Ron Francis Last Quotations

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.

I had a pretty clear picture once the season was cancelled last year (in February). So really in the last couple of months I was ready to announce this, but I've been pretty busy with the kids here. With everyone making their announcements, my agent called me and said we should get this thing official. So here were are.

(Coach Eddie Olczyk) and I are good friends, and we talk a fair amount, ... I think it probably would have been more enticing had the season picked up last February to do something (in Pittsburgh). But I actually called Mario (Lemieux) to congratulate him when the draft lottery when down, and he said, in passing, 'Are you going to play?' I said, 'No, I'm done.' And that was the extent of the conversation.

I think every team heads into the season believing they have a chance, and certainly we're no different here, ... And I think our experience two years ago shows that it's certainly possible. And look at Anaheim last year. Nobody picked them to have a chance and yet they got there. I think we're certainly capable of doing that. I think our team is ready to get back to the level where we were two years ago.