Longtime Flyers defenseman Eric Desjardins will officially announce his retirement on THURSDAY, according to my sources.
An assortment of injuries took their toll on him over the past several seasons and the Flyers wisely did not re-up on his contract this summer.
Desjardins was not an easy player to cover as a reporter. He often shielded his emotions to the Philly media while speaking freely on subjects with French-Canadian reporters.
Which is why it was always helpful to have someone from the Journal de Montreal to translate any interview he gave.
Desjardins will long be remembered for having the guts to stand and face the media between Games 3 and 4 during the 1997 Stanley Cup finals after then coach Terry Murray said the club was in a "choking situation."
Captain Eric Lindros walked out the back door of Joe Louis Arena, leaving Desjardins to handle the fallout. Class act on "Rico's" part to stick around.
BTW: He was called RICO because of his dapper appearance (Rico Suave).
Strange But True: In 2000, Desjardins and his wife had lunch in the media press room w/reporters, mingling amicably. No other Flyer between then and now has ever done that.
Quirk: He was one of the few players in the NHL who did not give out his phone number.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • 
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