SUN SENTINAL
There are too many stories about athletes who return to play one more season
just so they can reach a milestone.
By coming back, Jeremy Roenick may have just saved his legacy.
Not because the San Jose Sharks center
scored his 500th career goal Nov. 10, becoming just the third American in NHL
history to do so. Because the image the 37-year-old would have left had he hung
up his skates after last season was no way to be remembered after nearly two
decades in the league.
In 70 games with the Phoenix Coyotes last season, Roenick had only 11 goals and
17 assists and was minus-18.
More disappointing than his statistics was the way Roenick treated coach Wayne
Gretzky and teammates, reportedly leaving the arena and watching one game at a
bar after being scratched. Gretzky reacted by benching Roenick one game and told
him in a meeting he needed to accept his role as a third-line player and watch
games inside the arena when scratched.
In July, having played 1,252 games over 19 years with Chicago, Phoenix,
Philadelphia and Los Angeles and needing just a fistful of goals for 500, the
outspoken, flamboyant Roenick announced his retirement by text messaging a
Philadelphia Inquirer reporter: "I'm retiring; is that still news?"
Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson — Roenick's first roommate when he entered
the NHL with the Blackhawks — called and got him to reconsider, which is why
when Roenick got the memorable goal, he gave the puck to Wilson.
What's funny is that Roenick wasn't even aiming at the net — he was just trying
to send the puck around the boards. If you believe in karma, you might find it
fitting that Roenick, who has returned humbled and committed to not drinking
alcohol, scored No. 500 against the Coyotes — with Gretzky there to see the new
him. (Ex-Panther Alex Auld was in goal for Phoenix.)
"I saw it go in and my heart dropped into my stomach," Roenick told the San
Jose Mercury News. "It's great — especially when a lot of people around the
country have left me out to the dogs, thinking I was done."
Some of his San Jose teammates were skeptical when they first heard of his
signing, but entering this weekend, Roenick was their second-leading scorer with
five goals and six assists.
"I kind of thought it would be hit or miss," forward Mike Grier told the
Mercury News. "I had only known him a little bit, but you hear some things.
…So far it's been great. He's just been a good, positive influence."
Steve Gorten can be reached at
sgorten@sun-sentinel.com.