Paul Kariya Announces His Retirement

After 15 seasons in the NHL, left wing Paul Kariya has announced his retirement due to post-concussion symptoms. He was forced to miss the entire 2010-11 season due to those symptoms. In 75 games with the St. Louis Blues during the 2009-10 season, he had 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points. In 989 career NHL games with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues, Kariya has 402 goals and 587 assists for 989 points. He won the Hobey Baker Award in 1993 as the top U.S. collegiate hockey player, the Lady Byng Trophy in 1996 and 1997 for sportsmanship, and Olympic Silver and Gold Medals in 1994 and 2002, respectively. Kariya was an excellent forward throughout his career who had superb offensive and puckmoving skills, lots of speed, and plenty of playmaking ability. It's always unfortunate to see a player have their career come to an end because of an injury and it's a shame to see Kariya's end his because of a concussion. He was always an exciting player to watch and I wish him all the best in retirement.