Marc Staal and Alex Goligoski both retire after 17 NHL seasons
On Thursday, defenseman Marc Staal announced that he is retiring after a lengthy 17-year career in the NHL. He will be taking up a role as a player development assistant with the New York Rangers.
In this new position, Staal will assist the defensemen in the Rangers’ organization. His decision to retire comes about a month after his older brother, Eric, also retired following 17 seasons in the NHL.
The 37-year-old Staal began his career with the Rangers, where he played for 13 seasons after being selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft. He ranks sixth in team history for games played, with 892, trailing behind legends like Harry Howell, Brian Leetch, Rod Gilbert, Ron Greschner, and Walt Tkaczuk.
The Rangers congratulated him on social media, saying, “Congratulations Marc on a great career! We’re excited to have you back and look forward to your next chapter as #NYR Player Development Assistant.”
Last season, Marc Staal tallied five points (one goal, four assists) over 35 games while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Overall, he amassed 234 career points (53 goals, 181 assists) over 1,136 games with the Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, and Flyers. Additionally, he recorded 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) during 128 playoff games.
Alex Goligoski retires after 17 NHL seasons
Goligoski, who began his professional career in 2004 when the Pittsburgh Penguins selected him in the second round of the NHL Draft, spent the first 14 years of his career with the Penguins, where he was part of a Stanley Cup-winning team, as well as the Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes before returning to his home state to play with the Minnesota Wild over the last three seasons.
During the 2023-24 season, he played in 36 games, contributing 10 assists.
About retiring, Goligoski shared with The Athletic, “I’ve kind of known for a while. Do I stick around to see if a team wants to sign me? I have no desire to move my family or go on my own. Finishing in Minnesota really makes it easier for me to say, ‘I’m good.’
He continued, “The longevity of it is significant. I can see how it would be tough if you’re not ready to be done, especially if you don’t receive a contract and are still younger. I feel that I’ve enjoyed my time, and it’s time for me to step away and move on.”
In 1,078 regular-season games, Goligoski scored 475 points (87 goals, 388 assists) and accumulated 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 47 playoff games.
Goligoski was the second defenseman in a day to retire after Marc Staal.