Veteran NHL defenseman confirms retirement

Free agent defenseman Alex Goligoski is hanging up his skates, he confirmed to Joe Smith of The Athletic.

Its the expected outcome after reports in June indicated he wasnt expected back with the Wild, where he spent the final three seasons of his career.

I think Ive known for a while, Goligoski told Smith.

Do you hang around and see if some team wants to throw some money at you? I have no desire to move my family.

No desire to go by myself and do all that.

Thats the most amazing thing about finishing in Minnesota.

It makes it easier to say, Hey, Im good.

...I think its the longevity of it, honestly.

I can totally see where itd be very difficult if youre not planning on being done, where its like you dont get a contract but youre still younger.

It feels to me like Ive had my fun, Ive done it long enough.

Im good to step away and move on.

Goligoski, 39, was a second-round pick by the Penguins in 2004 before starting a three-year run at the University of Minnesota.

The Grand Rapids, Minnesota native turned pro with Pittsburgh for the 2007-08 campaign, playing parts of four seasons in the Steel City before being sent to the Stars in a blockbuster swap for James Neal and Matt Niskanen .

A top-pairing option for much of the 2010s in Dallas, Goligoskis signing rights were traded to the Coyotes just days before becoming a free agent in 2016 and quickly signed a five-year, $27.38M deal.

He continued to hold down top-four minutes there for the life of that contract before signing a one-year, $5M deal with the Wild, his hometown club, in 2021.

He signed a two-year, $4M deal to extend his stay in the State of Hockey the following summer, which expired this June.

The writing was on the wall for Goligoski after last season, which saw him limited to 10 assists in 36 games while averaging 14:49 per game and serving as a healthy scratch for long stretches of the season.

He hasnt been a top-of-the-lineup option since his days in Arizona, but he did remain a capable puck-moving presence in a limited role after joining the Wild.

Goligoski was one of the leagues 10 oldest players last season.

Three players ahead of him on the list Jeff Carter , Zach Parise and Joe Pavelski had already retired this summer, making Goligoski the sixth-oldest active player in the league at the time of his retirement.

His first season as an NHL regular saw him lift the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009, appearing in 45 regular-season games and two playoff games en route to the championship win.

Over 1,078 regular-season games, he scored 87 goals, 388 assists, and 475 points and posted a +55 rating while averaging 21:55 per night.

He added 21 points in 47 playoff games in six trips to the postseason (2009, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2020, and 2022).

While ending his playing days, Goligoski hopes to kick off a career in an NHL front office soon.

Ive always liked breaking down what teams do and why they do it, he told Smith.

I have a good sense of the right way to do things.

Ive seen it.

Ive seen the right way and the wrong way to do things.

I think itd be something Im good at.

So well see.

He doesnt have an official role with the Wild, but Smith reports Wild general manager Bill Guerin will be open to hiring him once hes ready to begin the next phase of his hockey career.

This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission..

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