The 37-year-old announced his retirement from the NHL on Aug. 13, 2020, in an interview with TSN 1040 Vancouver, revealing that he and his family were at peace with the decision after the Nashville Predators were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. "It's been an amazing run," Hamhuis said. "I've really enjoyed my time in the NHL, but when you start to feel old like me and my wife don't want to travel as much anymore, it's probably a good time."
He finished with 408 games played and 1,946 points (third all-time among defensemen) over 14 seasons with the Coyotes and Predators. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2008 after leading all defensemen with 21 goals from the blueline.
A first-round pick, 29th overall, of the Coyotes in the 1998 NHL Draft, Hamhuis made his debut against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 11, 1998. He scored his first goal two games later against the Los Angeles Kings. He went on to win the Calder Trophy that year as the league's top rookie defenseman.
In 2001-02, Hamhuis led all NHL defensemen with 12 goals and was second with 42 points. He also helped the Coyotes reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
October 26, 2020 Hanzal announced his retirement from the NHL on October 26, 2020, after 12 seasons. He finished with 456 points (136g/320a) in 710 games with the Coyotes and Devils.
He first put up big numbers in 2001-02, when he led all rookies with 82 points (26g/56a). The following season, he was named to the All-Star Game and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship & courage. In 2004-05, he became only the third player in Coyotes history to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top scorer with 130 points (40g/90a).
Hanzal spent eight seasons with the Coyotes, helping them reach the playoffs six times. He signed as a free agent with the Devils in June 2016. In December 2017, he returned to the Coyotes as a part of their development team.
In 208 career NHL games with the Coyotes and Devils, he registered 312 points (78g/234a). He added 16 goals and 52 points in 79 playoff games.
Hanzal was born on January 4, 1984 in Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic).
In their 50-year history, the Buffalo Sabres have retired the numbers of seven players: Tim Horton (2), Rick Martin (7), Gilbert Perreault (11), Rene Robert (14), Pat LaFontaine (16), Danny Gare (18), and Dominik Hasek (39). Hasek was the final player to have his number retired in 2015. He had previously announced that he would not be going out on top; instead, he planned to finish his career with the Czech National Team.
Hasek spent his entire NHL career with the Sabres, playing at least 50 games each season from 1997 to 2014. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL three times, tying with Chris Chelios and Pavel Bure for the award. Hasek also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and personality twice.
He is one of only four players who have played in both the opening round and closing round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (the others are Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr). Hasek went undefeated during the first two rounds of the 1999 playoffs before losing to the Dallas Stars in six games. He returned for more action in 2000, when the Sabres again faced off against the Stars in the opening round. This time Hasek got a chance to even the series at 1-1 after defeating them in Game 3 at home.
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