Jeremy Roenick hopes for Hawks honor

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- On the night the Phoenix Coyotes retired his No.97 jersey, Jeremy Roenick was hopeful the Chicago Blackhawks, the franchise with which he broke into the NHL, would follow suit.

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"Without question that is a huge goal of mine, to be retired in Chicago," Roenick said Saturday night before the Hawks took on the Coyotes. "I think it's the best honor that can be bestowed on you. As an athlete with the exception of the Hall of Fame this is by far the best thing bestowed upon you. And if its more than one team, really? Never in a million years would have thought that. My numbers speak for themselves in Chicago. When you talk about 100 years of a sports team, you have three people ever to score 50 goals ... I think we have a good enough relationship now after 20 years. We'll get there."

Roenick was inducted into the Coyotes' Ring of Honor on Saturday after playing six seasons in Arizona. He was traded there by the Hawks in 1995.

"To be so passionate for one city and be traded to another city and feel passion for another one was great," he said. "It's a hard thing to do, to humble me. I'm humbled."

There has been no indication the Hawks plan to retire Roenick's number. He donned the No. 27 during his eight seasons in Chicago.

"They just drag their feet a little bit slower than Phoenix does," Roenick joked.

Roenick's 267 goals as a Blackhawk rank seventh in franchise history. His 596 points as a Hawk rank eighth.

Ever the diplomat, Roenick was hoping for a "tie" between his two former teams on Saturday. He was thankful the Hawks were on hand for the pregame ceremony.

"And the Hawks are going to be on the bench and that says a lot about their organization," he stated. "I couldn't ask for greater respect."

As for the Hawks' current struggles, the NBC analyst said "they better get their (butts) moving."

The Hawks had dropped seven in a row entering their game against Phoenix.

Jesse Rogers covers the Blackhawks for ESPN 1000 and ESPNChicago.com.

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Jesse Rogers | email

Chicago Cubs beat reporter

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Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers the Chicago Cubs for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN Radio 1000.