Roberts to retire after this season - 12-18-08

 

Lightning forward and former Penguin Gary Roberts announced his intentions to retire after the 2008-09 season.

Roberts told the St. Petersburg Times' Damian Cristodero:

"I don't think there's any doubt, I'm gone after this season. I'm going to retire. I'd like to finish on a (good)note. I'd like to come back and prove I can play and hopefully stay healthy enough to finish the season and finish playing a stretch of games and at least have some success. I'd like to finish on a high note. When you're hurt, you're not as much part of it, whether you're a young guy or an older guy, that doesn't change.  I pay close attention to the game and I do learn a lot, even at 42 years old, I learn something watching the games, so I really tried to watch the games closely and get a feel for what I think I need to do to be successful. (I) still believe I can play. It's just, will my body allow me the opportunity to show that I can play?"

EN Says: It's probably time Roberts rode off into the sunset. He's been held together with gum and duct tape the past two seasons and 42-year-olds who throw their bodies around like crash-test dummies generally don't have a long shelf life regardless of their training regimen. That said, it's hard to imagine the NHL without Gary Roberts. He's everything that's right with the sport of hockey.

NOTES:

-Thrashers forward and former Penguin Erik Christensen is not expected to play tonight. He has been out of the lineup since Dec. 2 due to a shoulder injury

(Photo: Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)