Motivation Quote by Mario Lemieux

There is a peculiar kind of swagger in pretending not to have any. Lemieux’s “It doesn’t matter to me” reads like modesty, but it functions as power: the freedom to be indifferent about role is something only a truly indispensable player can credibly claim. Most stars lobby for their spot, their minutes, their line mates. Lemieux signals he’s above that friction. Put him at center, put him on the wing, the outcome is still going to orbit around him.

The key phrase is “depending on how we start the season.” That’s the tell. He’s not offering selfless flexibility in the abstract; he’s offering a lever for team control. Early-season results are the market test. If things sputter, move him, shake the lines, rebalance responsibilities. It’s a veteran’s way of saying: I’ll be the adjustment, so nobody else has to become the scapegoat. In a hockey culture that prizes “team-first” posture, Lemieux translates superstardom into acceptably blue-collar language.

Context matters because positional identity in hockey carries ego and workload. Center is command: defensive obligations, faceoffs, dictating tempo. Wing can mean freer attack, different matchups, and sometimes a way to manage wear. Lemieux’s statement gives coaches permission to optimize around health, chemistry, and opponent without triggering a political fight. Subtext: he trusts his own dominance more than he needs the prestige of a label. That’s leadership, yes, but also a quiet reminder that the system is adjustable; the talent isn’t.