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Lightning's Roberts Announces Retirement

Tribune file photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Gary Roberts played his final game with the Lightning on March 1 in Calgary, the same city that his career began.

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 10, 2009

Updated: 03/10/2009 12:19 pm

TAMPA - For the second time in his hockey life, Gary Roberts has decided to hang up his skates.

Roberts, 42, announced his retirement today after 21 NHL seasons.

The Tampa Bay Lightning winger made his decision over the weekend while spending time with his wife at his Toronto home.

"Today, I am officially announcing my retirement from the National Hockey League," Roberts said. "I am extremely grateful for having had the opportunity to be a part of this great league. The game has been so good to me, and I will always be thankful for having had so many years doing what I loved to do."

He played his final game with the Lightning on March 1 in the same city his career began, Calgary, Alberta.

Before this season, Tampa Bay signed Roberts to a one-year contract with a base salary of $1.25 million and an incentive clause that paid him $10,000 per game played. The Lightning hoped Roberts would provide veteran leadership and serve as a mentor to younger players, such as overall No. 1 pick Steven Stamkos.

The Lightning now want to get younger as they founder at the bottom of the NHL standings, so Roberts hoped for a last chance at the postseason with another team. But Thursday's trade deadline went by with no offers after he was put on waivers and passed over by every team.

Though slowed by injuries that limited his ability to stay in the lineup the past two seasons, Roberts said his decision to retire was not made for health reasons, adding that he feels better now than when he was 20.

His final NHL season was played with a Lightning team in transition - new owners, new management, a new coach and many new players. Sometimes teams in that situation can get lucky and find success, Roberts said. The Lightning, however, did not.

Many people, including Roberts, believed his career was over 13 years ago in Calgary when chronic neck and back pain forced him to retire at age 30. After receiving treatment from a chiropractor, he returned a year later and spent three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes.

"Gary had a major impact on our franchise in terms of how we skate and how we practice,'' Carolina coach Paul Maurice said. "We were a sluggish team before Gary arrived, and he changed the culture with his presence.''

Since then he has played for Toronto, Florida, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay, extending his career to 1,224 games, with 910 points and a Stanley Cup title in 1989 with Calgary.

Before Roberts departed Tampa, the Hall of Fame candidate came to peace with the situation, saying his goodbyes to teammates and even signing a stick for the 19-year-old Stamkos and leaving him with a simple message: "I look forward to watching you play for many years to come.''

Reporter Ira Kaufman contributed to this report. Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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