The game is so much in him and is so much a part of who he is and what he is. The thought of retiring, the thought of not having the game every day, is something he can't wrap his mind around. I never believed after we won it that he would ride into the sunset, a la Ray Bourque. I think it's everything he is, the game.

You know what? I look forward to the Battle of Alberta for the next X number of years. If the idea is, 'Burn it to the ground,' then Ken can find another manager to do it.

He's the kind of player that is worth the price of admission.

Maybe in the minor leagues. With my velocity, they would pick it up and say, 'Hey, you dropped something.'

Overall we need to get tougher and bigger.

If he and his agent are coming in looking for the maximum amount, which they are certainly entitled to do, it's just not going to happen.

By every account that I got, ... Ranger was the best player on the ice.

Certainly we hope there is nothing wrong, but I also hope that there is a physical reason that something is going on that caused that Monday,

But if all we can get out of (St. Louis is one year), we will do it and run it as hot as the engine can take it for '05-06 and then figure we are coming out.

But you get the feeling if he gets one, he'll get a bunch.