“That’s the hardest part of this whole process. The best part is picking the players and the worst part is telling basically five players they are not going to play tonight.”

At the end of the day everybody lost. We almost crippled our industry. It was very disappointing what happened.

Maybe it wasn’t the talent the Lord gave me-maybe it was the passion.

I don’t like my hockey sticks touching other sticks, and I don’t like them crossing one another, and I kind of have them hidden in the corner. I put baby powder on the ends. I think it’s essentially a matter of taking care of what takes care of you.

I think that from the time you start playing sports as a child you see that your responsibility to your team is to play the best that you can play as an individual. And yet, not take anything away from being part of a team.

The game is played out of instinct, but everyone on the ice has habits – good and bad. So the key to the game is to exploit the bad habits of your opponent.

It’s kind of ironic when I broke in at 17, I was told I was too small, too slow and I wouldn’t make the NHL.

I heard people say, ‘Why would he want to do this?’ My answer is ‘Why not?’ It is what I love. It’s what I know.

In one sense we are a favorite because we won a gold medal in 2002.

I grew up such a fan. It was my life. Everything I did was hockey related and everything I have is because of hockey and the NHL.

I wasn’t naturally gifted in terms of size and speed; everything I did in hockey I worked for, and that’s the way I’ll be as a coach.

By no means could I play at the level of these kids who play in the NHL now but as 50-year-olds go, I feel really good and I feel blessed that I’m still healthy.

We played in an era where you were taught to hate your opponent. But life changes. I raise my kids differently than my mom and dad raised their kids.

And people who know me would tell you that away from hockey I’m really not that competitive.

I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.

Eight days ago, we were the toast of the town. Eight days later we’re Thanksgiving turkeys.

When you’re playing an exhibition, you’re kind of letting everyone get an opportunity.

To the best of my knowledge, no war was ever started by women. But it is women and children who have always suffered most in situations of conflict.

I hold that gentleman to be the best-dressed whose dress no one observes.

Those who best know human nature will acknowledge most fully what a strength light hearted nonsense give to a hard working man

It was a weird mix of emotions. One day, your best friend could be killed. The day before, you could be celebrating him getting a brand-new bike.

The smell of a freshly printed book is the best smell in the world.

Often the best way to overcome desire is to satisfy it.

I love what I do, and when you love what you do, you want to be the best at it.

Poetry: the best words in the best order.