Penguins' Palffy retires

[Madferret]

Penguins' Palffy retires
TSN.ca with AP files

Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Ziggy Palffy has announced his retirement, effective immediately, due to personal reasons.

Palffy told the Slovak newspaper, Sport Daily, that a chronic shoulder injury was to blame, "I have talked to my doctor and he did not recommend a third operation. There is no point in suffering any longer."

The native of Skalica, Slovakia played 12 NHL seasons with the New York Islanders, the Los Angeles Kings and the Penguins. In 684 career games, he had 329 goals and 384 assists for 713 points.

The 33-year-old signed a $13.5-million US, three-year deal with Pittsburgh in August. He was earning $3.5 million this season and was slated to make $5.5 million in 2006-07 and $4.5 million in 2007-08.

Palffy was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round of the 1991 Entry Draft. He played six seasons with the Islanders (1993-1999) before getting traded to the Los Angeles Kings on June 20, 1999.

The 5-10 and 183-pound right wing signed with the Penguins as a free agent on August 8, 2005 and ranks second on the team with 42 points in 42 games and his plus-5 rating was the best on the team.

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20060118/palffy_33259.jpg

[Max Power]

Pierre McGuire was saying this morning he suspected he would retire and what might give him the final push is Therrien. Rumors are no one is happy there and it's a miserable place to play because of him

[swflyers25]

Pierre McGuire was saying this morning he suspected he would retire and what might give him the final push is Therrien. Rumors are no one is happy there and it's a miserable place to play because of him

They sucked before Therrien arrived, can't be put all on him.

[Max Power]

They sucked before Therrien arrived, can't be put all on him.

You obviously don't know much about Therrien or heard what he's done lately
Either way I'm not, I was just saying it was the final straw

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

Sucks for the Penguins, they lose their second best man in points and someone who was pretty underrated defensively. +5 is pretty good for how awful that team is.

[PDO]

Penguins just lost their best player. It's a shame that we'll never see Palffy again.. one of the most under-appreciated players in the league.

[charlio lemieux]

Another top player gone. Can't blame him. He's made enough money to go home and live like a king, so why put up with Therrien's BS.

[a4l]

Another top player gone. Can't blame him. He's made enough money to go home and live like a king, so why put up with Therrien's BS.

I have to agree. I hope Therien is gone at the end of the season, if not before.

[MadDevil]

The Penguins are quickly becoming the New York Rangers of the late 90's. Overpaid offensive veterans, horrible defense, questionable goaltending, problems in the locker room, and absolutely no success on the ice. It's a good thing the once financially restrained Pens can spend money now isn't it?:laughing:

It's sad to see Palffy go out this way. He's a guy who can do a lot of things for any team he plays on, does the small things well, is very good offensively, and is still underated around the league.

[Canadian26]

I think the pens hoped for to much all at once when the aquired all the players they did. They just dont have the atmosphere there to have a good team, theres so many problems from ownership to managment... hopefully they can bring someone else in to help this team out. Its sad to see ziggy go, hes one of the best players in the league IMO.