'NHL Veteran D Alex Goligoski Announces Retirement After 17 Years'
Blueliner Alex Goligoski declared his retirement on Thursday after 17 seasons.
His pro career kicked off in 2004 when the Penguins picked him in the second round of the NHL draft. He divided the first 14 years of his career between Pittsburgh, where he claimed a Stanley Cup, as well as the Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes before spending the last three seasons in his hometown of Minnesota with the Wild.
During the 2023-24 season, he participated in 36 games and recorded 10 assists.
"I believe I've known for a while," Goligoski revealed to The Athletic about his retirement. "Do you stick around and see if some team wants to offer you a contract? I have no desire to uproot my family. No desire to go solo and do all that. That's the beauty of finishing in Minnesota. It makes it easier to say, 'I'm content.'"
"I think it's the longevity of it, honestly. I can completely understand how it would be very challenging if you're not planning on retiring, where it's like you don't receive a contract but you're still relatively young. It feels to me like I've had my share of fun, I've been in the game long enough. I'm content to step away and move on."
In 1,078 regular-season games, he accumulated 475 points (87 goals, 388 assists) and contributed 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 47 playoff games.
He was the second defenseman with a 17-year career to retire on Thursday, joining Marc Staal.
