This is a big surprise, but I hope it's true because it would be great. I'd love to see Mario Lemieux come back. He still looks great, and he's a relatively young man. The game has changed since Lemieux retired -- it's better now. The penalties are up, the goals are up, and the games are much more exciting. There's not as much hooking, holding and slashing; and the game is therefore more conducive to a guy like Lemieux, who has the puck so often.
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Lemieux probably feels that the Penguins are a fun, offensively talented team, with guys like Jagr, Alexei Kovalev and Martin Straka. If Lemieux joins those guys, he will make them better. With that supporting cast, even if Lemieux plays only a fraction of how he used to, the Penguins could win the Stanley Cup. ” |
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— Melrose on Lemieux's impact on the ice |
Lemiuex likes the game better now.
The Penguins franchise needs Lemieux right now. They could be leaving Pittsburgh, but even if they stay, they -- like so many other cities right now -- need a new building. Lemieux's return would certainly jump-start the efforts to keep the team in town and get them a new facility.
Also, Lemieux simply wants to play. He has missed it and maybe he feels he still has some work to do. Jaromir Jagr hasn't had a great season so far this year, but he has won scoring races without Lemieux. Offensively, Jagr is the most talented man in the world. Lemieux probably feels that the Penguins are a fun, offensively talented team, with guys like Jagr, Alexei Kovalev and Martin Straka. If Lemieux joins those guys, he will make them better. With that supporting cast, even if Lemieux plays only a fraction of how he used to, the Penguins could win the Stanley Cup.
Lemieux has been through a lot physically, but he's a big, strong man who will be relaxed and feeling good now. Remember, it's not like he's going to be starting for the Penguins tomorrow. They'll give him a few weeks to get into game shape. But even if he only plays the last two months of the season, it'll be great to have him back.
Barry Melrose is a former NHL player and coach, who now serves as an analyst for ESPN.
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AUDIO VIDEO
 Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr define the essence of goal-scoring to ESPN's Bill Clement and Darren Pang.
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 The return of Mario Lemieux will generate new energy to the Penguins, according to Jaromir Jagr.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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