EHM The Blue Line

Not a transaction. And I believe considering what he has done he deserves his own thread. This could lead to a few transactions in that other thread

Scott retiring? Comments?

This guy has won a few things in his life in hockey. Should he be considered the pentultimate player now? Top leader (in spite of Messier giving that stupid award to the 90 year old in Detroit) in hockey?

World Junior gold, Mem Cup, Stanley Cups, Olympic gold, minor hockey championships, World Championship, World Cup of Hockey championship. Is there anything he has not done? He just wins baby!

I've heard he's contemplating it but hasn't decided either way. Personally, I don't blame him if he retires now. Why not? He's achieved everything a defenseman could ever ask for (he did win the Norris before, right?). He's won championships at every level. He's surely made plenty of money. Why not retire and enjoy his family and his health?

Yep. Norris, Conn Smythe. He may be the most humble guy ever. When he was up for the Norris, he told the media not to talk about it. Told Pierre McGuire to quit hyping him on TSN for the trophy, and just let whoever the guys vote for win.

In my mind, it should be illegal for him to retire until after he Captains Team Canada to gold at age 36/37 in the 2010 Olympics.

He won Memorial Cup, junior champ, world championship, olympic gold, the NHL World cup, the Norris and the Conn Smyth. He even won a stanley cup with his lil' bruder!!

Frankly, if he want to retire, he merits so, but that will be a verrrrrry sad day for PlanetHockey (and sad day for Vancouver's Olympic Team Canada as Batdad say)

He has won really everything that Hockey has to offer. And to win the Cup with his Brother was the last piece. He's one of a few guys you trust when he says: "I don't play for the big bucks".....he leaves a Stanley Cup Contender (NJ) to play with his Brother, although Lamoriello offered him 7,4 mio to stay in Jersey.
A smart Guy who's walking in the shadows.....
if he will retire now it will be at the TOP of his CAREER - no better (hockey-)moment will come....

Yes, he has won really everything that Hockey has to offer, no doubt about it.
However, how about that HUNGER for the hockey game itself? That strong feeling drives almost every player in a game - A TRUE PASSION!!! I think it doesn't important to a player at this level how many points he will finally get (unless he wants to beat The Great One). And probably the same thing motivates another stalwart - Chris Chelios . That lives me with a hope Scotty will be back, at least for one more season.

I agree totally with Devils, Scott came to the Ducks for one reason, Rob. And to lead us to the cup, hes a great to the Ducks, and hes only been here for 3 years. And for someone like scotty to end his career so soon, it wud be such a shame. The guys obviouslly a vital piece to the Ducks and he could at least wait for the Ducks to draft a good D-man, . Only kiddin,
on a serious note, it wud be a sad moment for Hockey all over the world, he's recognised as the best D-man (or he shud be, Lidstrom is overated), but i wud fully understand his decision to retire at the top of his career.
Thank you Scotty!

Hey Getzlaf---The Wings fans are coming for ya. Be ready.

But yeah, I tend to like Scotty over Niklas too.

Passion is one thing, motivation is another. How being highly motivated when you already won everything? Sure, he still has some years at a really high level of play ahead of him, but can he be motivated enough to play those seasons? He is the only one to have the answer, deep within him.

If he retires, many will thank him for all what he brought to the game. If he continues, Ducks fans will thank him for staying a Cup contender

He has 6.75 million reasons to be motivated.

I think his decision will partly be decided by Selänne's decision. I can't see Niedermayer play for anything else than a 5th ring. So if Teemu retires, i guess he'll join him on the golf courts, which should be a huge desaster for the (now) defending champ!

Must be stressing to be a Ducks fan actually

Hm I seem to be the "Shadd you are wrong" guy today.

Selanne is not that important to another Ducks cup run. He did zippo in the playoffs. The important guys are Giggy, Nieds, Pronger, Pahlsson, Getzlaff, Perry, Penner, Kunitz, MacDonald. Selanne can retire, and the Ducks get someone young, or someone else to fill in his role. Not really a big deal. Nieds decision is based on whether or not he wants to climb a mountain in real life, yodel and smoke a pipe when he finishes. OR Do I want another ring?

In fact, i was pretty sure you'll say i'm wrong as soon as i pressed the "submit" button Didn't know why though.

And don't get me wrong, i said it will partly be decided by Selänne's decision. It's just a part of the equation. Maybe not as big as what i initially thought, but still a part. Same for his "6.75 million reasons to be motivated", like you said I don't think money is such a big deal in the balance. Sure, it can have an impact, but Scott isn't known to be a player that plays for money. Furthermore, i think he's clever enough to already have saved a lot of money and don't have to think about it anymore in his whole life Then...for sure...who'd spit on 6.75M$? Certainly not me

getzlaf15 wrote:Lidstrom is overated

The only way someone really can overrate him in is saying 'he's better than Bobby Orr ever was'.
If you think Niedermayer is better than Lidström, well, then you're overrating Niedermayer. And I'm not saying this because I'm a Wings fan, I actually thought Niedermayer was the better defenseman a few years ago.

Systemfel wrote:

getzlaf15 wrote:Lidstrom is overated

The only way someone really can overrate him in is saying 'he's better than Bobby Orr ever was'.
If you think Niedermayer is better than Lidström, well, then you're overrating Niedermayer. And I'm not saying this because I'm a Wings fan, I actually thought Niedermayer was the better defenseman a few years ago.

It is a bit trivial arguing who's better than who. Lidstrom and Niedermayer are both top elite players. They rocks. Period.

I agree with holydogg on this one. Both are so talented that you can't decently compare them. When i discovered nhl hockey back in '94, both were top quality D-men. 13 years later, they are still. That's all. No need of any toe break procedure (nor shootout )

I don't really care if he stays or retires, but I did think it was a little odd to retire at his age even if he has won pretty much everything.

I'm not arguin that Lidstrom is rubbish, but i'm sayin he's overated, and the only way he is overated is because he doesnt have many other defensive stars on his team.

Niedermayer is not gonna stand out as much with the likes of Pronger on the team. So he's not gonna be noticed as much, but for the level that he is recognised is huge, and he is also trying to fight of the popularity of Pronger. (if you get me )

Lidstrom is surrounded by average defensman, and not to forget hasek for the most of his career, so he doesn't have as much competition, as he is undoubtebly the best in Detroit.

I'm not sayin that Lidstrom is rubbish, he obviously aint, coz he won Norris, but i think he won that because he is seen as the best helper of their team, not as the best Defender in the league.

We could probably settle the debate of the chicken and the egg before we settle the Niedermayer and Lidstrom argument.
We can aruge all day about Nieds or Lidstrom, you will say your guy and i will say mine, but theres no doubt about it, there both awesome defenders and future hall of famers, (in my eyes). Maybe we should start a thread.

CrockerNHL wrote:Yes, he has won really everything that Hockey has to offer, no doubt about it.

No he hasn't. He hasn't won the Finnish league championship! Scotty, come to Turku!

getzlaf15 wrote:Lidstrom is surrounded by average defensman, and not to forget hasek for the most of his career

Couple of links for you:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... 3?pid=3146
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... 3?pid=2187

As you can see, Lidström has played 1,176 regular season games while Hasek has played a total of 135 regular season games with Detroit. So, Lidström has had Hasek behind him in about 11% (at most) of his NHL games. That's not even 12%.

getzlaf15 wrote:but i'm sayin he's overated, and the only way he is overated is because he doesnt have many other defensive stars on his team.

Sorry, I don't quite get that.

ok, my bad, ill hold my hands up, sorry
Theres always 1 who has to prove me wrong.

i thought hasek had played more games in detroit than that.

and i mean, in New Jersey for example, Niedermayer was overlooked by Brodeur and Stevens, and even now, he's got Pronger, not so much overshadowing him, but is also a star, so its not gonna make Nieds look as good. Because focus is on other players too. Whereas Lidstrom is the only star in the Red Wing line up.

hope that explains my point.

Kekkonen wrote:

CrockerNHL wrote:Yes, he has won really everything that Hockey has to offer, no doubt about it.

No he hasn't. He hasn't won the Finnish league championship! Scotty, come to Turku!

I would love to see Scotty in europe, preferably for the Manchester Phoenix, wow, that would be attract some fans and i could say i live near him!
Don't think he'd like the weather though.

getzlaf15 wrote:Don't think he'd like the weather though.

That's why he'd better come in the south of France...Toulouse, for example

Oh wait! Division 2...aka 3rd level of play...in a country that doesn't know anything about hockey... no way it happens!

haha, should turn him into a good soccer player, the next David Beckham maybe? who knows???