Edmonton Oilers defenceman Kris Russell is what some within the hockey world would name a “gray beard.”
The 34-year-old has performed 938 video games within the NHL common season and playoffs. Nevertheless, that pales compared to the 1,468 contests logged by Kevin Lowe.
“I believe it’s ridiculous,” Russell laughed Thursday afternoon. “It’s onerous to think about these sort of numbers to be trustworthy.”
“I don’t significantly love the eye, to be trustworthy,” Lowe stated earlier than Wednesday’s win over Nashville. “We stated you need to be a Corridor of Famer to get (your quantity retired). I might have been advantageous not being a Corridor of Famer and never having my quantity up there. I’m simply happy with the success we might have. The reminiscences are all the time there.
“It’s not a lot about statues and homages. For me, the reminiscences are in my intestine.”
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Those that labored with Lowe over time bear in mind him not only for his hockey means however for a way he handled folks.
“I haven’t ever performed with anyone who was that well-connected with everybody within the room,” stated former Oilers participant, coach and supervisor Craig MacTavish.
“He’s equally engrossed in a dialog as he was that one 12 months the Queen was right here as he would with anyone he met on the road who had a narrative.”
“He’s one of the best coach I ever performed for. Kevin Lowe, as a coach, was superb. He was demanding. He handled everybody the identical,” recalled former Oilers participant Georges Laraque. “It was with him I had my hat trick.
“My finest 12 months within the NHL was with him.”
Lowe gained 5 Stanley Cups with the Oilers and one with the New York Rangers.
A file picture of Kevin Lowe.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
“He’d all the time be good, all the time be constant. The larger the sport, the higher he was,” stated former Oilers defenceman Paul Coffey. “Kevin didn’t care about factors. He cared about championships.”
Lowe will change into the eighth Oiler to have his quantity retired, becoming a member of Al Hamilton (3), Paul Coffey (7), Glenn Anderson (9), Mark Messier (11), Jari Kurri (17), Grant Fuhr (31) and Wayne Gretzky (99). The previous head coach and common supervisor additionally has a banner within the rafters of Rogers Place.
Russell wore No. 4 earlier than altering to No. 6 firstly of this season.
“I used to be very grateful to get the chance to put on No. 4,” Russell stated. “Selfishly, I believe it’s nice for me to be the final man to put on it earlier than it goes up for Mr. Lowe.”
630 CHED could have full protection of Friday’s ceremony with The Faceoff Show starting at 5 p.m. The ceremony is scheduled to start out at 5:45 p.m.
The sport between the Oilers and Rangers will get going at 7:30 p.m.
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