
Jaroslav Halak, former New York Rangers goalie retires after 17 NHL seasons; says 'I'll never put on the pads again'
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.
In 39 playoff games, Halak recorded a 17-20 record, a 2.48 goals-against average (GAA), and a 0.919 save percentage, proving his ability to thrive under pressure.
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.
He won the William M. Jennings Trophy twice for playing on the team allowing the fewest goals, sharing it with Brian Elliott (St. Louis, 2011-12) and Tuukka Rask (Boston, 2019-20).
On the international stage, Jaroslav Halak played a significant role for Slovakia, starting at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and pushing his team to the bronze medal game.
He also earned silver medals at the 2003 U18 World Championship and with Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
After two years away from hockey, Jaroslav Halak told Slovak reporter Tomas Prokop, 'I'm done. I'll never put on the pads again.' He now focuses on family, supporting his children, Nathan and Inna, both aspiring goaltenders.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Edmonton Oilers bold stand on Carter Hart sparks nationwide outrage among NHL fans
Carter Hart may not be getting a chance with the Edmonton Oilers. insider Frank Seravalli said on July 28, 2025, that the team is not interested in signing the goalie. Hart and four other players were part of the Hockey Canada Five case. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Although they were found not guilty in court, the NHL has said the five players cannot play for now. Seravalli called Hart a 'non‑starter' for the Oilers and said the league will review the case before making a final decision. Carter Hart and Hockey Canada Five NHL ban updates Justice Maria Sarroccia ruled last week in Ontario's King's Court that Carter Hart and four teammates were not guilty in the Hockey Canada Five case. The players had faced sexual assault charges from a 2018 incident in London, Ontario. The judge said the complainant, known as E.M., gave consent and that parts of her story were not credible. Despite the verdict, the NHL told teams the players remain ineligible to sign until the commissioner's office finishes its review. Frank Seravalli discussed this on TSN in Toronto on July 28. On the same day, Bob Stauffer, who hosts the Oilers Now show in Edmonton, asked fans and guests if the Oilers should sign any of the cleared players. Stauffer has raised this question several times since the ruling. Brian Lawton on Stan Bowman and Edmonton Oilers second chances On July 29, Stauffer invited former NHL agent and GM Brian Lawton to the show. Lawton said, 'Canada feels divided over this. Half think the players did something horrible, half think they were cleared and should move on with their lives.' He added that the players may find it easier to sign with a U.S. team where hockey is less in the public eye. Also Read: The Oilers have a history of second chances. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Last summer, Edmonton hired Stan Bowman as GM even though he had served a three‑year NHL suspension for mishandling a sexual assault case in Chicago in 2010. The team also signed players like Craig MacTavish, Zack Kassian, Evander Kane and Corey Perry when they faced serious problems. Many of those players rebuilt their careers and image in Edmonton. Now, with Carter Hart and the other four players, fans are wondering if the Oilers are changing their approach. NHL sources say the team has no current plans to sign any of them. FAQs Are the Edmonton Oilers interested in signing Carter Hart? No, NHL insider Frank Seravalli said the Oilers have no plans to sign Carter Hart right now. Why are Carter Hart and the Hockey Canada Five not allowed to play in the NHL? The NHL has kept them ineligible until the commissioner's office finishes its review of the 2018 case. Have the Edmonton Oilers given second chances to players before? Yes, the Oilers have signed players like Stan Bowman, Evander Kane, and Corey Perry after past issues.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Deni Avdija puts NBA on hold to proudly represent Israel, calls national duty his greatest honor
of the Portland Trail Blazers is becoming well-known for his steadfast loyalty to his own country in addition to his outstanding career. The 23-year-old rising star is holding off on his NBA career until this summer so that he can devote all his attention to playing for Israel at the international level. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Recently, he discussed how the Washington Wizards traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers and how the whole thing disappointed him. He also stated that he would be willing to enlighten Americans and teach them about Israel. Deni Avdija prioritizes national pride and unity over NBA offseason pursuits When many of his NBA contemporaries are using their offseasons to work on personal growth or earn money from endorsement deals, Deni Avdija has stated that his passion is elsewhere. He is prepared to carry over his breakthrough season to assist Israel's young national team in making the transition to the senior squad. In a crucial summer of European competition, he is rejoining old friends and former youth teammates to play for Israel's national team. He recently told the reporters during the same interview: 'I am not currently thinking about the NBA. Playing for the national team of Israel is the most important honor for any player.' He continued: 'Joining players I grew up with from the junior national teams is exciting. We have an amazing squad here, capable of great things. I will do everything possible to make this team successful,' he told reporters. Then, while addressing the issues in Israel, Deni Avdija said: 'Not everyone understands 100 % what is happening in Israel. We're a very small country, and there are people who live in bubbles in their countries. Many are interested, and I always explain the whole situation properly, from the right and good side. I try to show reality as much as possible.' Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Deni Avdija is a remarkable player (Image via Getty Images) Early in his NBA career, Deni Avdija was mostly an infrequent starter. In 2020, he was selected by the with the ninth overall pick. He has averaged nearly 15 points this season after recovering from a dry period to start the season. Beyond the court, his loyalty to the Israeli team is about standing for the pride in the country, identity, and unity. Also read:


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Jarren Duran's 4 RBIs, Bello's one-run outing give Boston 13-1 win over Twins in series finale
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jarren Duran went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs, Trevor Story hit his second homer in as many games, and the Red Sox earned a series win with a 13-1 victory at Minnesota on Wednesday. HT Image Red Sox starter Brayan Bello yielded one earned run on five hits in seven innings with four strikeouts. The Dominican right-hander has recorded a quality start in nine of his past 10 outings. Boston finished the month 17-7 and has the American League's fifth-best record at 59-51. Minnesota (51-57) is 4-8 since the All-Star break and sits fourth in the AL Central. Story's 17th home run of the season gave Boston a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Abraham Toro had an RBI sacrifice fly in the third, and Duran's two-run single in the fifth made it 4-1 and ended starter Zebby Matthews' day. Matthews (2-3) gave up five earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman sat to rest the quadriceps that kept him out for seven weeks. He's expected to return Friday. The Twins placed outfielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with left rib cartilage irritation. Minnesota shortstop Carlos Correa is listed as day-to-day after exiting Tuesday's game with a migraine. After his 416-foot home run to the second deck in right-center field in the sixth inning, Duran rounded the bases with his arms outstretched to mimic an airplane, an homage to the turbulent charter flight that brought the Red Sox to the Twin Cities on Sunday night. Going into Wednesday, Boston led the AL and ranked third in the majors with a 2.94 ERA in July. Both teams are off Thursday. The Red Sox open a six-game home stand Friday against Houston, while Minnesota begins a six-game road trip Friday at Cleveland. ___ AP MLB: