Francis hangs up skates for good

Ronnie Franchise calls it quits after 23 seasons Veteran built hall of fame credentials quietly

He spent most of his career in places like Hartford and Carolina and played second fiddle to Super Mario in Pittsburgh. So perhaps it’s fitting that 42- year- old Ron Francis retired yesterday without anews conference or even a conference call.

“I always joked in years past that when that time came I would send a fax in from the Caribbean,” Francis said in a phone interview. “And I actually booked a flight and went down to St. Kitts at the end of July and I talked to my agent and close friends and they said: ‘ No, you can’t do it from there.’ ”

Still, a reporter had to track him down in Raleigh, N. C., to get his thoughts on a remarkable 23- season career that may have escaped the average hockey fan. The native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., quietly ranks third all- time with 1,731 NHL games, second all- time in assists with 1,249 ( behind only Wayne Gretzky) and fourth with 1,798 points.

“ My personality is not one that goes out looking for that ( publicity),” Francis said. “ If anything, I probably bring a little bit of that on myself because I tend to shy away from that limelight. But it was never about that. It was about playing the game. And the thing I’m most proud of over the length of my career is probably the consistency. That is the best part.”

Francis was indeed the model of consistency, putting up 20 seasons of 20 or more goals, a feat surpassed only by Gordie Howe. And he had 16 seasons of 70 or more points. He he was a complete player, as effective in the defensive zone ( won a Selke Trophy as top defensive forward in 1995) as he was dangerous offensively, with gifted hands able to make the perfect pass but also find the top corner. But again, who really knew?

“ The ( lack of) notoriety, that’s for others to debate,” said Francis. “ I’m very satisfied with how my career went and I enjoyed the entire trip. I look back with no regrets.”

His retirement comes on the heels of fellow sure- bet hall of famers Scott Stevens, Al MacInnis and Mark Messier. That could make for a heck of an induction class come November 2007.

“ If that happens, I certainly want a picture of all of us for my own wall,” joked Francis. “ Those are all guys that obviously I played against for numerous years and numerous games and I look at all of them with enormous respect and appreciate the talent they had, the effort they put into it, and how they handled themselves on and off the ice.

“ To be in that class is very special for me and something I’m very proud of.”

Actually, with Igor Larionov retiring in April 2004, that makes five shoo- ins with only a maximum of four players allowed to be inducted per year.

Francis might have some trouble making it in his first year of eligibility.

“ Wouldn’t that be fitting?” said Toronto Marlies coach Paul Maurice, who coached Francis with the Carolina Hurricanes. “ He put up a great career so quietly.”

Francis leaves the game with two Stanley Cup rings, courtesy of his years in Pittsburgh. On March 4, 1991, he was shipped to Pittsburgh from Hartford along with Ulf Samuelsson and Grant Jennings in exchange for John Cullen, Jeff Parker and Zarley Zalapski. Three months later he had his first Cup ring.

“ He meant a lot to us,” Mario Lemieux said. “ When we traded for him in the early 1990s he gave us the opportunity to win the Cup right away. What a great leader for our team when he came here and a great ambassador for the game and a great two- way player.’’

“ I’m glad I had the opportunity to play with him throughout my career.’’ Longtime GM Craig Patrick, who pulled the trigger on the famous trade, said Francis gave the Pens a tremendous edge.

“ He gave us something no other team had,” Patrick said. “ We had a first line and a 1A line. He was tremendous for us.”