Niklas Hjalmarsson retires after 14 seasons with three Stanley Cups on his resume
The Daily Goal Horn
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Three-time Stanley Cup winner Niklas Hjalmarsson, a throwback stay-at-home defenseman who played the last four seasons in Arizona, is retiring after 14 seasons.
NHL Network reported the blueliner’s exit on Monday, adding that a formal announcement from the Swede was unlikely.
Niklas Hjalmarsson retires
Hjalmarsson, 34, played the bulk of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks, who picked him in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. He helped the Blackhawks capture three Stanley Cups in six years — 2010, 2013, 2015.
He finishes his career with 1,605 blocks in 821 games. He ranks second among all defensemen with 75.23 blocked shots per 60 minutes since the 2008-09 season, per The Score.
Hjalmarsson recorded 172 points (25 goals, 147 assists) with the Blackhawks (2007-17) and Coyotes.
“I’ve been to a lot of places,” he told the Coyotes website March 3 before playing his 800th NHL game, against the Los Angeles Kings. “I’m thankful for [the places hockey has taken me], most of the U.S. and Canada. I’ve had a lot of fun experiences. It’s about the experience along the way, the places you’ve seen and the people you’ve met. It’s been a lot of fun, but also a lot of hard work.”
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