December 10, 2010, HockeyPrimeTime.com Atlantic Division Notebook focusing on Bill Guerin's retirement

Guerin bids the game goodbye

Atlantic

Written by Denis Gorman

Thursday, December 09, 2010 15:32

No NHL team offered the 40-year-old a contract over the summer, but Bill Guerin sounded at peace with the way he went out – appropriately, at a Pittsburgh Penguins-New Jersey Devils game. As one group of players said hello Tuesday, another said goodbye Monday – the circle of athletic life completed in the span of two days. One day before USA Hockey announced its preliminary roster for the 2010-11 World Junior Hockey Championship Team, one member of USA Hockey’s last generation walked away. Bill Guerin made official Monday what had been an open secret after he was not signed as a free agent over the summer. AROUND THE ATLANTIC The career of arguably the greatest American-born power forward was over. Guerin had 856 points (429 goals, 427 assists) and 1,660 penalty minutes in 1,263 NHL games with New Jersey, Edmonton, Boston, Dallas, St. Louis, San Jose, the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh. He won Cups with the Devils and Penguins. Guerin also represented the United States in international competition. He was on Team USA’s 1996 and 2004 World Cup teams, along with the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Olympic Teams. “We were only here a short time but my family and I developed such a deep connection to the city, the team and the fans. It was amazing. From ownership and [general manager] Ray Shero to the coaching staff and trainers, from my teammates to the arena workers to the people in the stands, they all treated us in such a first-class manner,” Guerin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Monday afternoon. “It was an extremely positive experience. We all agree that retiring as a Pittsburgh Penguin is the perfect thing to do.” The retirement announcement coincided with the Devils’ first game at the Consol Energy Center, a timely clash of Guerin’s first team versus his last team. Pittsburgh won, 2-1. “That's why I chose this date -- because (the Devils) were here,” Guerin told NHL.com. “I talked to (Devils GM Lou Lamoriello) earlier this week and thanked him for having faith in a crazy, 18-year-old kid. I hope I made him proud. He gave me my start in the NHL. I'm eternally grateful for that.” The decision to retire was expected when none of the NHL’s 30 organizations signed Guerin as free agent over the summer and during the season’s first two months. The Hockey News’ Ken Campbell examined Monday why teams passed on the soon-to-be USA Hockey Hall of Famer and possible Hockey Hall of Famer leading to his decision to walk away. While the organization’s rationale for not bringing him back was, to borrow from Michael Corleone, “simply business,” Guerin’s former teammates in Pittsburgh expressed their affection for the power forward. "Older guy coming in and me being a young captain, he was there to support. That was important for me,” Sidney Crosby told the Post-Gazette Monday. “He's a guy who likes to keep things pretty loose, and he did that with me. But at the same time we were competitive and it was healthy. I had a ton of fun and definitely am better for having played with him.” Notes As the season closes in on its midway point, Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is among the odds-on favorites for the Calder Trophy. Called up from the AHL due to injuries to Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher, Bobrovsky has authored an impressive 14-4-3 record with a .922 save percentage and 2.29 goals-against average. Bobrovsky’s play has drawn the notice of Flyers goaltending great Bernie Parent. Parent told NHL.com that Bobrovsky is reminiscent of Pelle Lindbergh. … Yahoo! Sports’ Puck Daddy Blog posted an entry about radio shock jock Gregg Hughes, of the Sirius/XM "Opie and Anthony Show," throwing New York Islanders tickets out of his car window and into the Hudson River. Hughes is a lifelong Long Islander and an Islander fan. … Because the Devils have not played up to off-season expectations in what has been a disaster of a 2010-11 campaign, there has been much speculation on John MacLean’s job security. Those questions will continue but don’t expect the rookie NHL coach to answer questions. He was quoted in The Bergen Record’s Fire and Ice blog as saying that he is focused on his day-to-day tasks as coach. … John Tortorella criticized his team for being “asleep” during the first period of their 3-1 home loss Sunday to Ottawa. Twitter: @HockeyPrimeTime and @DenisGorman Photos by Getty Images

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