Two-time Stanley Cup winner Kris Versteeg discusses decision to retire

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Kris Versteeg announced his retirement from the game of hockey on Tuesday, and he decided to discuss his decision on the "ESPN on Ice" podcast with Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski.

It doesn't seem like it was a difficult decision for the former Chicago Blackhawks forward who notes that he knew retirement was coming.

"Well, let's just say it wasn't the coronavirus that did it to me. I knew it was coming," Versteeg said on "ESPN on Ice," as transcribed by Kaplan and Wyshynski. Probably since last year, when I was done in the NHL and headed over to Russia. You realize that it is difficult playing over there without kids. You start to weigh pros and cons. You give yourself maybe another year to try to do it. I did that, really to play with my brother [Mitch] and play in the Spengler Cup. I did that, and after that, I kind of knew it was going to be over.

"We talked with the [players' association] about doing an announcement. We were going to do it right at the end of the year, but obviously with the coronavirus thing they put it on hold, and then got back to me about announcing it a few days ago."

Versteeg spent 11 seasons in the NHL between the Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames, racking up 358 points (149 goals, 209 assists) in 643 games played. After his career in the NHL, he played in Russia, Sweden and Slovakia.

The 33-year-old was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round of the 2004 NHL Draft, but never played a game for them as he was traded away. 

While he won't be remembered for being the flashiest player, he'll always be remembered for his 2009-10 Stanley Cup Playoffs performance in which he notched 14 points in 22 games en route to a Stanley Cup championship.