Veteran NHL players, both of whom spent time with the New York Rangers, have officially announced their retirement from professional hockey.
Top star wrapped up a remarkable 17-year career that saw him suit up for seven different franchises: the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and Rangers. His final NHL season came in 2022-23 with New York, where he posted a 10-9-5 record, a .903 save percentage, and a 1.72 goals-against average.
Though he hadn’t played since that campaign, Halak had not formally retired until now. Reflecting on the decision, the Slovak netminder shared that after completing his training last summer, he realized the time had come. “I trained last summer… but when nothing came of it, I told myself it was pointless,” Halak said. “After that, I didn’t even try anymore. I’m officially ending my career. I want to thank my family, friends, fans, and especially my wife Petra, who has supported me throughout my entire journey.”
Wheeler, meanwhile, ends his NHL career after 16 seasons with the Boston Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, and most recently the Rangers. The longtime Jets captain was known for his leadership and consistency, cementing his place as one of the league’s top forwards during his prime.