Veteran defenseman Eric Gryba was cut by Calgary back on Thursday and as it turns out, that will be the final stint of his career as the blueliner announced his retirement on Twitter, releasing the following statement:
I’m hanging up the skates! I am proud of the career I was able to put together and couldn’t be more grateful of all the support I received along the way. I am excited for my next chapter and all the challenges that are to come.
The 31-year-old spent last season with the Devils where he played predominantly for their AHL affiliate in Albany. He did, however, get into ten games with New Jersey which extended his NHL career to seven seasons between the Devils, Oilers, and Senators who drafted him back in the third round (66th overall) back in 2006.
While Gryba was never a big offensive producer during his 289 career NHL games (he collected seven goals and 36 assists), he provided plenty of physicality from the back end, averaging nearly 2.7 hits per game while adding 368 penalty minutes. He also got into 254 games in the minors, meaning that his career spanned over 500 professional games which is a pretty good run for a third-round selection.
Does he not have a TV show?
It’s an atypical fitness show: Clutching & Grabbing w/Gryba.