Sure, Roenick polarizes people in hockey circles to a degree few other NHLers have in the league's history. Even the THN offices has its share of J.R.-loathers; when we caught wind of his looming announcement last week, there weren't many tears being shed for a player whose best on-ice years ended when his stint as a Philadelphia Flyer did in 2004.
Roenick was a hothead, there's no doubt about that. But as a player and as an ambassador to the sport, Roenick was wildly successful in both regards. I believe he'll end up a Hall of Famer once eligible.
In his prime, Roenick was amongst the best in the league. Scoring more than 50 goals in a season twice and breaking 100 points three times, 9 all-star appearances, two stints with the US Olympic team, and more. The 39th highest point scorer in the history of the sport. These are all very impressive stats.
Roenick will get some slack for the fact that he could never lead his team to the cup, but think of all of the great players in every sport and the fact that only one team wins each year. Too many great players play the game and never see a title; it's a fact of life, not an indictment.
Think back to some of the memories that come to mind. The Game 7 against the Coyotes despite his broken jaw, or his 2004 game against Toronto, played under similar circumstances. Roenick was always willing to play hurt.
Roenick was still effective later in his career, too. Thinking back to his stint with the Sharks two years ago, the veteran led the team with ten game winning goals, proving that he still had some gas left in the tank.
All of his accomplishments on ice speak volumes about the player that Roenick was, but he was also a great ambassador for the sport, and this should be remembered.
Roenick made so many efforts to increase the popularity of the sport through the course of his career. Even when it meant speaking out against the league's commissioner, Roenick wasn't shy to back down; even if it meant he was hated.
And for these reasons, Jeremy Roenick will always be remembered as one of the more recognizable figures in the history of the sport. Thank you, Mr. Roenick, for a great show.
Roenick was a hothead, there's no doubt about that. But as a player and as an ambassador to the sport, Roenick was wildly successful in both regards. I believe he'll end up a Hall of Famer once eligible.
In his prime, Roenick was amongst the best in the league. Scoring more than 50 goals in a season twice and breaking 100 points three times, 9 all-star appearances, two stints with the US Olympic team, and more. The 39th highest point scorer in the history of the sport. These are all very impressive stats.
Roenick will get some slack for the fact that he could never lead his team to the cup, but think of all of the great players in every sport and the fact that only one team wins each year. Too many great players play the game and never see a title; it's a fact of life, not an indictment.
Think back to some of the memories that come to mind. The Game 7 against the Coyotes despite his broken jaw, or his 2004 game against Toronto, played under similar circumstances. Roenick was always willing to play hurt.
Roenick was still effective later in his career, too. Thinking back to his stint with the Sharks two years ago, the veteran led the team with ten game winning goals, proving that he still had some gas left in the tank.
All of his accomplishments on ice speak volumes about the player that Roenick was, but he was also a great ambassador for the sport, and this should be remembered.
Roenick made so many efforts to increase the popularity of the sport through the course of his career. Even when it meant speaking out against the league's commissioner, Roenick wasn't shy to back down; even if it meant he was hated.
And for these reasons, Jeremy Roenick will always be remembered as one of the more recognizable figures in the history of the sport. Thank you, Mr. Roenick, for a great show.
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