Despite being just 31 years old, Eddie Lack is shutting down his professional playing career—at least for now. The former NHL goaltender announced on his Twitter page that because of chronic hip pain he is “not healthy enough to play or sign right now” and instead will be starting his coaching career. Lack has been hired as the goaltending coach at Arizona State University, though he does not completely rule out a return to playing at some point down the road if he can get healthy.
Lack played just six games last season for the Binghamton Devils and is currently and unrestricted free agent after his one-year deal with New Jersey expired. The Swedish netminder suited up 147 times in the NHL over the years, including an excellent 2014-15 season with the Vancouver Canucks when he posted a .921 save percentage in 41 games. Lack played for the Canucks, Devils, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes over his NHL career but will now start a brand new chapter of his hockey story.
Arizona State will actually be working with a new starting goaltender this season after Joey Daccord earned himself an NHL deal with the Ottawa Senators. Daccord put up a .926 save percentage in 2018-19 with the Sun Devils and was one of the best goaltenders in all of college hockey. Lack will need to work with the other netminders on the roster to try and fill the skates of Daccord, who started nearly every game for the team the last two seasons.
Lacko Taco!!!
I think he got full pension. My guess is he sat back up 56 games.