Nashville Predators defenceman Dan Hamhuis has announced his retirement from the NHL.
Dan Hamhuis has announced his retirement from the @NHL after 16 seasons.
Congrats on an amazing career, Dan! Thank you for letting us be a part of your story. 💛#ForSmashville | #Preds pic.twitter.com/Pzv5cPIXWG
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) August 13, 2020
Dan Hamhuis Hangs up His Skates
“Happily going into retirement now from hockey,” he told TSN Radio Vancouver on Thursday. “Feel real at peace with it.” Hamhuis was thinking about playing a year in Europe, but the COVID-19 pandemic helped him to make the decision to retire instead. He started and finished his career with the Nashville Predators. Hamhuis skated in 1,148 career games during his 16 years in the NHL. He collected 356 points and 684 penalty minutes.
Hamhuis skated with Nashville for eight years, Vancouver Canucks for six years, and two years with the Dallas Stars.
The 12th overall selection of the Predators in the 2001 draft is a native of Smithers, B.C. and stands 6′-1″, 204 pounds. His best season statistically came during the 2005-06 season, his second in the NHL. He tallied seven goals and 31 assists in 82 games. This 2019-20 season he participated in 60 games with no goals and eight assists.
He was a good possession defenceman during his career coming in with a 51.4 Corsi For and a 0.3 Relative Corsi For.
What This Means Going Forward
The Nashville Predators have a good supply of young defencemen in their minor league system and seem to be set on the blueline. Don’t think that Hamhuis knew that when he made his decision. He could tell his level of play was deteriorating. He didn’t play at all in the Predators qualifying round games against the Arizona Coyotes. And, let’s face it if you have Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis back there, you are doing pretty well. Those two defenders ranked first and fourth respectively in scoring for the Preds this past season.
Hamhuis served his purpose and was a tough, reliable player.
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