Report: Rangers' LaFontaine to retire
Posted: Friday August 07, 1998 03:57 PM
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LaFontaine had 468 goals, 545 assists and 1,013 points in 865 career games with three teams Rick Stewart/Allsport |
NEW YORK (CNN/SI) -- Concussions apparently have cut short the career of
New York Rangers center
Pat LaFontaine.
Friday's New York Post is reporting that LaFontaine will announce
his retirement at a press conference early next week in Manhattan.
Citing a conversation with Don Meehan, LaFontaine's agent, the Post
report said LaFontaine made the decision to retire after neurological
specialist Dr. Jim Kelly told the player that continuing his career would
put him "beyond minimal risk." "Patty initially had a good cry but
I can tell you he's completely at peace with himself," Meehan told the
Post. "Once Dr. Kelly, in whom he has the utmost faith and trust,
examined him and then explained his finding, the decision was clear. There
was no need to get a second opinion."
One of the NHL's all-time best American-born players, LaFontaine seems
headed for the Hall of Fame. But concussions have interrupted his career.
He missed most of the 1996-97 season with the Buffalo Sabres while
recovering from a concussion, and was cleared to play after a trade to the
Rangers last September 29.
He suffered a Grade 2 concussion when he collided with then-teammate Mike Keane on March 16
against the Ottawa
Senators and was sidelined for the remainder of the season.
One of the few bright spots in a dismal season for the Rangers, LaFontaine
scored 23 goals and added 39 assists for 62 points in 67 games last season.
He has a year left on his contract, with the Rangers responsible for $1.6
million and the NHL's insurance company responsible for the other $4.8
million if he doesn't play.
New York acquired the 33-year-old LaFontaine from Buffalo for a 1998
second-round pick and future considerations after Buffalo executives
questioned his physical condition. He suffered a concussion 13 games into
the 1996-97 campaign and was not cleared to play the rest of the season.
The injury came October 17, 1996, as he took an elbow to the head from Pittsburgh Penguins
defenseman Francois Leroux.
The 1995 Masterton Trophy winner, LaFontaine had a pair of 50-goal,
100-point seasons. He had 468 goals, 545 assists and 1,013 points in 865
career games with the Rangers, Buffalo and the New York Islanders, for
whom he played his first eight seasons. He became the third American player
to record 1,000 career points last season.
LaFontaine played in the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo and again represented
the United States in the Olympics earlier this year in Nagano.
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