Sifting Through The Jere Lehtinen Retirement Rumors
by Pat Iversen on Aug 30, 2010 7:04 PM CDT
in Dallas Stars News
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It's finally the end of August, and training camp is a mere weeks away. For about a month now, news concerning the Dallas Stars has been slow, as the team is apparently done signing free agents, the sale is moving on slowly behind the scenes and GM Joe works quietly on re-signing James Neal and Matt Niskanen.
But ever since the offseason slowed down for the club, one nagging question has remained: What's going on with Jere Lehtinen?
Today, we (kinda, maybe) have some news. Today, Sportsnet published a story online with the headline "Lehtinen To Retire". The article cited a story from a Finnish publication, which (thanks to Google Translate) reads:
One of the long Finnish Playing career is ending. Jere Lehtinen is seriously considering leaving.
Lehtinen, 37, met the Dallas CEO Joe Nieuwendykin last week, but that did not take place, that category should be continued.
Lehtinen did not participate in training camp in Dallas.
Seriously think about a career in an end, eh?
"Yes, you can put it in there. Is it true," Lehtinen said.
Summer placements Lehtinen took lightly. Their own words, he spent a difference in the summer. It was a step towards a career in the end.
Obviously, Google Translate is a bit shaky on this one. (I know we have some Finnish-speaking readers out there, this is your time to shine!). But taken for what it's worth, Lehtinen is at least seriously considering retirement at this point, if we are to believe that article.
You'll remember that Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reported last week that Jere had met with GM Joe and he had not yet reached a decision, and Joe has no deadline for said decision. However, taking a look at the roster and the fact that the Stars currently have 23 players under contract (with two still unsigned) it appears as if the Stars are fully prepared to move on without Mr. Yellow Skatelaces.
Update: Heika again, after talking with Jere, says he has NOT made a decision yet. [LINK]
Now, this isn't an instance of Nieuwendyk "pushing" Lehtinen out; this is an example of Nieuwendyk takes the steps necessary to be prepared in case Lehtinen decides to retire. More so than with Mike Modano, it appears as if the Stars knew going into the summer that Lehtinen was not going to make a decision until just before training camp.
For many, Jere Lehtinen represented everything that has defined Dallas Stars hockey over the years. While Modano provided the flash and Sergei Zubov was the defensive quarterback, Lehtinen was the perfect combination of defensive prowess and offensive ability. Remember when he was the leading scorer on the Stars for a couple of seasons in a row?
It's going to be sad to see him go. Lehtinen is the last remaining remnant of those glory seasons in 1999 and 2000.
Judging by his comments both last season, this summer and above, it certainly appears as if retirement is what is on his mind.
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Henri? Any help here?
We need an actual translation.
One of the last Joe Nieuwendyk supporters in Dallas....
Defending Big D - Dallas Stars news & analysis; SB Nation Dallas-Fort Worth
Where's Dave Fuller?
In all seriousness, if Jere does retire, I wish him well.
Proud fan of the #1 college hockey team in the nation - Miami University Redhawks - The Brotherhood. RIP Brendan Burke.
If Jere retires, it’ll be a sad end to a bad Stars summer. I don’t want to lose Lehts and Mo in the span of two months. That’ll be hard.
But if he does retire, I wish him nothing but rainbows and cupcakes and more wonderful things. Jere has, and always will be, one of my favorites. I love him to death.
Here's to all us girls who love hockey...and the men who play it.
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Aug 30, 2010 9:08 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Sad, Sad Day!!!
As I have stated before, it is going to be a sad sad day, when Mr. 110% every shift is gone!!! I wish him nothing but the best. How many great memories he has given me over the years. A true example of how a Pro should carry himself, on and off the ice. A work ethic second to none. All good things must come to an end…..A Very Sad Day Indeed!!!!!……………………..
There were few finnish papers who have said that...
Jere himself has said it’s retirement, but since it is not official…
I had no reason to say anything yet.
Heika and you guys are also pretty fast with this information. So guys in Finland might have news after you guys got it.
“Helsingin Sanomat” had news that it is retirement, but nothing official yet.
On last thing.
Jere is someone – I think – who does not speak that much. He will share it when the time is right.
I have one friend who talked with Jere during summer and he said that he was healthy. It was something new and he could do something else than “heal” himself…
That’s why we all wait here, I think…
This “Helsingin Sanomat” quote is not in other papers yet… Not in finnish forums that are for hockey, so we just – sadly – have to wait…
Brad, I mean this:
Lehtinen’s been a coach’s dream of a player his entire career in Dallas. You never hear him complain and you never question his work ethic when he’s out on the ice. And just as the Stars of the late 90’s and early 00’s needed Lehtinen’s hard work and hockey smarts, so to could the rebuilding 2009-10 Dallas Stars benefit from Lehtinen’s infectious work ethic.
All that having been said, there isn’t a single Stars fan, IMO, that would blame Lehtinen if he decided to hang them up. He’s had a rough three year stretch from a health standpoint. And even as durable and resilient as Lehtinen has been, every player has a limit, both physically and mentally. If Lehtinen hasn’t reached that limit, it’s clear he’s getting close to it.
I obviously missed an edit on this…
Because the glut is at center, not right wing.
And Jere is pretty much the greatest.
Here's to all us girls who love hockey...and the men who play it.
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Aug 31, 2010 4:02 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
They had 7 guys that could play center last year
They had only 1 right handed right win besides Lehtinen.
This is getting old.
I think that Modano’s future is done for now…
People commented those “why not Modano” quotes when Grossman was signed and when Barch was signed. And these comments were from the people who commented to TSN…
I have tried to find some other posts about Lehtinen, but HS.fi. was the only one for now…
I have no idea, why they posted that, because they usually don’t post things like this, when they might not be the truth.
And… This begins with “it’s over”, but more you read it, more it seems that Jere is unsure.
Google did translate this material pretty well this time, so there is nothing more, for now..
Writer Heikki Miettinen is someone new to me and perhaps I could write him and ask about this, but I think that Heika will have information much faster.
My posts are fast because I have to move soon and I can’t go to net that often…
by Henri Muroke on Aug 31, 2010 11:12 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Well..
We certainly appreciate the help
One of the last Joe Nieuwendyk supporters in Dallas....
Defending Big D - Dallas Stars news & analysis; SB Nation Dallas-Fort Worth
by Brandon Worley on Aug 31, 2010 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions
And it is fun to help. I usually share my info from you guys.
Even mtv3.fi had nothing on Jere and they do write everything down when Selanne does something.
“I will not return without Koivu returning also.” “This season is my last”.
So it is official. This thing was a bull… Or a duck…
Jan Caloun says that he is done. This was the big news in Finland today…
I have a question:
In Finnish papers, it is normal for stories online to have a single, one-sentence quote in there? It just seems like every time I see a Finnish (or even Swedish story) online, there’s only one small quote in the story and nothing else. They seem very concise.
DefendingBigD: A Dallas Stars Blog
The Maneater: The Mizzou Student Newspaper I cover women's soccer and other sportsy stuff.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Jere
take until mid season and make a decision then. I would be OK with that too.
Fair question, heh.
I’m not sure it’s the “way”, but perhaps it’s quite common at the moment…
It depends what you read. Those big news might often share their info that way. It will sell and the same info can be in theit rewiew in net.
I’m not proud of it, but one our favorite shows right now is Big Brother, still. People staying in the same old building and everyone can watch them 24/7… It has been that way few years and all the news from there are that way… One sentence and the whole post goes for that quote… Perhaps it has slipped in sports as well…
I know it is bad example, but that HS.fi. post was exactly the same thing…
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