Matt Niskanen shocked the hockey world on Monday when he decided to retire at age 33. According to his agent, Nisky was wary of the possibility of playing in a bubble (or a bubble hybrid system) next season and opted out of the final year of his contract to spend more time with his family.
As word of Niskanen’s retirement spread, the NHL world began reacting to the news.
The 2020-21 campaign was supposed to be the final season of Matt Niskanen’s seven-year, $40.25 million contract that he originally signed with the Washington Capitals in July 2014. Instead, at age 33, Niskanen is choosing to retire, turning down the remaining $5.75 million of his deal.
“Thank you to the Flyers for the opportunity to play in Philly last season,” Niskanen said in a text to Flyers reporters. “I’d also like to thank the fans for their support and lastly, I wish my teammates the best of luck”
Niskanen spent last season with the Philadelphia Flyers after being traded for Radko Gudas by the Capitals in June 2019 in a move to save cap space.
Former Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen is in some hot water for an incredibly dangerous cross-check he delivered to Brendan Gallagher’s face during Game Five of the Philadelphia Flyers’ first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety held a hearing with Niskanen today and has suspended him one game.
Defender Matt Niskanen played 390 regular-season games with the Washington Capitals, a run that peaked with a Stanley Cup Championship in 2018.
On Saturday, for the first time since he moved to Philadelphia, Niskanen returned to Capital One Arena. And, quite appropriately, Niskanen was heralded with a video tribute and loud standing ovation.
By Peter Hassett and Ian Oland 1 year ago
Ex-Cap defender Matt Niskanen sure had a day yesterday. In Philadelphia’s 6-1 blowout win over the Detroit Red Wings, Niskanen had the following stat line:
This is going to be one of those stories where we get in trouble from our advertising network because the content is gory. Enjoy.
By Peter Hassett 2 years ago
Former Capital and Stanley Cup Champion Matt Niskanen was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Radko Gudas over the offseason. On Wednesday, the Flyers shared the first glimpse of Niskanen practicing in Flyers’ orange and… it doesn’t feel right, y’all.
In mid-June, Flyers’ beat reporter Sam Carchidi tweeted that the Flyers had “given Niskanen a nickname: Nisky.” Hopefully, the Flyers will use the creative energy they didn’t spend on his nickname to come up with better puns than “Nisky business” as the season goes on.
By Brennin Weiswerda 2 years ago
Matt Niskanen was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday in exchange for Radko Gudas. Niskanen had been with the Capitals for five years, and formed close ties with his teammates.
In an open, emotional interview with The Fan 106.7, he talked about the experience of being traded again and what he thinks the Capitals’ Stanley Cup reunion will be like nine years from now.
By Brennin Weiswerda 2 years ago
I really like Washington’s trade on Friday of Matt Niskanen to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Radko Gudas. The trade has every hallmark of an expert-tier Brian MacLellan move: an under-appreciated target player acquired to address a specific team need.
In this case, it was two needs: defensive stability and cap relief.
By Peter Hassett 2 years ago
Matt Niskanen was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Radko Gudas on Friday morning in a move that freed up cap space, potentially for a Carl Hagelin re-signing.
Nisky’s Capitals teammates took to social media to say goodbye and wish him the best.
By Brennin Weiswerda 2 years ago
In the first big trade of the offseason, the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers have swapped defenders.
The Capitals have traded Matt Niskanen to the Flyers in exchange for Radko Gudas.
By Rachel Cohen 2 years ago
