{"id":62944,"date":"2019-12-03T15:15:15","date_gmt":"2019-12-03T20:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=62944"},"modified":"2019-12-03T15:15:15","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T20:15:15","slug":"matt-stajan-announces-retirement-from-the-nhl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2019\/12\/03\/matt-stajan-announces-retirement-from-the-nhl\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Stajan Announces Retirement From The NHL"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Tuesday, December 3, 2019, longtime centreman Matt Stajan<\/a><\/strong> officially announced his retirement from the NHL after 14 seasons.<\/p>\n

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Congratulations to @MattStajan18<\/a>, who after 1,003 games played in 14 NHL seasons, retires today with a reputation as an effective two-way centreman and quality teammate wherever he went.<\/p>\n

Full announcement and statement from Matt here: https:\/\/t.co\/mqf19T2xRV<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/KnBsTSrfWO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NHLPA (@NHLPA) December 3, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Matt Stajan Announces Retirement<\/h2>\n

He was selected 57th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> in the second round of the 2002 NHL Draft, and went on to play in 1,003 regular-season games with two different teams. He finished his career with 413 career points (146 goals and 267 assists). Stajan played in 17 career post-season games tallying four points (one goal and three assists).<\/p>\n

He spent the first five seasons of his career with the Maple Leafs before a trade sent him to the Calgary Flames<\/a>. There Stajan found his knack as a two-way centre playing his final nine seasons in the NHL. Stajan last played in the NHL during the 2017-18 season. In 68 games with the Flames, the centre recorded 12 points (four goals and eight assists).<\/p>\n

Last season, Stajan played overseas in Europe. He guided the first German club, EHC Red Bull Munich, to a berth in the final of the Champions Hockey League. It was an effective season for Stajan recording 33 points in 52 games for EHC Red Bull Munich.<\/p>\n

Throughout his career, Stajan earned a good reputation on the ice. He became a dependable contributor as he played the game with grace and intelligence. His former teammates have nothing but good things to say about him.<\/p>\n

The best season of his career came with the Flames during the 2014-15 season. There he recorded 33 points (14 goals and 19 assists) in 63 games. The highlight of the season came in the playoffs. His only playoff goal was a series winner in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinal against the Vancouver Canucks.<\/a><\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>