The former Toronto Maple Leafs tough guy, who retired Tuesday after a 15-year National Hockey League career and then announced he had been hired as a TSN hockey commentator, took dead aim at legendary Dave Keon.

Keon, a former Leafs captain, has been engaged in a long-standing row with the Toronto franchise over his poor treatment, dating back to the days when the late Harold Ballard owned the club.

Despite many overtures from management, such as from former Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher, Keon has continued to reject olive branches tossed to him by the organization and, to this day, there has been no ceremony to honour the former Leafs great.

Domi, 36, was asked whether he was bitter that the Leafs bought out his contract in late June.

He said he was initially upset, because when captain Mats Sundin had flown in from Sweden to meet with general manager John Ferguson and head coach Paul Maurice in Toronto, Sundin was assured that Domi would return this coming season. But a few days later, Domi was told that the Leafs didn't want him back for the final season of his contract.

“I really was upset,” Domi said. “But after that, I have no regrets. I'm not bitter.

“I'm not like Dave Keon. I'm not Dave Keon, whatsoever. But I think he has to get off his horse and face the facts that he is loved in this country and should come back and let the Leafs [honour him].”

It would be a stretch if the Leafs decided to raise Domi's number, 28, to the roof of the Air Canada Centre, but still Domi left the game Tuesday as one of the most popular players in the past decade. Fans admired his grit and willingness to take on much bigger NHL heavyweights, despite his smallish frame, 5 foot 9 and 210 pounds.

Domi also was omnipresent with his charity work.

He was lauded by former teammates Tuesday for forging a career of 1,020 games, 104 goals and 245 points with the Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers and finishing third among career leaders in penalty minutes with 3,515.

“I think he had a great career, playing 1,000 games,” Sundin said. “He will always be a big part of the organization. I owe him a lot. He certainly looked after me in all the years I have played in Toronto.”

Defenceman Bryan McCabe added that the Leafs' training camp has been a lot quieter this year without Domi.

It was clear last season that Father Time had caught up to Domi. He scored five times in 77 games and was bothered by various injuries and the new up-tempo style of NHL play that kept him from fighting.

Domi said there was interest from a few clubs this summer, but there were no offers tabled because he wasn't interested in playing for another team.

Domi became emotional in his news conference at the Air Canada Centre. Domi thanked many individuals, including his junior coach in Peterborough, Ont., Dick Todd, former Toronto coaches Pat Burns and Pat Quinn and Fletcher.

Domi, who also thanked his three children, was asked about being romantically linked recently to Liberal MP Belinda Stronach.

“I prefer not to talk about my personal life,” he said.

Domi retired as the Leafs' career penalty minutes leader with 2,265 and added that his career longevity is something he will always cherish. But popular as the native of Windsor, Ont., was with Leafs fans, he also absorbed plenty of criticism.

Many fans still blame Domi for the Leafs' elimination in the second round of the 2001 playoffs, when he unnecessarily belted New Jersey Devils defenceman Scott Niedermayer with 7.4 seconds remaining in Toronto's 3-1 win, which tied the series 2-2.

“That was probably the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life and my career,” Domi said.