National Hockey League goaltender and former All-Star Jaroslav Halak of Bratislava, Slovakia officially retired from professional hockey at the age of 40 on Friday according to TSN. Halak had not played a game in the NHL since the 2022-23 season. In 2023-24, he had a professional tryout with the Carolina Hurricanes, but did not play a game before being released.
Who did Halak play for?
Halak played 17 seasons in the NHL. He was with the Montreal Canadiens for four seasons from 2006 to 2010, the St. Louis Blues for four more seasons from 2010 to 2014, the Washington Capitals for the 2013-14 season, the New York Islanders for four seasons from 2014 to 2018, the Boston Bruins for three seasons from 2018 to 2021, the Vancouver Canucks for one season from 2021 to 2022, and the New York Rangers for one season from 2022 to 2023,
Halak’s NHL career statistics
In 581 games, Halak had a record of 295 wins, 189 regulation losses, and 69 losses in extra time. It was reported by TSN that one of Halak’s personal goals was to record 300 career wins, and he was five wins short. Halak also had a goals against average of 2.50, save percentage of .915 and 53 shutouts.
Halak’s All-Star season
Halak was selected to the 2015 NHL All-Star Game. During the 2014-15 season with the Islanders, he had a record of 38 wins, 17 regulation losses and four losses in extra time. Halak had six shutouts, a goals against average of 2.43, a save percentage of .914.
Two-time William M. Jennings Trophy Winner
While with the Blues in 2011-12, and the Bruins in 2019-20, Halak won the William M. Jennings Trophy. The award is presented to goaltenders who played a minimum of 25 regular season games in the regular season and played on the NHL team that gave up the fewest number of goals in the regular season.
While with the Blues in 2011-12, Halak shared the award with Brian Elliott of Newmarket, Ontario, In the 2011-12 season, the Blues gave up 165 goals. That was 14 fewer goals than the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings, who were in second place with 179 goals against. Halak had a record of 26 wins, 12 regulation losses, and seven losses in extra time, with a goals against average of 1.97, a save percentage of .926, and six shutouts.
While with the Bruins in 2019-20, Halak shared the award with Tuukka Rask of Savonlinna, Finland. In the 2019-20 season, the Bruins gave up 174 goals. That was three fewer goals than the Stanley Cup finalist Dallas Stars, who were in second with 177 goals against. Halak had a record of 18 wins, six regulation losses, and six losses in extra time, three shutouts, a goals against average of 2.39, save percentage of .919, and three shutouts.
