Jaroslav Halak, former New York Rangers goalie retires after 17 NHL seasons; says ‘I’ll never put on the pads again’
Jaroslav Halak, former New York Rangers goalie retires after 17 NHL seasons; says ‘I’ll never put on the pads again’
Jaroslav Halak, veteran goaltender, announced his retirement at the age of 40 on Friday (July 18), closing a remarkable 17-year NHL career that spanned seven teams. Known for his clutch playoff performances and steady presence, the Slovak player will leave behind a legacy as one of Europe’s finest goalies.
Jaroslav Halak defied the odds to become a reliable NHL starter when he was drafted in the ninth round (No. 271) by the Montreal Canadiens in 2003. He played for seven teams, including Montreal, St. Louis, Washington, the New York Islanders, Boston, Vancouver, and the New York Rangers.
His final NHL season was 2022-23 with the New York Rangers. During that time, he posted a 10-9-5 record in 25 games.
In over 581 career games, Halak amassed 295 wins, ranking 14th among European-born goaltenders, with 53 shutouts and a 0.915 save percentage.
Jaroslav Halak’s one of the best performances was during the 2010 playoffs with Montreal. Trailing 3-1 against the top-seeded Washington Capitals, he delivered a historic performance, stopping 131 of 134 shots (0.978 save percentage) in the final three games to fuel a stunning seven-game upset. Montreal then defeated Pittsburgh before falling to Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference Final.
Jaroslav Halak’s career peaked in 2014-15 with the New York Islanders, where he set a franchise record with 38 wins in 59 starts. In that season, he earned his only All-Star nod, posting a 2.43 GAA and six shutouts.
