Latest news with #JaroslavHalak
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jaroslav Halak and Blake Wheeler Announce Retirement From NHL
Jaroslav Halak and Blake Wheeler, two former New York Rangers players, have both formally announced their retirement from the NHL.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Islanders Goalie Announces Retirement
Former New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Halak (Eventually) Landed Laine For The Canadiens
The 2009-10 season was a magical one for the Montreal Canadiens. It was a special year, the one in which the team celebrated its centennial, the first NHL team to do so. Special jerseys, the unveiling of the Ring of Honour, and a centennial game against the Boston Bruins, which the Habs won 5-1. Still, it wasn't an easy season. GM Bob Gainey had made significant changes during the offseason, trading for Scott Gomez with the New York Rangers` and then letting long-standing captain Saku Koivu and enigmatic sniper Alexei Kovalev walk in free agency. On July 1, he signed a slew of free agents; Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill, Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, and now New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche all arrived. Paul Mara and Travis Moen signed on July 10. Canadiens: Two Players Who Should Have Worn The C But Never DidCanadiens Have Four Of The 23 Top Under-23 Players In The LeagueCanadiens Are One Big Move Away From Perfect Off-Season Patrice Brisebois retired, Mathieu Schneider left for a second time, and Alex Tanguay signed elsewhere in August, just like Francis Bouillon. With that spectacular lineup overhaul, it took some time to build chemistry, and the Canadiens barely made the playoffs. However, once they were in, they inflicted severe damage. On the back of ninth-round selection Jaroslav Halak, the Canadiens dispatched the Washington Capitals and Alexander Ovechkin in the first round, and Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, both series needed seven games. But Montreal then lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Final. Still, an idol was born for Montrealers, and those playoffs became known as the 'Halak Spring'. Still, the Slovak goaltender wasn't the chosen one and on June 17, 2010, GM Pierre Gauthier traded Halak to the St. Louis Blues for Lars Eller and Ian Schultz. Gauthier called it a 'big picture' decision, betting on the long-term potential of fifth-overall pick Carey Price, but fans were shaken. Canadian member of Parliament Justin Trudeau even chimed in, saying in the House of Commons, 'What? Halak for two hockey sticks and a bag of magic beans?'. At the time, I lived in London, England, and I remember emerging from the Tube only to receive a trade notification on my cell phone, which prompted a few choice words, not only from me but from a fellow commuter. We struck up a conversation about the deal and drowned our sorrows over a pint at the nearest pub. Little did we know that the trade, which at the time seemed lopsided, would bring dividends for years and ultimately lead to Kent Hughes striking a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2024 offseason. It took some time, but one of the assets acquired in the Halak trade proved to be a valuable asset. It wasn't Ian Schultz who never played a single game in the NHL and ended his career playing for the Edinburgh Capitals of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom, a league that once included the London Knights, the team that helped me through hockey droughts at times during my eight years in London. Still, the level of play was nowhere near the NHL's. The other player, however, Lars Eller, evolved into a great two-way center who skated with the Canadiens until he was traded to the Capitals for two draft picks. He went on to win a Stanley Cup with them. The 58th overall pick in the 2017 draft, which was used to select Joni Ikonen, a center who never came over to this side of the pond. The 62nd overall pick in the 2018 draft was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for two additional draft picks in the same year. The fifth-round pick was used to select Samuel Houde, who spent some time in the AHL and the ECHL before joining the Sierre HC in the Swiss league. As for the third-round pick, it became Jordan Harris, a blueliner who would sign with the Canadiens after spending four years in the NCAA with Northeastern University. Harris spent three seasons with the Canadiens, but with a blueline full of promising young defensemen, he was used by Kent Hughes to acquire sniper Patrik Laine and a second-round pick at the 2026 draft. Whatever happens with Laine this upcoming season, I think it's safe to say the Halak trade wasn't that bad in the end, it's still paying off today, and we won't know until next June what that second-round pick will become. It's wild to think that after Halak announced his retirement yesterday, his trade three is still going strong and could still deliver another impact piece for the Canadiens, after all, Lane Hutson was a second-round pick, so it's possible to find hidden (or not so hidden, and just diminutive in size) gems in that round. Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story. Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @ and Threads @karinehains. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Ex-Islanders, Rangers goalie Jaroslav Halak retires after 17 NHL seasons
Jaroslav Halak is calling it a career after 17 years as an NHL goalie, including four seasons with the Islanders and one with the Rangers. The 40-year-old last played in 2022-'23 with the Rangers. The Hurricanes signed him to a professional tryout ahead of the 2023-'24 season, but Halak was released. 'Last year I completed summer training…but when nothing came of it, I told myself it was pointless. After that I didn't even try anymore,' Halak told Slovakia's Dennik Sport, per a translation. 'I'm officially ending my career. I would like to thank my family, friends, fans and especially my wife Petra, who has been by my side my entire career.' Advertisement Goalie Jaroslav Halak with the Islanders on March 22, 2018. Robert Sabo Halak started 539 games in his career, and won the William M. Jennings Trophy twice, which is awarded to the goalie on the team that allowed the fewest goals in a season. He won it first with the Blues in 2011-'12 and again with the Bruins in 2019-'20. Advertisement The Bratislava, Slovakia native began his NHL career with four seasons on the Canadiens before a four-year stint in St. Louis, a 12-game cup of coffee with the Capitals, a four-season stretch with the Islanders and a three-year run with the Bruins. He also started 14 games with the Canucks in 2021-'22 before landing on the Rangers in 2022-'23. Goalie Jaroslav Halak with the Rangers on April 13, 2023. Robert Sabo for NY Post He has a career save percentage of .915 and an overall goals against average of 2.81, and finished just shy of the 300 career win mark with 295. Advertisement 'It's been two years, and I've come to terms with not reaching 300 [wins],' Halak said. 'Looking back on my career, it's been a good one. It would have been nicer with 300 wins, but I'll be happy with 295.' The Islanders, with whom Halak made his only All-Star appearance in 2014-'15, congratulated the goalie on his career on X, writing, 'Wishing Jaroslav Halak all the best in retirement!'
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Former NHL goalie Jaroslav Halak retires after 17 seasons
Longtime goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who spent 17 seasons in the NHL, officially announced his retirement Friday. The 40-year-old played his last NHL game on April 13, 2023, with the New York Rangers. Early in the 2023-24 season, Halak spent time with the Carolina Hurricanes on a professional tryout, but was released. Advertisement 'Last year I completed summer training … but when nothing came of it, I told myself it was pointless. After that I didn't even try anymore,' Halak told reporter Tomas Prokop of Slovakia's Dennik Sport, per translation. 'I'm officially ending my career. I would like to thank my family, friends, fans and especially my wife Petra, who has been by my side my entire career.' After 581 NHL games, Jaroslav Halak is hanging up the skates. Best of luck in retirement! 👏 — NHL (@NHL) July 18, 2025 A ninth-round pick (No. 271) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 NHL Draft, Halak played with the Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks and Rangers in his career. Halak also dressed for one game with the Sabres after getting traded to Buffalo in 2014, but never saw action with the team because he was traded just days later to the Capitals. He posted a 295-189-69 record with 53 shutouts, a 2.50 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage in 581 career regular-season games (555 starts). He also went 17-20-0 in 39 playoff games (37 starts). Halak's postseason heroics helped define his career, specifically in 2009-10, when he led the Montreal Canadiens to an improbable berth in the Eastern Conference final. The native of Bratislava, Slovakia, also played for his home country at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. 'It's been two years, and I've come to terms with not reaching 300 (wins),' Halak told Dennik Sport. 'Looking back on my career, it's been a good one. It would have been nicer with 300 wins, but I'll be happy with 295.' Halak won the William M. Jennings Trophy in both 2011-12 (Blues) and 2019-20 (Bruins), awarded to the goalie(s) whose team allowed the fewest goals in the regular season.
