Why did Lemieux retire?

He captured his sixth career scoring title the following season, but the effects of his cancer treatment and his dissatisfaction with the style of play in the NHL led Lemieux to announce his retirement in 1997 at age 31. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame later that year.

Why did Lemieux stop playing?

He retired on two occasions due to these health issues, first in 1997 after battling lymphoma before returning in 2000, and then a second and final time in 2006 after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Lemieux also missed the entire 1994–95 season due to Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Was Gretzky better than Lemieux?

Despite playing in 572 fewer games than Gretzky, Lemieux holds the record for the highest career points-per-game average (2.005) and the highest career goals-per-game average (. 823). While the title of "greatest" player is debatable, the title of "most productive" player is not.

How long did Mario Lemieux retire for?

2000: Mario Lemieux's NHL comeback is a huge success. After 44 months in retirement, during which he is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and becomes owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Lemieux makes a return for the ages.

What was Lemieux best ever?

Mario Lemieux – The Greatest Game

But Lemieux's best game, and one recently voted the greatest moment in NHL history, came on an otherwise normal New Year's Eve in 1988 when he achieved a league first – and probably last – in scoring five goals in five different ways at home against the New Jersey Devils.

Mario Lemieux Scores In NHL Return After 44-Month Retirement | This Day In Hockey History

Is 66 retired in the NHL?

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997. No. 66 isn't retired League-wide like No. 99 is for Wayne Gretzky.

Who is better Crosby or Lemieux?

By the end of each age-27 season, Lemieux had 321 more points than Crosby at the same point of his career (1,174-853). Even by the end of age-31, the gap was 278 in Mario's favor (1,494-1,216). However, this was the turning point, since Lemieux was retired from 1997-2000, sitting out his age 31-34 seasons.

Why did Mario Lemieux retire so early?

He captured his sixth career scoring title the following season, but the effects of his cancer treatment and his dissatisfaction with the style of play in the NHL led Lemieux to announce his retirement in 1997 at age 31. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame later that year.

Why does Lemieux wear 66?

Still, Lemieux had not forgotten why he chose to wear the '66' as a nod to Gretzky's '99'. “I had the mindset of becoming the best in the world,” Lemieux recalls. “Looking at Gretzky, the way he was racking up points, I had a long way to go.” The chase was officially on, but playing in Pittsburgh had been frustrating.

Can Ovechkin pass Gretzky?

Next season Ovechkin will be 38 years old but if he has at least 40 goals he'll be within strike distance of Gretzky in the 2024-25 season. A 40 goal season would require just 24 goals to catch the great one and if he stays hot it could come in midseason around he holidays of 2024 or a little after.

Who is better Gretzky or Crosby?

The Mathematical Evidence. For initial comparisons, Gretzky recorded an unreal 894 goals and 1,963 assists in just under 1,500 games. Crosby, on the other hand, has earned 302 goals and 853 points in 627 games.

Who last won 3 Stanley Cups in a row?

The last team to win the Stanley Cup three times in a row was the New York Islanders (180, 1981, 1982, 1983), though Tampa Bay came within two games of a three-peat before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in game 6 of Stanley Cup final. * See also NHL Consecutive Stanley Cup Losses.

Has Claude Lemieux apologize?

Lemieux Acknowledges What He Did To Draper Was Wrong

“If I could've taken it back, I would've taken it back as soon as it happened,” Lemieux said.

Why is Claude Lemieux not in the Hall of Fame?

The likelihood of Lemieux being inducted into the Hall of Fame is rather slim. There is too much against him, including the fact that he has long been portrayed as a villain.

Was Mario Lemieux tough?

Yes, Mario Lemieux beat cancer, and a myriad of players played through painful injuries, but that alone doesn't make a player one of the toughest of all time. Lemieux is the greatest in many categories, but he won't make the toughest list.

Why did Bossy retire?

Mike Bossy

Bossy played 752 games in the NHL and scored a total of 1,126 points. He spent most of his final season in 1986-87 sitting out due to chronic knee and back injuries, playing only nine games that year. Following that season, Bossy decided to hang up his skates rather than aggravate these injuries.

Why Gretzky is better than Lemieux?

In Gretzky's 40 games against Lemieux's Penguins he had 20 goals and 74 points for averages of . 50 G/G and 2.74 P/G. Compared to career averages of . 60 G/G and 1.92 P/G, he had a lower goal rate but a higher total scoring rate.

Can Crosby pass Lemieux?

With that pace, Crosby will finish the 2027-28 season with 1,799 points, one point above former Penguin Ron Francis for fifth all-time. He would have passed Lemieux the season prior (2026-27) for the Penguins all-time scoring lead.

Who is the best 22 in hockey?

22 – Mike Bossy. The greatest goal-scorer of his generation, Mike Bossy scored at an alarming pace over his ten-season career. Playing alongside Bryan Trottier, Bossy scored 53 goals as a rookie and followed it with a 69 goal season. He would score 60 goals five times in his career.

Can you wear 0 in the NHL?

The NHL no longer permits the use of 0 or 00 as the League's database cannot list players with such numbers, and in 2000 the League retired the number 99 for all member teams in honor of Wayne Gretzky.

Can you wear 99 in hockey?

99 – The Great One

Unless you are the Great One, this number is completely off limits to any hockey player anywhere in the known universe. It is retired in the NHL, and pretty much around any hockey leagues in North America, and quite likely in the whole world.

Can you wear 69 in the NHL?

3, 2011, and played seven seasons in the League, including winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015 (wearing No. 11). Fun fact: Desjardins and forward Melvin Angelstad (two games with the Washington Capitals in 2003-04) are the only players in NHL history to wear No. 69.