It has been a busy day for retirements in the National Hockey League, with Zdeno Chára, P.K. Subban, and Keith Yandle bowing out from the sport.
Zdeno Chára retires, surrenders position as oldest active player in major league sports
Chára departs the NHL with 1,680 games played, 680 points (209 goals, 471 assists), and a Norris Trophy to his name. He is one of only three European players to captain their team to a Stanley Cup, reaching the summit with the Boston Bruins in 2010-11.
Internationally, he won two silver medals at the IIHF World Championships with Slovakia and was an alternate captain for Team Europe during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
The 45-year-old took to Instagram to announce his retirement from the sport, writing: “After 25 seasons of professional hockey, 1,680 NHL regular season games, 200 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and hundreds of international games, I am proud to announce my decision to retire from the NHL.
“In doing so, I am honoured to return to TD Garden today to sign a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins and officially finish my career with the team that has meant so much to me and my family. There are so many people that have helped contribute to my success, including all of you, and I look forward to properly thanking everyone this afternoon. Thank you, Big Zee.”
In addition to spending his prime years in Boston, Chára also represented the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, and Washington Capitals.
The six-time Slovak Player of the Year was an elite defenceman throughout his career, using his 6’9” frame and defensive intelligence to compensate for his lack of foot speed.
In celebration of his retirement, Chára signed a one-day contract with the Bruins, returning to the city where he burnished his reputation as one of the best blueliners of his generation.
P.K. Subban: ‘I never looked at myself as ‘just a hockey player’’
We haven’t heard the last of Subban. The 33-year-old revealed “the end of this chapter” in his life in an Instagram post, but is widely expected to take a role in hockey broadcasting.
“I remember my dreams of playing in the NHL and winning a Stanley Cup,” Subban wrote. “Similar to the guys on the Don Cherry Rock’em Sock’em tapes at the end of every volume, with the black eyes, broken bones, and tears of joy. To this day, I still dream about it.
P.K. Subban has retired from the NHL after a 13-year career.
3x All-Star
Norris Trophy for Top Defenseman
2014 Olympic gold medalWhat a career 👏 pic.twitter.com/6tNv4RdvAe
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 20, 2022
“I never looked at myself or ever felt I was ‘just a hockey player.’ I always looked at myself as a person who happened to play hockey. Having that perspective allowed me to enjoy every shift like it was my last, celebrate every goal with emotion, and play every game as if someone paid to watch me play who had never seen me play before… the NHL also provided me with a platform that allowed me to give back [through] my charities. A sincere thank you to the many players that I either played with or competed against who brought out the best in me.”
The former Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, and New Jersey Devils star made 834 NHL appearances, registering 467 points (115 goals, 352 assists). He was also awarded the Norris Trophy in 2012-13 and earned a gold medal with Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
“I look forward to the road ahead, and the many exciting opportunities to come,” Subban added. “I’m excited to share what those are with you all when the time comes!”
Keith Yandle steps away from hockey after record-setting ‘iron man streak’
Yandle has retired after a 16-year career playing at the highest level.
“I’m retiring from the game of hockey… taking my talents to South Beach and doing nothing,” he told the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. “I’m really at ease with it and looking forward to the next chapter, for sure.”
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The 36-year-old suited up in 1,109 contests, accumulating 619 points (103 goals, 516 assists) for the Arizona Coyotes, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, and Philadelphia Flyers.
Yandle owns the record for the most consecutive NHL appearances, enjoying an unbroken 989-games played between 2009 and 2022.
The American was one of the sport’s top offensive defencemen in the early 2010s, recording a career-high of 59 points (11 goals, 48 assists) in 82 appearances in the 2010-11 season for the Coyotes.
What is your favourite memory of P.K. Subban, Keith Yandle, and Zdeno Chára? Join the conversation by tweeting @BritIceHockey.
