After 14 NHL seasons, Simon Gagne has announced that he is retiring.
Gagne had a storied career, though he struggled with injuries in recent seasons, which kept him off the ice more than he was on the ice.
He exits the NHL as a two-time 40-goal scorer, four-time 30-goal scorer and seven-time 20-goal scorer. He also passed 70 points twice.
In the 1999-2000 season he was named to the NHL All-Rookie team just a year after being drafted in the 1st round of the draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, is a two-time NHL All-Star, won a Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and led the NHL in even strength goals during the 2005-06 campaign when he scored a total of 47 goals.
He also represented Canada many times internationally, including being an alternate captain of the 2006 Olympic team, playing in the World Juniors Championship and the World Championship.
In a release, Gagne offered this comment on the end of his career:
Today, I want to thank my trainers and teammates. You inspired me to surpass myself. You made me understand that you need more than talent; it takes sacrifice and discipline and you need to work harder than your rivals. I also wish to thank my fans. Every evening, you energized me and inspired me to perform.
…
Last year, I lost my father: my number 1 fan, my coach, my confidant, my best friend, and my top teammate. The hard knocks of life often teach us to stop, think and look back at the road traveled, so that we can make the right decisions going forward. Today, I am hanging up my skates, calmly and with peace of mind, knowing that it is the right time and the right decision.
Gagne retires as a veteran of 882 NHL games split between the Philadelphia Flyers (11 seasons), Tampa Bay Lightning (one season), Los Angeles Kings (two seasons) and Boston Bruins (one season).