Former Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson is retiring from NHL after 14 seasons

One of the best defensive defensemen in establishment history is hanging up the skates.

Previous Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson is retiring from the NHL after 14 seasons, as per Arizona Coyotes Insider Craig Morgan. He isn’t required to report the news in a formal statement.

Hjalmarsson, 34, spent his first 10 seasons in Chicago, where he assumed a pivotal part in aiding the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cups. He regularly shut down the opponents’ top players on a daily premise and was a staple on the penalty kill.

Hjalmarsson recorded 143 points (23 goals, 120 assists) and had an in addition to 109 rating in 623 profession games with the Blackhawks. He additionally compiled 28 points (two goals, 26 assists) and found the middle value of precisely 22:00 of ice time in 128 postseason contests.

Just Brent Seabrook (1,374) blocked a bigger number of shots in the customary season than Hjalmarsson (1,186) during the Swedish defenseman’s 10-year run with the Blackhawks, and no player hindered a larger number of shots than Hjalmarsson in the postseason (306).

Hjalmarsson completes his profession with 821 games played, 25 goals, 147 assists, 172 points and a plus-106 rating in the regular season. He added another 137 games, two goals, 27 assists, 29 points and a plus-15 rating in the postseason.

Hjalmarsson was drafted by the Blackhawks in the fourth round (No. 108 generally) of the 2005 NHL Draft. He will go down as extraordinary compared to other worth draft picks in team history.