(This article has been updated to include new information.)

Experienced forward Kyle Okposo concluded his hockey career on a high note, playing a crucial role in the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup victory in June.

Just three months later, Okposo announced his retirement from the NHL on Thursday, wrapping up a career that spanned 17 seasons.

In an open letter shared by CAA, the agency that represents him, Okposo, 36, reflected on his journey.

“Thirty years of playing hockey has been amazing,” he expressed. “It has taken me to incredible places and offered unique experiences. I believe the game is thriving right now, with numerous possibilities. I’m eager to continue contributing to the sport as it reaches new levels.”

The Panthers brought Okposo into the fold on March 8 from the Buffalo Sabres, where he had served as captain during the 2022-23 season, having recorded 22 points in 61 games with Buffalo before the trade.

During his brief stint with Florida, Okposo did not score in six regular-season appearances. However, in his first playoff run since 2016, he notched two assists in 17 games, playing a part in the Panthers’ first-ever Stanley Cup triumph.

Throughout his career, Okposo tallied 614 points (242 goals, 372 assists) over 1,051 games, playing for the New York Islanders (2007-16), Sabres (2016-24), and Panthers. He was drafted by the Islanders as the seventh overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft.

Red Wings secure Moritz Seider with a new contract

The key questions as the offseason began about Moritz Seider were his contract’s worth and duration.

On Thursday, the Detroit Red Wings finally resolved those questions by signing Seider to a seven-year deal valued at $8.55 million annually. His previous three-year entry-level contract had a cap hit of $863,334.

Although it took longer than desired—especially with training camp starting last Wednesday—the essential point is that general manager Steve Yzerman has secured a vital player in the 23-year-old Calder Trophy winner. Over the last three years, Seider has established himself as a cornerstone of the team’s rebuild. He serves as a key defenseman on the top pairing, tasked with defending against opposing stars, while also playing a role in both the power play and penalty kill. – Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Radko Gudas appointed captain of the Ducks

Defenseman Radko Gudas has been named the ninth captain in the history of the Anaheim Ducks, a position that has remained vacant since Ryan Getzlaf’s retirement in 2022.

Gudas, 34, is beginning his second season with the Ducks. The tough defenseman led the team last year in plus/minus (+14), hits (232), and blocked shots (154).

News from around the league

Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who sustained an injury on Wednesday, is only expected to miss a few days of practice, according to coach Lindy Ruff, based on the team’s website.  The Montreal Canadiens shared that defenseman Kaiden Guhle will undergo a reevaluation in a week following his recent appendix surgery on Wednesday.