Mr. Smith goes into retirement.
Amid all the other distractions of the day, ex-Flyer captain Jason Smith called it a career in Ottawa after 15 seasons.
Everyone has a favorite moment to remember a player by. Regarding Jason, mine had nothing to do with hockey.
Coming into the 2008 All-Star break, Jason told me he was going to New York City with his wife and two daughters to see "The Lion King."
I also, was going to NYC that same weekend with my wife, C.B., to take in a couple of plays on Broadway.
We all bumped into each other at Penn Station on the way home that weekend. The two wives chatted about the excitement of NYC and of introducing your children to all the wonders New York has to offer.
Jason was just a regular guy. We talked about Broadway and urban life vs. Edmonton life and nothing about hockey.
C.B. remarked how nice such a "big man" was. I told her he was nothing like that on the ice but a true NHL warrior on defense.
Were if not for his knees, Jason Smith would have been re-signed as a Flyer. His body led to his retirement today.
Smith was only here one year, and as a captain, I felt he was total class. It irritated me that he kept his feelings hidden from the media in terms of criticizing the club, as captain, but I accepted it. Other captains have been more vocal, but not Jason.
What struck me today by his comments and Sens' GM Bryan Murray's comments at the presser was that Jason Smith walks away from the game of hockey as the epitome of class.
And I think about Dany Heatley, and how much he loathes being in Ottawa, and the thought occurs to me that Mr. Heatley could learn something from Mr. Smith.
If it's not too late.
Here's my blog on CSNPhilly.com:
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