Devante Smith-Pelly, a monumentally crucial part of the Washington Capitals’ 2018 run to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup, announced his retirement from professional hockey after an 11-year career.
DSP revealed the news via his personal Instagram on Friday.
By Chris Cerullo 3 months ago
Former Washington Capitals defenseman Milan Jurcina retired from professional hockey on Saturday after playing two decades in the NHL and Europe.
The 39-year-old, Slovakian blueliner played in parts of four seasons in DC with the Caps from 2007 to 2009. He retires after spending the past four seasons in Czechia with Sparta Praha.
By Chris Cerullo 4 months ago
Zdeno Chara isn’t the only Norris Trophy-winning defenseman to hang ’em up today.
PK Subban announced his retirement on social media as well. Subban was one of the best defensemen and most entertaining players of this generation.
In his announcement, Subban teased “exciting opportunities to come.” At the end of last year, Subban contributed to ESPN’s coverage of the NHL and also debuted a show called PK’s Places.
After a quarter century in the NHL, Zdeno Chara is finally hanging up his skates at the age of 45. Chara announced the news on his personal Instagram, revealing he planned to sign a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins later in the day.
“After 25 seasons of professional hockey 1,680 NHL regular season games, 200 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and hundreds of international games I am proud to announce my decision to retire from the National Hockey League,” Chara wrote. “In doing so, I am honored to return to TD Garden today to sign a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins and officially finish my career with the team that has meant so much to me and my family. There are so many people that have helped contribute to my success, including all of you, and I look forward to properly thanking everyone this afternoon.”
Three years after playing his last NHL hockey game, Brooks Laich, 38, formally announced his retirement from professional hockey on Friday. “It’s been a difficult journey for me to finally arrive at the state where I am happy say the words ‘I am retiring,'” Laich wrote on Instagram. “Every athlete experiences this transition differently, and though the process went slower than I had hoped, I am excited to have finally arrived at peace with it.”
Laich, who spent the vast majority of his career with the Washington Capitals, played his final season in the NHL during the 2017-18 season where he suited up in 12 games for the Los Angeles Kings.
Howie Kendrick has decided to hang up his cleats a week after Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez said they expected the DH and second baseman would return.
Kendrick announced his retirement on Instagram. The 37-year-old slugger played 15 years in the MLB and was a major reason why the Washington Nationals won the World Series in 2019.
“I will be forever grateful for the many life lessons baseball has taught me on this 32 year journey,” Kendrick wrote.
He also had a special message for the Nationals. “[T]hank you for embracing me as one of your own. I feel as though I’d been a National my whole career and the wild, humbling and crazy ride we had in 2019 truly culminated everything I’d learned in my career, and we all became World Champions.
After 14 years of professional hockey, eight of which were spent in the NHL, Wojtek Wolski is calling it a career at age 34. Wolski was one of the greatest shootout specialists in NHL history and a bonafide top-six player early in his career.
Wolski, who played 27 games with the Washington Capitals, announced his retirement on Instagram.
Former Capitals defenseman Connor Hobbs is retiring from the NHL at age 23. The Regina Leader-Post’s Greg Harder first reported the news.
Hobbs was initially a restricted free agent before the Capitals decided to not tender him a qualifying order on October 7, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Instead of signing elsewhere, Hobbs chose to end his NHL career, but will still play hockey – albeit not professionally.
Longtime Capitals defenseman Mike Green retired on Wednesday after 15 seasons in the NHL.
The Capitals created a tribute video for the two-time All-Star defenseman and Norris Trophy finalist in honor of the announcement.
“Congratulations to @GreenLife52 on your fantastic career and thank you for a decade of great memories on and off the ice in DC,” the Capitals wrote. “We wish you all the best in your next adventure!”
Former Capital Mike Green confirmed he is indeed retiring two weeks after a report surfaced from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir released a feature on Green Wednesday which explained why the former Young Gun was choosing to hang up his skates at age 34.
Green wants to spend more time with his family, help others in the community, and focus more on evolving passions.
By Cara Bahniuk 3 years ago
