Mike Modano announced his retirement through a statement on his Facebook page Wednesday afternoon after proclaiming, “What a great ride it’s been!”
“After a long summer of thinking about my future, I’ve come to the decision that it’s time to retire as a player from the NHL.”
Modano is expected to officially announce his retirement at a press conference on Friday after signing a one day contract with the Dallas Stars.
The 41-year-old leaves a Stanley Cup winner and the NHL’s all-time leading scorer among American born players. Modano spent much of the summer contemplating returning before deciding now was the right time to step away from the game.
The Minnesota North Stars first overall pick in 1988 wraps up a brilliant career in which he collected 1,374 points (561g 813a) in 1,499 games spanning 20+ years. Modano played last year with the Detroit Red Wings after playing the majority of his career for the Dallas Stars/Minnesota North Stars franchise.
His retirement signifies the end of the greatest NHL career by an American born player. His fleet-footed and effortless stride up the ice made it seem as though he was faster than the game itself. It was a pure joy to be able to watch him play. The NHL will not be the same without him.
