09-06-2005, 11:12 PM
ESPN News Wrote:EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Stevens announced his retirement after more than two decades in the NHL on Tuesday, saying a year off showed him that he could live without hockey.
"I think the game is more mental than physical. You have to be in tremendous shape, but you have to want to do it in your head," the 41-year-old Stevens said. "At this point in my career I didn't think I could put the mental parts there every day, and that's a big part of playing this game."
General manager Lou Lamoriello said Stevens, a 13-time All-Star who has played more NHL games than any other defenseman during his 22 seasons, has "been an integral part of all the success we've had."
"He's been a leader on and off the ice as a hockey player and a person. He feels he's accomplished a lot of things and now wants to devote a lot of time to his family," Lamoriello said.
He added that Stevens will stay with the organization in some capacity.
"I've said all along that the door has been open for Scott to make the decision that's right for him," Lamoriello said. "We would have welcomed him back and wouldn't have thought twice about it. He didn't want it to be a distraction during training camp."
Stevens, an unrestricted free agent, missed the final 44 games of the most recent NHL season, 2003-04, after sustaining a head injury against Pittsburgh on Jan. 7, 2004.
Always known for his rugged playing style, the Devils' captain said during last season's lockout that he expected to return when the labor dispute was settled.
The Devils have won three Stanley Cups with Stevens as their defensive anchor. His sabbatical, and the departure of Scott Niedermayer to Anaheim as a free agent, creates a huge void in the team's defensive corps.
"Obviously, it's a shock right now to hear," teammate Scott Gomez said. "You knew that day would come. We all thought Scotty would be back.
"Right now I'm a little bit shocked because he announced something, but at the same time he didn't play the second half of the year."
Pointing to the offseason acquisitions of Vladimir Malakhov and Dan McGillis, Lamoriello said the Devils' defense "is better than it was last year," referring to the 2003-2004 season.
Malakhov, 36, won a Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2000 before playing for the Rangers and Philadelphia, and the 33-year-old McGillis has played more than 600 NHL games with Edmonton, Philadelphia, San Jose and Boston.
The Devils also will start the regular season without left wing Patrik Elias, who contracted hepatitis A in the spring when he was playing in eastern Europe during the NHL lockout. Lamoriello said Tuesday that Elias is able to do conditioning work but is not yet skating and would not be ready to play by the Devils' first game on Oct. 5 against Pittsburgh.
"He's progressing. It's going to take time," Lamoriello said.
Sad, sad day...one of the greats leaving the game.
