Lemieux retires a 2nd time

Penguins Owner/Captain Mario Lemieux made it official today, that due to health reasons, he is retiring from the game of hockey.

In a move that many saw as inevitable, given his age, he steps away from a role as a player, to contentrate on being owner and securing a new arena for the team.

It turns out his last game was December 16, 2005, at home vs the Buffalo sabres. He and Sidney Crosby assisted on Ziggy Palffy's last goal as a Penguin that night. His last goal scored was at home on November 10, 2005, in a dramatic shootout win over his hometown Montreal Canadiens.

Most will still remember his last goal as being in the playoffs in 1997 vs the Flyers before he retired the first time.

Lemieux is already in the hockey hall of fame, so unlike the others who retired just this year (Scott Stevens, Brett Hull, Mark Messier, Ron Francis, Al MacInnis among others), he won't have to wait to resume his spot in the Hall.

Some of the lingering questions involve who will wear the "C" now that Mario is again retired. Unlike the first time, when he was not yet 32, he is 40 now. The "A"s are currently being worn by Mark Recchi, Sidney Crosby and Sergei Gonchar, although John LeClair and Brooks Orpik have also worn the "A" at some point this year.

It is no secret it is Crosby's team, but I would not be surprised to see Recchi or Orpik become captain first. Recchi seems a better fit, as his would be transitional. Conventional wisdom suggests that the Pens will carry three "A"s the rest of the year rather than elevating to a "C" so quick after Mario's retirement.