ROYAL SENDOFF FOR LUC LOCKOUT WOULD MEAN CLOSEOUT OF KING'S CAREER SAN JOSE 3, KINGS 0.Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer Luc Robitaille This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It needs to be expanded. * It may need copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. commanded center stage on the Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. ice Wednesday and waved to fans as they stood and honored him in a pregame ceremony for having become the NHL's all-time leading scorer at left wing. That wave also could have meant goodbye. Robitaille, one of the most decorated and adored players to ever wear a Kings uniform, could have only two games left in his NHL NHL Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, see there career. In the morning, Robitaille said he'll ``probably'' retire if the impending im·pend intr.v. im·pend·ed, im·pend·ing, im·pends 1. To be about to occur: Her retirement is impending. 2. NHL lockout The NHL lockout may refer to any of the two lockouts in the history of the National Hockey League:
``It would be hard to play again a year later,'' Robitaille said. ``You never know. It would be hard to play even two years later. That's the way I'm looking at it.'' Robitaille plans to come back next year if there is a season and the Kings plan to sign him. But if there is no season, he's probably headed for retirement at 38. He received a commemorative plaque A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event. for scoring his 1,370th point last week, then thanked his family, friends and fans for welcoming him back home. It certainly crossed his mind that Friday's game against Calgary could be his last in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . ``I've thought about that,'' Robitaille said. ``For me, I certainly want to enjoy every day. That's the way I'm looking at it. (Wednesday) and Friday, enjoy those two nights. You never know what's going to happen.'' The lockout lockout, intentional closing up of a company, factory, or shop by an employer to prevent employees from working during a strike or labor dispute. The term lockout , however, seems unavoidable. If it does happen, most players would play in Europe or elsewhere. That didn't sound like an attractive option for Robitaille. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. ,'' Robitaille said. ``You never know what happens in life but right now the way I'm looking at it, I just want to enjoy the next few days and make the best of it.'' Robitaille certainly has made the best of an NHL career, which started as the Kings' ninth-round draft selection in 1986. He started his career in Los Angeles, where he played for eight years, and fittingly, might end it here as well. He went to Pittsburgh for one year, the New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York, U.S.A. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). for two and then came back to the Kings for four more before playing with the Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. for two years. Many thought his career - which has spanned 18 NHL seasons - was over after last year, when he scored just 11 goals with Detroit. He told the Kings he still would be good for 20 goals this season and did even better, scoring 22. He has 51 points this year and 1,370 in his career. Kings winger Ian Laperriere hadn't thought about the prospect of witnessing Robitaille's final games but he knows how difficult it would be to return after a one-year hiatus. ``I'm 30 years old and nobody can take a year off,'' Laperriere said. ``I know it doesn't sound old but hockey is young. He wants to play for sure. You never know. ... He's had a hell of a career. Best winger. Won the (Stanley) Cup. Played 18 years and almost 1,400 games. I don't thing he'll have any regrets, maybe the only one is not winning the Cup in L.A.'' Robitaille said he had no regrets but did say he'd like another opportunity to help the Kings, who didn't make the playoffs for a second consecutive season, win it all. ``For me, I'd love to be part of the first group to bring the Cup to L.A.,'' Robitaille said. ``There's something to be said for that. I know we'll be good with the young guys here. That's why I'd like to come back.'' --San Jose 3, Kings 0: In the words of coach Andy Murray, the Kings were awful Wednesday as they lost their ninth consecutive game. ``To play like we played (Wednesday night), it's all about apologizing,'' a somber Murray said. ``It's my responsibility. I'm the head coach. Tonight, we were awful. I haven't felt like I have tonight in my whole coaching career.'' San Jose scored two goals within 29 seconds against Roman Cechmanek in the second period to take a two-goal lead. Alyn McCauley scored two goals - including an empty-netter - in the game and Niko Dimitrakos had the other. ``That was far from an acceptable effort,'' Kings winger Trent Klatt said. ``I can't give you any excuses. There are no excuses. It's fair for you to say whatever you want.'' --News and notes:!off Derek Armstrong (right triceps triceps, any muscle having three heads, or points of attachment, but especially the triceps brachii at the back of the upper arm. One head originates on the shoulder blade and two on the upper-arm bone, or humerus. tear) and Jozef Stumpel (left shoulder bruise) will not play again this season. ... Alexander Frolov (left ankle sprain ankle sprain Orthopedics A stretching of the ankle ligaments and/or muscles with swelling ) did not play Wednesday. ... Backup goaltender Cristobal Huet has signed a contract with Langnow of Switzerland. He does not have a contract with the Kings after this season but if the Kings sign him and hockey resumes, his NHL contract would take precedence. Jill Painter, (818) 713-3615 jill.painter(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) ROBITAILLE (2) Luc Robitaille, left, said he will end his historic career after the season if there's a lockout. Chris Urso/Associated Press |
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