course of his career, Roy has won four Stanley Cups (1986 and 1993 with Montreal, and 1996 and 2001 with Colorado), three Conn Smythe Trophies (1986, 1993, and 2001), five William M. Jennings Trophies (1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, and 2002), three Vezina Trophies (1989, 1990, and 1992), been selected to the NHL First All-Star Team four times (1989, 1990, 1992, and 2002) and selected to the NHL Second All-Star Team on two occasions (1988 and 1991).
http://www.coloradoavalanche.com/feature...3427152126.html
PATRICK ROY'S #33 TO BE RETIRED
The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club will officially retire number 33 in honor of goaltender Patrick Roy, who announced his retirement from the National Hockey League.
The club will raise Roy’s number 33 in a special ceremony to take place in the early stages of the 2003-04 season. A specific date will be announced at a later time.
“By retiring number 33, we’re acknowledging the greatest goaltender ever to play in the National Hockey League” said Colorado Avalanche President and General Manager Pierre Lacroix. “He has been an integral part of this team for the eight seasons we have called Denver home, and the impact he had on this team and community will be remembered forever.”
33 will be the second sweater number to be retired in the eight-year history of the Colorado Avalanche and marks the sixth in the history of the franchise. The Quebec Nordiques retired sweater numbers of four players: Peter Stastny (26), Michel Goulet (16), Marc Tardif (8), and J.C. Tremblay (3), while the Avalanche will have now retired numbers for Ray Bourque (77) and Patrick Roy (33).
http://www.coloradoavalanche.com/feature...0342814754.html
STATEMENTS FROM COLORADO AVALANCHE OWNER MR. E. STANLEY KROENKE AND PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER PIERRE LACROIX REGARDING PATRICK ROY'S RETIREMENT
Mr. E. Stanley Kroenke
"Patrick is going to be missed not only by his teammates and this organization, but by our fans and hockey fans everywhere.
This marks a proud yet sad day for the Colorado Avalanche and Kroenke Sports Enterprises. We are all sad to see the greatest goaltender ever to play the game retire, but proud to have had Patrick Roy represent our organization and community in the first-class manner he did on and off the ice.
I know all of our fans will agree when I say we are amazed by what Patrick has accomplished during his career, and his contributions to the game will never be forgotten.
Thank you, Patrick."
Pierre Lacroix
"Thank you, Patrick. As you may know, I became Patrick’s agent/advisor in 1983 when he was just 17 and played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for Granby. That was twenty years ago. I was fortunate to have shared a lot of experiences with Patrick and his family over that time.
But it was obvious even at 17, Patrick would be in a league of his own. To recognize his assurance in his abilities was easy…a characteristic essential for elite professional athletes…especially goalies. In 1986, his first year as an NHL player, he captured the MVP Conn Smythe Trophy, when the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup. When I say a league of his own I don’t mean only as a player, Patrick pioneered the new style of goaltender evidenced by the two goalies that are currently competing in the Stanley Cup Finals. His innovative style and creativity will be a part of the game forever.
So when the opportunity to acquire Patrick in 1995 presented itself, I was very confident in the player we were getting. It was December 6th and I remember it like yesterday, at about 3:00 am in the morning after completing the trade, I was driving home and in my own quiet reflection, I knew he could backstop this young franchise to the next level. I anticipated he would have a big impact…and he did. In 1996 we won the first of two Stanley Cups as well as the first championship for the State of Colorado. As I look back at that drive home, even I couldn’t have envisioned the impact he has had in Colorado or for that matter in hockey.
Every hockey fan in Colorado and throughout the world will always remember your remarkable accomplishments………
Patrick, les amateurs de hockey partout dans le monde se souviendront a jamais de tes exploits comme gardien de but et de l’impact majeur que tu as eu pour les jeunes qui pratiquent aujourd’hui cette profession.
Patrick, on behalf of Mr. Stan Kroenke and the entire Colorado Avalanche organization, it gives us all a great sense of pride that you are retiring in the Colorado Avalanche uniform. And I am honored to announce that your number 33 will hang from the rafters in Pepsi Center alongside Ray Bourque’s number 77.
Patrick, you are a true champion of your day."
http://www.coloradoavalanche.com/feature...3428141254.html
Wednesday, May 28
Biron, Cechmanek among Avs' possible options
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By Al Morganti
Special to ESPN.com
Patrick Roy's retirement leaves a huge void in the NHL's star system, and an even bigger void in goal for the Colorado Avalanche.
Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix is faced with an alphabet soup of possibilities to replace Roy, but they are not as simple as A-B-C.
In this case, "A" would be David Aebischer, Roy's backup in Colorado. "B" would be either Martin Biron or Sean Burke, a couple of goalies who could be dealt by the Buffalo Sabres and Phoenix Coyotes, respectively. And "C" could be Roman Cechmanek, the elite regular-season goalie from the Philadelphia Flyers who is ticketed out of town.
Though it wasn't made public until now, Roy had mentioned to several members of the team management as early as January that this was going to be his last season. According to one team member, Roy felt uncomfortable in the locker room because he could no longer go up to players and demand a better performance out of them. Roy knew that his game had slipped -- at least by his standards -- and he was no longer in a position to make such demands. And it was that kind of fire, emotion and leadership that helped him and the team reach such lofty goals.
Knowing that, the team's management addressed the situation in postseason meetings. And while there wasn't a clear-cut decision made on which way to venture into the post-Roy era, it was evident that most on the staff felt the future was more likely to be tied to prospect Phil Sauve, the son of Roy's agent and former NHL goalie, Bob Sauve.
That might be the future, but in the immediate present there is some strong sentiments that 2003-04 will be the last for Lacroix. So while the long-term future might entail Sauve and Lacroix's son, Eric, at the head of a management team, next season might be the last chance to run for a Cup with the remaining core of Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Adam Foote and Rob Blake.
That is why the Avalanche are exploring so many options.
One of the most intriguing would be a trade for Biron. Mired in their own post-great-goalie-era after the retirement of Dominik Hasek last summer, the Sabres are loaded with highly regarded young prospects, namely Mikka Norenen and Ryan Miller. This would be the time to go with the kids. Biron will draw interest from all quarters, as the Avalanche will have to compete with inquiries from Philadelphia and perhaps Tampa Bay, who may be finding Nikolai Khabibulin's contract too big to stomach.
Khabibulin is actually another option for Avalanche. The Lightning's star goalie was not the goalie of choice in Game 5 against New Jersey in this year's playoffs. It was a bold move by coach John Tortorella. Hurt feelings aside, what kind of discovery did the team make when they realized their $6-million-per-season goalie wasn't the best option for a must-win playoff game? Maybe that John Grahame will be the top goalie in Tampa Bay.
Cechmanek? He lost his focus and composure in the playoffs again, but he has great statistics, and the Flyers' lineup is full of holes in front of him. Given an elite team to score some big goals for him, he might be the Ed Belfour of the future -- Belfour finally won a Cup with a solid team in Dallas. It also wouldn't take much to get Cechmanek -- the Flyers have made it very clear he is no longer welcome.
And, oh yes, there is the wild chance the Avalanche could sign Jean-Sebastien Giguere, a Group II free agent, to an offer sheet that Anaheim simply could not match. But Pierre Lacroix would never do that, would he?
Al Morganti covers the NHL for ESPN.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/columns/morganti_al/1559936.html
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