Ron Francis Guys Quotations

To all the players I had the chance to play with over my career, I thank you for all your hard work and dedication, your friendship, and for making this entire experience one I thoroughly enjoyed. To all my opponents over the years, I always had the utmost respect for your talents and how you competed every night. To the equipment guys and medical staffs, I thank you for all the hours you quietly put in to make sure that the players have the best opportunity to do their jobs well.

The quicker you help bring those young guys along the better it is for everybody on the team, ... The quicker they come along, the better chance we have of winning because they are going to help you and contribute to the success. So ultimately, that's what we are all doing is trying to win and be successful. So if the young guys are another piece of the puzzle, the quicker we can get them to fit in the better off we all are.

He's like me ... only he can skate, ... When you come in the league everyone is always trying to put a label on you to compare you to someone. I know when I broke in the comparison that I heard was to Jean Beliveau. There are always going to be expectations when you get drafted as high as he did, but you'll see him develop his own unique style over time. Most guys find their own niche and their own way of making their career. I think there is no question that he is going to play in the NHL and be very successful.

Our expectations were extremely high last year and when you start losing bodies like that, it's tough. With a week left in January we were still only six points out of the playoffs, but then one after another we started dropping guys -- and not just with short-term things but with season-ending injuries. I think at one point we had 13 guys out of the lineup. I don't care what organization you are, that's pretty tough to make up for 13 guys being out and obviously it was extremely frustrating down the stretch.