Larionov Retires

[kosydar 0]

I'm pretty sure most of you know already knew that Igor Larionov was retiring at the end of this season, but I just thought I'd do something to commemorate one of the great ones in my opinion. His stats in the NHL don't fully represent how good of a player Igor was. He was without a doubt one of the smartest to ever play the game, and his passing abilities were second to none. I think its unfortunate that he had to end his career on a bad note, not getting along with his coach or being able to play in many games. I don't know what you guys think, but hes totally a HHOFer. Its too bad he couldn't end his career in Detroit, but I still am holding out hope that he'll be back behind the bench one day.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=80799

[Chadd 916]

He was supposed to be the GM for the Russian world cup team but got screwed on that too.

[kosydar 0]

Its because he wanted to choose his own coaching staff, with Larry Robinson as the head coach, and they wouldn't let him.

[Chadd 916]

You would think that with Fetisov as the Russian Minister of sports that he would have free reign.

[GTHL_AAA_HOCKEY 0]

i cant wait to see him come back to toronto with the russian kids, at his annual minor hockey tournaments.

[elias#1 0]

Good luck in the future Igor. Hope you had a good time being a Devil.

[Harrycaray 0]

larionov was great here in detroit, i was sad he left when he did, he is one of the smartest to play.. "the professor" wasnt just a name they gave him it was true he was a great passer, i wish he would of ended his career in detroit, best of luck to him...

[kosydar 0]

He really wasn't part of Detroit's plan for the future, so they saw no reason to give him a decent contract. New Jersey paid him pretty well, so I don't blame him for leaving, but I wish he hadn't.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

He hated NJ actually. There was a quote from him that he didn't understand how they did things (full-contact practices and the like)

[kosydar 0]

New Jersey was just desparate to replace Niewuendyk, even though they never thought to realize that Larionov would never fit in.