Jeff Friesen retires. hangs up his skates.

Jeff Friesen has retired. He hangs up the skates after his contract with Colorado didn't meet expectations. Seems like his career was done after he left the Devils.

http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_8189178

This might be some breaking news here in the Avs Mailbag, but I've been told that Friesen has decided to retire.

What happened was the Avs signed Friesen to basically a minor-league tryout contract. Despite him scoring some points, the Avs came to the conclusion that the tryout didn't meet their expectations and told him they wouldn't sign him to the big club. Friesen is weighing his future, but a person in Avalanche management told me the former longtime San Jose Shark is likely to retire from the NHL.

That's just too bad :shakehead

I just hope the Devils never forget what he did for us in 03 because he was a crucial player in the run and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

And no I'm not talking jersey retirement. haha. I just hope we can help the guy out since he's down on his luck because I really think he's a great guy and his love for NJ was unquestionable, even in his short stint with the team.

:(
poor guy. he was a dam good player for the devs in his time here. good luck to him.

f'in kozlov im sure he always thinks what could have been

That's just too bad :shakehead

I just hope the Devils never forget what he did for us in 03 because he was a crucial player in the run and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

And no I'm not talking jersey retirement. haha. I just hope we can help the guy out since he's down on his luck because I really think he's a great guy and his love for NJ was unquestionable, even in his short stint with the team.

well said i think he and that mug has a place in our hearts forever

That's just too bad :shakehead

I just hope the Devils never forget what he did for us in 03 because he was a crucial player in the run and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

And no I'm not talking jersey retirement. haha. I just hope we can help the guy out since he's down on his luck because I really think he's a great guy and his love for NJ was unquestionable, even in his short stint with the team.
Yeah, I hope Lou can find a place for him.

Yeah, I hope Lou can find a place for him.

hell if we can take rass back why not scoring is aproblem in lowell...maybe he can pull a Bates battaglia.

Hell even in trenton JASON BONSIGNORE!!!!!!:amazed:

I will always consider him one of my favorite players. His play was awesome in the 2003 playoffs and just for that I am forever grateful. His goal in Game 7 of the ECF against Ottawa is one of my favorite sports moments ever. I also loved some of his goal celebrations, like where he would hit the glass with his stick and glove at once, or the way he hoisted his stick in the air with one hand behind is back when he scored right before they won the Cup. I always imitate those when I play roller hockey. Best of luck to him in whatever he moves on to.

That's sad. He was a great player during the '03 Cup run and I've got plenty of fond memories of him. Loved his enthusiasm, and he really did seem to enjoy playing here.

The Anti-Giguere device has been shelved... :(

I think Friesen still had a few more years left in him. He was really bummed out about leaving NJ and I think that was one of the reasons why he tanked. He loved the Devils and the area, I know he and his wife were building a house in north Jersey and I believe he got traded a few months before it was completed.

I think Friesen still had a few more years left in him. He was really bummed out about leaving NJ and I think that was one of the reasons why he tanked. He loved the Devils and the area, I know he and his wife were building a house in north Jersey and I believe he got traded a few months before it was completed.

yeah I really think that's what killed him.

yeah I really think that's what killed him.

Yea, very few players make the state they're playing in their permanent home. I know Martin and Parise go back to Minny, Patty goes back to the Czech Rep, White goes back to Nova Scotia, Gio to Rochester, etc. I think Langs, Brylin, Marty, and Madden are the only ones who stay in NJ year round. Friesen was hoping to join them but then he got traded, it may not seem like a big deal, but it can be a huuuuge downer.

Good luck to Jeff and whatever the future holds for him!!!

His passion for Devils hockey was undeniable, surely theres something Lou can do for him in Lowell. Friesen as a coach would be sweet!!!

Does anyone know what we did with the draft pick we traded him for?

Does anyone know what we did with the draft pick we traded him for?

Indeed, www.newjerseydevils.com is really good for this kind of thing, with the A-Z player listing.

Traded to Washington by New Jersey for Washington's 3rd round choice (Kirill Tulupov) in 2006 Entry Draft, September 26, 2005.

I will always consider him one of my favorite players. His play was awesome in the 2003 playoffs and just for that I am forever grateful. His goal in Game 7 of the ECF against Ottawa is one of my favorite sports moments ever. I also loved some of his goal celebrations, like where he would hit the glass with his stick and glove at once, or the way he hoisted his stick in the air with one hand behind is back when he scored right before they won the Cup. I always imitate those when I play roller hockey. Best of luck to him in whatever he moves on to.

We had no business beating Ottawa that year, or winning the cup for that matter (The opposite can be said about 2001, how it was ours to lose). Friesen was my favorite player before he was a Devil. He just wanted too much money, but the enthusiasm he brought... man I wish he could have flourished elsewhere.

To Jeff Freisen... one of the cooler names in hockey!

Friesen was signed by the Calgary Flames on July 5, 2006 to a 1-year $1.6 million dollar contract for the 2006-07 season. After a disappointing season that had Friesen producing six goals and six assists in seventy-two games, the Calgary Flames chose not to re-sign Jeff Friesen. He is currently playing in the AHL as a Left Wing for the Lake Erie Monsters.

On 1/29/08 Jeff Friesen was been released by the Lake Erie Monsters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Friesen

I guess he didnt make it with a minor league team, so he retired!
Thanks for the memories in 2003 Jeff! Good luck in all you do!

A great Devil for sure.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s93/vagel117/jeff.jpg

Friesen lived and died by his own sword and his own sword was pure emotion.

Thanks for all of it. :thumbu:

Thanks Jeff

one of my best memories!!!:yo:

Wk-hK21tEac

Definitely sadden to hear this. He was certainly a great player and loved playing for us. Hopefully he finds his own way now. I wouldn't be surprised if Lou helped him out in anyway.

Jeff left it all on the ice. Mr. 2003

I will always remember Jeff Friesen's two years with the Devils with respect. He gave his all, played really well defensively and he scored some timely goals. He is a guy that really wanted to be a Devil as well. That means something to me as a Devils fan. Friesen was happy when he joined the team, and he was really sad when he got traded.

I wish him the best of luck, and he should be proud of the fine career he had in the best hockey league in the world. He really made a difference in the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Devils.

I'll never forget that last goal and the look on his face for as long as I live:

P2Kt3tAQi9I

I'll never forget that last goal and the look on his face for as long as I live:

P2Kt3tAQi9I

While that clip made me feel so much better after ingesting too much Scott Niedermayer commentary tonight... it was somewhat diminished when I heard the Star Wars theme at the end which is way too cheesy for me... (and I had completely blocked out of my memory apparently)...

I'll never forget Freeze smacking the glass in St. Louis after Niewy fed him wonderfully to win in overtime, he made some stupid kid jump like 20 feet in the air, LOL.

I'll never forget Freeze smacking the glass in St. Louis after Niewy fed him wonderfully to win in overtime, he made some stupid kid jump like 20 feet in the air, LOL.

haha that reminds me of, I think 1995, when McKay scored I believe an OT winner and basically started climbing over the glass.

I'll never forget that last goal and the look on his face for as long as I live:

P2Kt3tAQi9I

Hey, Rupp and Langs are here. Maybe putting a guy like Clarkson or Asham with them could recreate some of the magic of that line.

haha that reminds me of, I think 1995, when McKay scored I believe an OT winner and basically started climbing over the glass.

Hell yes got that 95 champs tape converted to dvd, i encourage you guys to do the same... good times, I know the media frowns upon celebrations not so much in hockey but Jeff def wore his heart on his sleeve and played for the horned crest....in a way I wish we gave hima tryout over Rass, but rass had a baby on the wya and a peep never came out of his mouth about playing time or money9iguess rightfully so) Lou I believe showed him some loyalty and helped hi out witha kid on the way

But back to the point both players were great soliders in the devils army Freeze being that much more skilled but too streaky for my taste but love the guy best of luck to him

Another player that never adjusted to the new NHL.

I suggest sending him chocolates and an assortment of carnations reading "2003".

Seriously though, I'm very upset after reading this. Without him, who knows how the Ottawa series would have turned out. I hope he knows people in NJ still appreciate him.

I suggest sending him chocolates and an assortment of carnations reading "2003".

Seriously though, I'm very upset after reading this. Without him, who knows how the Ottawa series would have turned out. I hope he knows people in NJ still appreciate him.

Honestly, I wish I knew of a way to contact him, because I'd definitely start something we could send him to know that as bad as it all went, we still love him for his dedication and contributions to this team and how much it really means to us.

For a guy down on his luck, I really think if he got something from a bunch of Devil fans showing some appreciation, it would probably soften the blow a little bit. (or make it worse, I guess)

Thanks Jeff

one of my best memories!!!:yo:

Wk-hK21tEac


I am sure that is one of his as well