Man at his rest

Lemieux deserves a break

His hip ailing, perhaps no more or less than it has for much of the season, Mario Lemieux has chosen to shut it down for the balance of the NHL schedule. CNNSI.com spoke to Sports Illustrated senior writer Kostya Kennedy about the timing of Lemieux’s decision and how it affects the Penguins.

CNNSI.com: After watching Mario Lemieux at the Olympic tournament, what were your impressions of his health?

Kennedy: Well, he never looks like he’s getting up and down the ice easily, even when he’s healthy. He plays the game in slow motion and only uses certain parts of the ice. At the Olympic tournament Mario was effective by way of his wile and craft, changing speeds and timing he was a serious threat in the offensive zone.

I watched Mario pretty intently because I did a piece on him for the magazine’s Olympic commemorative issue, and he didn’t appear to be in pain or grimacing.

CNNSI.com: What might have changed, if anything within a week?

Kennedy: Mario recognized a long time ago that the Penguins weren’t going anywhere this year, which is why he started taking games off earlier in the season. I have a sense that if Pittsburgh was in the Stanley Cup finals, Mario would be playing. And he seems to be serious about wanting to come back.

I don’t think that much has changed -- he was nursing the hip before, he played the tournament, then decided to put it on the shelf. If the Olympic tournament went one game longer, there’s no question he would have played one more game.

CNNSI.com: If you were a Penguins fan or a season-ticket holder, how would you feel about Lemieux’s on again/off again effort?

Kennedy: He deserves it. I can understand the thinking there, but he saved that franchise. He made the Penguins a team worth watching again and won them two Stanley Cups. If not for Mario, that franchise isn’t even in Pittsburgh. And last year that team had no business being in the Eastern Conference finals. If this is what he wants, he should have it. He’s above all that. It’s frustrating when what could be the best player in the world isn’t playing, but the reality is that it’s just too bad.

CNNSI.com: The Penguins are a handful of points from a playoff spot and would have to jump three teams to get to the postseason. How much of that do you think factored into the decision?

Kennedy: There isn’t any new revelation here. On Thursday night the Penguins rallied to beat the Blue Jackets, so anything is possible, but this team is still a few Jagrs short of a good postseason run. Before this, Mario had something to play for -- the Olympics -- and he basically added the last major achievement to his career that he wanted. And now, that’s it. The season hasn’t had much promise since early on. The timing issue stems from the Olympics.

I’m not saying he doesn’t care about the Pittsburgh franchise, but his priorities were clear when he sat out the Feb. 10 game against the Rangers. That was a big game against a team near them in the standings. Mario’s not letting the regular season have a bearing, he’s looking out for his health and hoping for another year of hockey.

CNNSI.com: There are couple ways losing Mario for the season could have an impact on the dressing room -- either as an opportunity to band together or a reason to throw up their hands. Any idea what kind of leaders might step forward?

Kennedy: I think a lot falls on Rick Kehoe, who’s wanted to be a head coach for a while now and can be an emotional guy. Their best player is Alexei Kovalev, but he’s not a leader in that way. Darius Kasparaitis can be an emotional leader, but he’s going to be dealt. So I don’t see a real leader emerging, they just don’t have a lot there.

CNNSI.com: Without Lemieux, but with Martin Straka soon returning with Kovalev and Robert Lang, this is again a one-line team. One-line teams don’t win Stanley Cups, but shouldn’t a line like this make the playoffs?

Kennedy: They have no defense whatsoever and their goalie, for all the thrills he gave us last year, is unproven. The Mighty Ducks had a pretty good line that didn’t get to the playoffs often with Teeme Selanne and Paul Kariya, and the Rangers have a pretty good line and they might not make the playoffs. To me, the Penguins aren’t a good enough team.

CNNSI.com: How ugly do you think the Penguins season could get from here, and which Penguins have probably played their last games as teammates of Lemieux?

Kennedy: I think Kasparaitis is the one who’s clearly gone. Other than that, I hesitate to say. Craig Patrick has a way of doing things we don’t see coming. I don’t think Kovy’s going to be dealt, but Lang could certainly be moved because he’d bring a good return. But unless they somehow find a way to get an impact defenseman, I expect them to get cheaper, which usually means younger. They’re not going to take on a big contract.

I see them showing some character and I don’t think they’ll totally disappear. They’ll probably finish around .500 down the stretch, a mediocre end to the season.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Kostya Kennedy covers the NHL for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. To send a question to his Mailbag, click here.