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Matt Carkner Announces Retirement

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Matt Carkner is walking away from hockey at 35 years old, he announced today. The veteran grinder, who last played an NHL game in 2014, announced his retirement with a Facebook post thanking his friends, family, fans, and past teams. While he may be done as a player, his hockey career is not over. Carkner added that he will has been named an assistant coach by the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the team he spent the past two seasons with.

Carkner was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1999 NHL Draft, taken 58th overall by the Montreal Canadiens. He made his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks in 2005, but played the bulk of his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators from 2008 to 2012. Carkner became known for his physical play and aggressive style during this time, with 190 penalty minutes in the ’09-’10 season and then 136 penalty minutes in only 50 games during the ’10-’11 season. Carkner played his final two NHL seasons with the New York Islanders, where he was again a physical presence, but also as a strong locker room leader. The past two seasons, he has provided that same veteran knowledge and guidance to the young players on the Islanders’ affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Although Carkner may not necessarily be remembered for his hockey skill (21 points in 161 career games) at the NHL level, his presence on the ice and in the locker room made him a memorable player, and he will continue to have an impact on the game of hockey, as he begins a promising coaching career.

 

Vincent Lecavalier Announces His Retirement

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Longtime NHL forward Vincent Lecavalier has officially announced his retirement today.  TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie was first with the report.  Lavoie also notes that he will be placed on waivers but that won’t have any effect on his decision to walk away from the game.

The 36 year old had two years remaining on his contract with a full cap hit of $4.5MM (split equally between the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers).  The $2.25MM that each team carried as a cap hit now comes off the books.  General Fanager adds that there will be no salary cap recapture penalties for either team.  Despite walking away from the last two years of his deal, Lecavalier will still be paid $1,761,905 annually until 2026-27 as part of his buyout from Tampa Bay.

The decision comes as little surprise as Lecavalier had indicated that he was leaning towards retiring when he waived his no-movement clause to accept a trade to the Kings last season.  After recording just a single assist in seven games with the Flyers, his play picked up following the deal as he tallied ten goals and seven helpers in 42 games with Los Angeles.

He spent most of his career with the Lightning after being the first overall pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.  Lecavalier played in 1,037 games with the Bolts (a team record), collecting 383 goals (also a team record) and 491 assists.  For his career, he finishes with 421 goals and 528 assists in 1,212 games between the Lightning, Flyers, and Kings.

Lecavalier won several awards over his career, including the Rocket Richard Trophy (most goals in 2007), plus a Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Lightning and a World Cup with Team Canada in 2004.  He also currently has the most points of anyone drafted in 1998 as he sits 17 points ahead of longtime Tampa teammate Brad Richards.

Datsyuk Announces Retirement From NHL

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As expected from yesterday’s news, Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk officially announced his retirement from the NHL today at a press conference in suburban Detroit. During the brief press conference, Pierre LeBrun tweeted that Datsyuk made the decision because of his family. Yahoo’s Nick Cotsonika tweets that Datsyuk will play in the KHL next season. Red Wings beat writer Ansar Khan tweets that the Wings will be making a statement at 2pm EST at the Joe Louis Arena.

The 38-year-old has been rumored for some time to walk away from the NHL. In April, an interview with Detroit Free Press writer Mitch Albom shed light on Datsyuk wanting to spend more time with his daughter in Russia. As written about at length by many analysts, the $7.5MM cap hit remains for the Red Wings due to Datsyuk extending his contract at the age of 35. Though the AAV was $7.5MM, Datsyuk benefitted from a front loaded contract where he made $10.5MM in 2014-2015, $7MM in 2015-2016, and was slated to make $5.5MM in 2016-2017. Datsyuk’s agent Dan Milstein pointed out, however, that Datsyuk only made $15MM in the first two years of his contract because he declined a $2MM bonus this past February. Milstein also indicated that the Red Wings would have no problem trading the contract away.

Regardless, Datsyuk’s decision puts the Red Wings in a lurch heading into the 2016-2017 season. Even if the Red Wings successfully move the contract, it will most likely include a high draft pick or prospects. Forwards Tomas Jurco and Teemu Pulkkinen were two names floated as potential trade bait. Should the Red Wings opt to take the hit, it will most certainly restrict them from trying to land any potential free agents. The Wings have been linked with Alexander Radulov, and more recently, Steven Stamkos, should he hit the market.

 

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