GIRARDI’S NHL RUN IS FINALLY DONE
Defenceman who blocked over 2,000 shots announces retirement after 13 seasons
Pin cushion defenceman Dan Girardi announced his retirement on Friday, his 13 seasons spent mostly with the New York Rangers,
“I gave my all every single night and left it all out on the ice,” Girardi summed up in a statement. “Now it’s time for the next chapter of my life to begin and I couldn’t be happier ... and so is my body.”
Though he was with the
Tampa Bay Lightning at the end in search of an elusive Stanley Cup, the Rangers quickly posted a two-minute video of Girardi highlights and best wishes from longtime teammates such as goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Many complimented the undrafted native of Welland, Ont., on his dedication to shot blocking. He had more than 2,000 blocks to his credit through more than 1,000 games, including playoffs.
Girardi leaves as the all-time league leader in regular season blocks, since that statistic’s official inclusion on game sheets in 2005. He also had 56 goals and 264 points and posted a plus-78 rating.
CLOSE CALL
Defenceman Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights says he has made a full recovery after surgery for testicular cancer, but specialists will be monitoring him.
His condition was discovered through a post-game doping test administered at the world championships after the Knights were eliminated from the playoffs and he was invited to join Team Canada overseas.
“If I had not taken that test, and then if the cancer had gone undetected for a few more years, I don’t even want to think about how differently my life could’ve turned out,” the 24-year-old told the Players’ Tribune. “Whether or not you believe everything happens for a reason, what happened to me really feels like a miracle.”
After keeping his condition secret — he ran into fellow testicular cancer survivor Phil Kessel on the golf course this summer and didn’t say a word — Theodore will make a donation to cancer research for every point this year and the Knights will match the final amount.
UNDER SCRUTINY
Paul Maurice was asked by Winnipeg reporters about all the negative news heaped on the Jets of late, about Patrik Laine, about Dustin Byfuglien — and it’s not even the regular season. He joked that being embroiled in off-ice news in Toronto when he was coach of a non-playoff team was a lot worse.
“Look at my second year (with the Leafs),” said the Jets coach. “My man, Jiri Tlusty, was doing the flash on the front of the newspapers. Somebody had sent some inappropriate pictures (of his privates). And that was the easiest (controversy) I had. Oh, God bless it, that was a treat.”
ICE CHIPS
Ryan Poehling, the promising Montreal Canadiens forward, is out indefinitely with a concussion, while big Michael McCarron could be missing until late October with a groin injury ... Centre Kirby Dach, Chicago’s first-round pick (third overall), has begun skating two weeks after a concussion in the Traverse City prospects tournament ... Backup goalie Curtis McElhinney’s arrival in Tampa Bay has resulted in both Mike Condon and Louis Domingue being placed on waivers ... Garret Sparks, whom coach Mike Babcock evicted from the Leafs’ dressing room after results faded late last season, had a 24-save shutout debut with Vegas against Colorado earlier this week ...
The Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL have taken out seats behind one of the nets for a common area where fans of all ages can stand to watch the action, mingle or move on through, much like the crowd-pleasing move in baseball. lhornby@postmedia.com