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Retirement

Joe Thornton Officially Announces Retirement

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2006 Hart Trophy winner and longtime San Jose Sharks pivot Joe Thornton has officially confirmed his retirement from pro hockey, per a video release from the Sharks. The 44-year-old did not play during the 2022-23 season, last suiting up for the Florida Panthers in 2021-22.

Rarely does a player with such a clear path to a spot in the Hall of Fame hang up the skates. While he only won two major trophies (the Hart and the Art Ross in 2006) and never lifted a Stanley Cup, the 1997 first-overall pick is widely regarded as one of the best playmakers in NHL history, and for good reason.

Entering the 1997 NHL Draft, Thornton was the clear choice at first overall for the Boston Bruins, who had finished last in the NHL with a 26-47-9 record the year before. “Jumbo Joe” was coming off an electric season with the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, notching 41 goals and 81 assists for 122 points in just 59 games. His transition to pro hockey was far from smooth, however. In 1997-98, his NHL rookie season, Thornton averaged just 8:05 per game under head coach Pat Burns and scored just seven points in 55 games. It didn’t look like Thornton would develop into the elite and durable playmaker he ended up being.

Thornton’s point totals would increase over the coming seasons until his true arrival in 2000-01 when he posted a career-high 37 goals and added 34 assists for 71 points in 72 contests. He would hover around (and usually above) the point-per-game mark over the next 15-plus years. Named the Bruins’ captain in 2002-23, succeeding Jason Allison, Thornton’s playmaking immediately exploded. He had 65 assists that year and cracked the 100-point plateau for the first time, although the Bruins struggled defensively and would succumb to the New Jersey Devils in that year’s Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Unlike others, Thornton would not lose an entire season to the 2004-05 NHL lockout. At 25 years old, Thornton took his talents overseas for a campaign with HC Davos in the Swiss National League, scoring 54 points (44 of them assists) in 40 games. That would start a relationship between Thornton and Davos that still exists today, as he returned to play for Davos during the 2012-13 lockout and briefly during the 2020-21 campaign and has served with them in guest coaching capacities over the past couple of years.

Returning to NHL action in 2005-06, the 26-year-old Thornton had an incredible start to the season, posting over an assist per game in 23 contests with the Bruins. It wasn’t enough to buoy a defensively weak squad, however, and the team was well below the .500 mark on November 30, 2005 – the date Boston traded Thornton to the San Jose Sharks for a three-player haul of German scoring winger Marco Sturm, top-four defender Brad Stuart, and checking center Wayne Primeau. Thornton would continue his heroics in a Sharks jersey, posting 20 goals and an astounding 72 assists for 92 points in 58 contests post-trade, boosting right winger Jonathan Cheechoo to one of the most unlikely NHL goal-scoring titles in league history. Cheechoo, 25 at the time, had 56 goals in 82 games. He would be out of the NHL entirely by the team he turned 30.

On the whole, Thornton had 96 assists and 125 points in 81 games in 2005-06. He would again crack the 90-assist plateau in 2006-07, finishing the year with 114 points. He would remain over a point per game for the next three seasons as league-wide scoring slowly dwindled, and a Sharks team with increasing depth allowed them to reduce Thornton’s minutes ever so slightly. The Sharks would name him captain ahead of the 2010-11 season, although an incredible core that included Thornton and NHL all-time games played leader Patrick Marleau could never quite get the Sharks to a championship.

That almost changed in 2016, when Thornton, now 36, hit the point-per-game mark for the first time in six years and dominated possession, finishing top-five in both Hart Trophy and Selke Trophy voting. With an elite core that boasted Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski and Marc-Édouard Vlasic in their primes, the Sharks finally advanced to a Stanley Cup Final but were defeated in six games by Sidney Crosby, rookie netminder Matt Murray, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sharks would get close to a Cup one more time during Thornton’s tenure in 2019 but lost in the Western Conference Final to the eventual champion St. Louis Blues.

After signing three consecutive one-year deals to remain a Shark, Thornton left the team in 2020 to chase a championship with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. His best days now far behind him at age 41, Thornton still managed to add some depth production with 20 points in 44 contests, but he had just one goal in seven playoff games as Toronto was upset by the rival Montreal Canadiens in the First Round. He would sign another one-year contract for 2021-22, this time with the Panthers, but played an increasingly limited role. He suited up in just 34 of 82 games, averaged a hair over 11 minutes per game, and posted ten points. After Florida was eliminated in the Second Round by the Tampa Bay Lightning, it became clear Thornton had likely played his last NHL game.

It’s hard to imagine Thornton not getting the call to the Hall when he’s eligible for induction in 2025. The Ontario product finished his NHL career with 1,714 games played (sixth all-time), 1,109 assists (seventh all-time), and 1,539 points (12th all-time), easily putting him in the conversation for one of the 30 or 40 greatest skaters to ever touch NHL ice.

PHR wishes Thornton the absolute best in whatever awaits him in the next stage of his hockey career.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Tomáš Plekanec Announces Retirement

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1001-game NHL veteran Tomáš Plekanec has announced his retirement from the game, via Czech journalist Matěj Hejda. Citing health issues as the reason for his decision, Plekanec ends his playing career several years removed from his last NHL game, after three full, highly productive seasons playing in the Czech Extraliga.

A third-round pick of the Canadiens at the 2001 NHL draft, the versatile center would become one of the faces of the Canadiens franchise in the team’s post-lockout era. After back-to-back AHL All-Star campaigns, Plekanec broke into the league at the age of 23, scoring 29 points in 67 games.

Early in his career, Plekanec was defined by how quickly he climbed the Canadiens’ depth chart.

In his age-24 season, Plekanec scored 20 goals and 47 points, beginning to establish himself as a true top-six center in the NHL.

In his age-25 season, Plekanec had soared to 29 goals and 69 points, a performance that helped the Canadiens to the second round of the playoffs and earned him a third-place Selke Trophy vote.

In 2009-10, Plekanec had the best season of his career, scoring 25 goals and 70 points. He was the top scorer on an underdog Canadiens team that took out two heavyweight Eastern Conference contenders en route to the Conference Finals, helping the Canadiens on their deepest playoff run since their 1993 Stanley Cup championship.

That playoff run marked the beginning of a competitive era for the Canadiens that included three division titles and another run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

By 2017-18, the Canadiens’ decline had mirrored Plekanec’s fading on-ice value, and near the end of that season the Canadiens made the shocking move of trading their beloved two-way center to their arch-nemesis Toronto Maple Leafs.

Plekanec spent a short period of the following campaign with the Canadiens, a move that allowed him to play his 1,000th NHL game with the team before departing for Czechia. This season has been Plekanec’s third as captain of Rytíři Kladno, a team he has also led in scoring during that span.

Beyond just his consistently strong NHL career as a member of the Canadiens, Plekanec also had a highly respectable international career.

He represented Czechia at two World Junior Championships, eleven IIHF Men’s World Championships, and two Winter Olympics.

A valuable leader, Plekanec had the honor of captaining Czechia on multiple occasions, including at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Although a gold medal eluded him as team captain, he won the gold at the 2001 World Juniors and also took home two bronze medals and a silver at the World Championships.

Although it’s unfortunate that health issues have ended Plekanec’s career before he might have wanted to hang up his skates, he nonetheless ends his professional career with so much to be proud of.

He wasn’t the flashiest player, but he was a consistent two-way force. Sporting his signature turtleneck, Plekanec was one of the faces of the most competitive era of hockey in recent Montreal Canadiens history. We at PHR would like to extend our best wishes to Plekanec and his family as he begins his retirement.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. 

Zack Kassian Announces Retirement

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Zack Kassian has officially ended his playing career, according to a release from the NHLPA.

As part of the release, Kassian issued a statement which reads:

To play in the NHL is one thing, but to make a 12-year career of it is pretty special. From coaches to equipment staff and fellow players I’ve met along the way, I’ve made so many relationships that are going to last a lifetime.

Kassian, 32, signed a PTO with the Anaheim Ducks in August with the hope of making the team and earning a full-time NHL deal.

He ended up released from the PTO, though, and rather than potentially play in the AHL or Europe (which may have been options open to him) Kassian has instead decided to hang up his skates.

The 13th overall pick of the 2009 NHL draft, Kassian’s career was defined by ups and downs. While he never quite became the impactful prototypical power forward at the NHL level that he was drafted to become, he still had a respectable 661-game NHL career with some memorable moments.

A two-time 15-goal scorer, Kassian scored a total of 92 goals and 203 points in his career, to go alongside 913 penalty minutes.

He played in the playoffs in six of his twelve seasons in the NHL and created some memories for Oilers fans in particular, such as with this memorable goal against the Anaheim Ducks in the 2017 Western Conference Semifinals.

Beyond just the NHL, Kassian was an accomplished junior player. Not only did he represent Canada at an IIHF Men’s World Junior Championship tournament, he also took home an OHL championship and a Memorial Cup title.

While Kassian slowed down considerably in recent years (he scored two points in 51 games last season) he did manage to carve out a steady role in the NHL for more than a decade, which is an impressive feat.

We at PHR would like to extend our best wishes to Kassian as enters his retirement.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Derek Stepan Announces Retirement

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A veteran of nearly 900 games at the NHL level, the NHLPA reports that forward Derek Stepan has officially hung up his skates. A veteran of 13 seasons, Stepan spent his career with the New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, and the Carolina Hurricanes.

A product of the University of Wisconsin Badgers of the NCAA, Stepan had a solid collegiate career, scoring 12 goals and 42 assists in 41 games in his final year, taking his team to the National Championship in 2010, eventually losing to the Boston College Eagles. Two years prior to his career in Wisconsin, the Rangers had drafted Stepan with the 51st overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft.

After his collegiate career came to an end, Stepan would join New York for the 2010-11 season, playing in all 82 games, scoring 21 goals and 24 assists, finishing 13th in Calder Trophy voting at season’s end. He would continue his streak of playing in every regular season game, never missing a minute of action throughout the 2013-14 season. Having already established himself as one of the best center options for the Rangers, he would help lead the team to the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals, losing in five games to the Los Angeles Kings.

Separating himself as both a leader and a solid contributor on offense, New York rewarded Stepan financially, signing him to a six-year, $39MM extension in the summer before the 2015-16 campaign. Unfortunately for both him and the organization, he would only last two years under that deal with the Rangers, as the team entered a rebuilding phase shortly thereafter. In the offseason after the 2016-17 season, New York traded Stepan, along with goaltender Antti Raanta, to the Coyotes for Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall selection in that year’s draft (used to select Lias Andersson).

Quickly becoming one of the better players on Arizona’s roster, Stepan rewarded the summer acquisition, scoring 14 goals and 42 assists with the Coyotes in his first season. During his three-year stay in the Desert, Stepan would play a total of 154 games, scoring 29 goals and 62 assists overall, leading the Coyotes to the playoffs only once in the 2019-20 campaign. With only one more season remaining on his contract extension, Arizona sent Stepan packing again to Ottawa for a second-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft.

His time with the Senators was underwhelming, as Stepan struggled mightily in the pandemic-shortened season, citing the difficulties of being away from family in such a tumultuous world climate. Well outside the playoff picture, Ottawa explored trade ideas for Stepan at the deadline, but his season would be ended completely in late February due to a shoulder injury.

Hitting the unrestricted free agent market for the first time in his career, Stepan would sign back-to-back one-year deals with the Hurricanes, hoping to compete for a Stanley Cup to conclude his career. Spending a majority of his time in a bottom-six role, Carolina relied heavily on Stepan’s leadership and experience to help grow the young crop of Hurricanes coming into the league.

In the entirety of his career, Stepan will finish with 890 regular season games played, scoring 182 goals and 333 assists, earning several votes for the Lady Byng as well as the Selke Trophy throughout his career. Aside from the regular season, Stepan would play in 120 playoff games, scoring 20 goals and 35 assists overall, including one trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.

We at Pro Hockey Rumors congratulate Stepan on a respectable career, and we wish him the best as he moves into the next chapter of his life.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Brandon Sutter Announces Retirement

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The Edmonton Oilers have announced that veteran forward Brandon Sutter has been released from the PTO he signed with the club, and has decided to retire from professional hockey. He provided a statement, which reads:

I’m grateful for the opportunity that Ken, Jay and the Oilers organization have provided to me the past few weeks. You need to be 100 percent healthy to compete in the NHL, and although my health continues to improve, in consideration of my health and family, I am officially retiring from hockey.

Thank you to the Oilers, Canucks, Penguins and Hurricanes, as well as all my past coaches, trainers and teammates for the incredible experiences throughout my 13 seasons in the NHL.

Sutter, 34, had not played since 2020-21, but was hopeful that he could earn a depth role in Edmonton. But the time away from the game appears to have been to big a barrier to overcome, so as a result, he has elected retirement.

Although injuries dulled his effectiveness in the later years of his career, Sutter had long been valued as a two-way center who brought defensive ability, sneaky goal-scoring touch, and the kind of leadership qualities that make a lasting impact on a locker room.

During his time with the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Carolina Hurricanes, Sutter made a few deep playoff runs and scored 15 or more goals three times.

Part of the famed Sutter family, he ends his career with a few honors, including wearing a letter as part of the leadership group for three different franchises and a IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal.

While it certainly will end up a disappointment to Sutter and Oilers fans that he won’t be able to suit up for more NHL games, one can certainly respect the health considerations that went into Sutter’s decision. He leaves behind a playing career to be proud of, and we at PHR would like to extend our best wishes to Sutter for whatever he chooses to do now that his days on an NHL roster have ended.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Cory Schneider To Officially Retire

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A New Jersey Devils reporter for the Star-Ledger, Ryan Novozinsky is reporting that goaltender Cory Schneider is officially retiring from the National Hockey League. A 13-year veteran, Schneider had lengthy stays with the Vancouver Canucks and Devils, while he would finish his career with the New York Islanders organization.

Originally the 26th overall selection of the 2004 NHL Draft, Schneider would go on to spend three seasons with the Boston College Eagles of the NCAA, before finally signing his entry-level contract with the Canucks before the start of the 2007-08 season. Schneider would help lead Boston College to back-to-back National Championships in 2006 and 2007, losing to Wisconsin University and Michigan State University, respectively.

He would spend the entire 2007-08 season playing for the then-AHL affiliate to Vancouver, the Manitoba Moose, before finally getting his cup of coffee in the NHL in the 2008-09 season. As the Canucks continued to build a Stanley Cup contender, Schneider made the full-time jump to the NHL during the 2010-11 season, primarily playing behind Roberto Luongo. The team would make it to the Stanley Cup Final that season, losing to the Boston Bruins in seven games.

Due to the incredible play from both Luongo and Schneider, rumors began to swirl surrounding both, as all signs pointed to the Canucks eventually moving on from one of them. At the 2013 NHL Draft, the domino fell, as Schneider was dealt to the Devils for the ninth overall pick, which would land the Canucks Bo Horvat. Expected to fill the shoes that would be left by franchise legend Martin Brodeur, Schneider got control of New Jersey’s net for the 2014-15 season. He would finish his career as a Canuck with a 55-26-8 record in 86 starts, carrying a .927 SV% and a 2.20 GAA over five seasons.

His first year with the Devils was exceptional, leading then-General Manager Lou Lamoriello to sign Schneider to a seven-year, $42MM contract extension, giving New Jersey their long-term answer in net as Brodeur had moved on to the St. Louis Blues. The 2015-16 season would be the last truly impressive season of Schneider’s career, as he would see his numbers continually decline each year after. Schneider would only lead the Devils to the playoffs once during his seven years with the club, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2017-18 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Originally, his seven-year extension with New Jersey would have taken Schneider to the 2021-22 season, but the team decided to buy out the last two years of his deal after the 2019-20 season. Following Lamoriello to Long Island, Schneider would spend the next three seasons playing on one-year deals for the Islanders, only seeing one game at the NHL over that time. Although it was an unceremonious end to an incredible start to his career, Schneider would finish his career with 410 games played, posting a 171-159-58 record, with a SV% of .918 and a GAA of 2.43.

We at Pro Hockey Rumors congratulate Schneider on a respectable career, and we wish him the best as he moves into the next chapter of his life.

Nick Holden Retires, Joins Golden Knights Front Office

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Longtime NHL defenseman Nick Holden is retiring after a 12-season career and will immediately join the Vegas Golden Knights’ player development staff, according to a team release. His specialty will be working with the team’s group of young defensemen.

Initially eligible for the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Holden went undrafted and didn’t make it to an NHL organization until the Columbus Blue Jackets signed him to an entry-level contract in 2008 after completing his junior career with the WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins (who have since relocated to Victoria to become the Royals). He would remain in the Blue Jackets organization until 2013 but spent most of it in the AHL, playing just seven NHL contests without recording a point. An unrestricted free agent in 2013, he signed a two-year, $1.2MM contract with the Colorado Avalanche, which jumpstarted his career. Finally playing his rookie campaign as a 26-year-old in the 2013-14 season, Holden recorded 25 points in 54 games for the Avs while averaging nearly 19 minutes per game.

He would settle into a top-four role during his peak, averaging over 20 minutes per game from 2014 to 2019. His career-best season came as a member of the New York Rangers in 2016-17, posting 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 80 games and a +13 rating. With the Rangers struggling the following season, however, they dealt him to the Boston Bruins at the 2018 trade deadline, where he played a depth role down the stretch. That led him to sign with the Golden Knights for their second season, and he gave them solid play over the course of three seasons from 2018-19 to 2020-21. After slipping down the depth chart and playing just 17 regular-season games in 2020-21, however, they dealt him to the Ottawa Senators in a swap for scoring winger Evgenii Dadonov.

Holden spent the final two seasons of his career in a Sens jersey, recording 35 points in 141 games while averaging 18:24 across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns. His final NHL appearance came in an overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on April 13 of this year, in which he recorded a +1 rating, four shots on goal, 23:13 of ice time, and one block.

After turning 36 in May, Holden steps away from the playing side of the game with 654 career appearances. During his time with the Avalanche, Golden Knights, Blue Jackets, Rangers, Senators, and Bruins, Holden amassed 52 goals, 126 assists, 178 points, and a +16 rating.

“Nick was widely respected by management, teammates, and coaches during his time with the Golden Knights as a player,” Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “He fills an important role with our player development and will work not only with our drafted prospects but also with our young pros with the Henderson Silver Knights.”

We at Pro Hockey Rumors congratulate Holden on a respectable career, and we wish him the best as he moves into the next chapter of his career in the sport.

Andrew Ladd Announces Retirement

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1001-game NHL veteran Andrew Ladd announced his retirement today on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Ladd finishes an NHL career that began in the 2005-06 season after he was made the fourth overall pick of the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2004 draft.

Ladd had an undoubtedly impressive NHL career. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning it as a rookie with Carolina and in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Ladd didn’t quite live up to the promise of his selection in Carolina, but quickly changed that narrative after arriving in Chicago.

With the Blackhawks, Ladd broke out as a top-six forward by scoring 49 points in 2008-09.

But while he had his breakout in Chicago and won a Stanley Cup there, it was Ladd’s trade to the then-Atlanta Thrashers that truly led to his ascent to NHL stardom.

Ladd was immediately named captain of the Thrashers and instantly reached new offensive heights. He scored 29 goals and 59 points, beginning a run of seven consecutive seasons where he scored 20 goals or at a 20-plus goal pace.

It was in Winnipeg where Ladd made his biggest mark, leading the newly relocated franchise as its first captain. He led them to the playoffs for the first time since their relocation, and in his last full season in Winnipeg Ladd had a career-high 62 points. Ladd even dabbled in international play during his time captaining the Jets, representing Canada at three IIHF Men’s World Championships.

Ladd returned to the Blackhawks for their 2016 Stanley Cup push, though the team ultimately fell short and Ladd hit unrestricted free agency. That was undoubtedly the turning point of his career, as Ladd signed an ill-fated $5.5MM AAV contract with the New York Islanders that stretched through the 2022-23 season. Ladd did manage 23 goals in his first season on Long Island, but only added eight assists.

That would be the most productive year in his time in New York, by far. His goal total dropped to 12 the following year, and in 2018-19 Ladd only managed to play 26 games. Ladd’s years of intense physical play, the things that made him such a valuable power forward in his prime, had taken its toll on Ladd’s body. The wear and tear he’d sustained over the years became more difficult to ignore, and Ladd could only manage sporadic availability.

By 2019-20, Ladd was outside the Islanders’ NHL plans, and playing more and more time in the AHL with the Islanders’ affiliate in Bridgeport. He was dealt in a cap-clearing trade to the Arizona Coyotes for 2021-22, where he managed to play in 51 games and finally crossed the 1,000 game plateau. Last season, Ladd failed his physical and was unable to suit up for the Coyotes, effectively ending his career one year before his contract was set to expire.

Now Ladd has officially retired, and he leaves behind a highly respectable NHL career. While the difficulties he faced with injuries and inconsistency, as well as his diminished physical tools in his final few years may have clouded people’s impressions of Ladd, he was undoubtedly a valuable power forward in his prime. We at PHR wish Ladd the best for whatever lays ahead of him now that his playing days have concluded.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Michael Del Zotto Announces Retirement

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Longtime NHL defenseman Michael Del Zotto announced his retirement via Instagram today, ending a 13-season NHL career.

Del Zotto, 33, was drafted by the New York Rangers with the 20th overall pick out of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals in 2008. He would jump to professional hockey after one more season in juniors, recording 37 points in 80 games in 2009-10 and earning All-Rookie Team honors.

Unfortunately, while Del Zotto would turn into a serviceable NHL defenseman for over a decade, he didn’t develop into the potential bonafide top-pair player he hinted he could be at the beginning of his career. He would only beat his rookie totals once in New York, recording ten goals, 31 assists and 41 points in 77 games in 2011-12 before dropping to a bottom-pairing role in the 2013-14 campaign. Then-Rangers general manager Glen Sather dealt him to the Nashville Predators for shutdown defender Kevin Klein in a one-for-one swap in January of that season.

Things didn’t go much better for Del Zotto in a brief stint with Nashville to close out the season, which saw his ice time continue to decrease as he recorded five points in 25 games and a -4 rating. He was due a qualifying offer of $2.9MM that season with his contract expiring, which the Predators didn’t issue, and he signed a one-year, $1.3MM contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in August 2014. It turned out to be a prudent choice for Del Zotto, who, for a brief time, recaptured his former glory in Philadelphia. He notched 32 points in 64 games during his first season there while averaging nearly 22 minutes per game, but again fizzled out over the following two seasons with the Flyers.

After signing as an unrestricted free agent with the Vancouver Canucks in 2017, Del Zotto would play stints with the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, and St. Louis Blues in depth roles until the 2021-22 season. While he didn’t appear in any postseason contests, Del Zotto was on the Blues’ roster for their 2019 Stanley Cup championship.

2021-22 was when it became clear Del Zotto’s days of playing at the highest level were drawing to a close. Despite recording a respectable 13 points in 26 games with Ottawa and posting decent possession numbers, the Senators waived him. They assigned him to AHL Belleville, where he managed over a point per game. It was enough to land him another NHL contract for 2022-23 with the Florida Panthers, but they waived him pre-season and didn’t include him on the opening night roster. He would record two goals and 10 points in 25 games with their AHL affiliate in Charlotte before they traded him back to Anaheim in the days leading up to Christmas in a three-way swap of minor-league players, including the Detroit Red Wings. Del Zotto closed the season with a strong 31 points in 40 games for AHL San Diego.

But without ever getting a callup to the NHL throughout the season despite a paper-thin defense in Anaheim, Del Zotto has opted to step away from the game. His 736 games rank 18th among players from the 2008 draft class at the time of his retirement, during which he recorded 63 goals, 199 assists, 262 points, and averaged 20:03 per game over the years. PHR congratulates Del Zotto on his lengthy career in the pros and wishes him the best in retirement.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

West Notes: Krug, Smith, Mitchell

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Blues defenseman Torey Krug has already vetoed one trade this summer, a move that would have sent him to Philadelphia.  With a $6.5MM price tag for four more years, his contract won’t be an easy one to trade.  However, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic believes (subscription link) that there is a pathway to an in-season swap for the 32-year-old.  If Krug can get back to being a quality power play quarterback, that could bolster his market and the potential awkwardness of being with a team that clearly tried to trade him could create a potential opportunity for a move.  Krug had 19 points with the man advantage last season – more than half his point total – but when he was with Boston, he was closer to 30 power play points in his final seasons with the team.  Returning to that type of production would undoubtedly help Krug’s trade value.

More from the Western Conference:

  • Sharks prospect Will Smith isn’t likely to play out his four years of college eligibility as the team will want the fourth-overall pick to turn pro by then. Speaking with Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News, Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino suggests that the decisions of fellow freshmen Ryan Leonard and Gabriel Perreault – both first-rounders as well – could ultimately influence Smith’s decision.  If those two decide to turn pro after the college season ends, Smith could follow suit.  But if they’re leaning toward staying, Smith could do the same since Boston College could still be a viable threat for an NCAA title with that core up front.
  • After spending three seasons captaining Chicago’s AHL team in Rockford, veteran winger Garrett Mitchell announced his retirement on Twitter. The 31-year-old made a single NHL appearance back in 2017 but made nearly 600 appearances in the AHL including playoffs over parts of 13 seasons which qualified him for veteran status in that league; teams can only dress a handful of those players each game.  Mitchell was limited to just 24 games with the IceHogs last year where he had 46 penalty minutes.

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