David Legwand announces his retirement

By @MichaelCaples –

One of the best players to ever come from the state of Michigan has decided to officially hang up his skates.

The Grosse Pointe Woods native announced his retirement today via the NHL Players’ Association after 16 NHL seasons and 618 total points.

Legwand, 36, was the No. 2 overall draft pick in the 1998 NHL Draft by the expansion Nashville Predators organization – their first-ever draft selection – after an impressive junior career with the Compuware Ambassadors of the NAHL and the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL.

He spent 14 full seasons with the Predators’ franchise before being traded to his hometown Detroit Red Wings squad on March 5, 2014.

“What a great ride this was, especially having the chance to play nearly 1,000 games for my drafting club in Nashville, and seeing the growth of the game there; to fulfilling a dream of playing for my hometown Red Wings; to experiencing the positive vibe of playing in Canada’s capital of Ottawa; and to end with the talented players of the Buffalo Sabres in my final season,” David Legwand said via the NHLPA.

During his juniors days in Metro Detroit, Legwand was named CHL Rookie of the Year and a member of the OHL First All-Star Team, and he became the second American-born player to be named OHL MVP (the other being Pat Peake in 1993).

“I have to give credit for the success in my career to others. I had great teammates who became friends; coaches and general managers who believed in me; trainers, doctors and therapists who kept me healthy; and I received sage advice and friendship from my longtime agent Pat Morris and his staff at Newport Sports. Finally, I would like to give a special thanks to my mom and dad, sister, and my wife Lindsey and our kids Ella and Ryder, who sacrificed so much for my opportunities.”