September 19, 2024

Dallas Superstar announces sudden retirement after 17 NHL 

The 39-year-old defenseman spent parts of six seasons with the Stars from 2011-16.

A former Dallas Stars blue-liner is hanging up his skates.

Alex Goligoski announced on Thursday he is retiring from the NHL after 17 seasons. The 39-year-old defenseman spent parts of six seasons with the Stars from 2011-16.

“I think I’ve known for a while,” Goligoski told The Athletic. “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. That’s the most amazing thing about finishing in Minnesota. It makes it easier to say, ‘Hey, I’m good.’

Alex Goligoski tries to stay positive despite place in Wild lineup

“I think it’s the longevity of it, honestly. I can totally see where it’d be very difficult if you’re not planning on being done, where it’s like you don’t get a contract but you’re still younger. It feels to me like I’ve had my fun, I’ve done it long enough. I’m good to step away and move on.”

Goligoski had 475 points (87 goals, 388 assists) in 1,078 regular season games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, Minnesota Wild and Stars. He won a Stanley Cup while with the Penguins in 2009.

Dallas acquired the defenseman in 2011 in a deal that sent James Neal and Matt Niskanen to Pittsburgh.

After a handful of years together, and minimal playoff success, Dallas traded their alternate captain during the 2016 offseason to the Arizona Coyotes for a fifth-round draft pick.

Finally back home, Alex Goligoski has big shoes to fill for Wild

The Stars had talked to Goligoski about a possible contract extension at the time, but the two sides couldn’t find common ground, and the best alternative was to get something in return.

He signed a five-year contract with the Coyotes six days after he was sent to Arizona. He played out the contract before playing his final three seasons in Minnesota.

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