Saku Koivu calls it a career

Sep 10, 2014 - 6:33 PM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Saku Koivu announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday after 18 seasons.

Koivu played his first 13 seasons with Montreal and spent the last five with the Anaheim Ducks.

"Looking back at my 22 years of pro hockey, first in Finland and then in the NHL, I feel truly blessed and fulfilled," said Koivu in a statement released by the National Hockey League Players' Association. "I have been contemplating retirement for quite some time and am very confident in my decision at this time and place."

The 39-year-old native of Finland amassed 255 goals and 832 points in 1,124 NHL games, adding 18 goals and 59 points in 80 playoff appearances.

Koivu was selected by Montreal with the 21st overall pick of the 1993 draft and joined the Canadiens for the 1995-96 campaign. He captained the legendary franchise for 10 seasons, tying Jean Beliveau for the longest tenure in club history.

"I feel I was truly lucky to have a chance to play for the legendary Canadiens for so many years and serve as captain, and share that great honor with many truly legendary captains from before my time," Koivu added in the statement.

Koivu was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and missed nearly the entire 2001-02 regular season, but returned to the lineup on April 9, 2002 to help the Canadiens defeat the Ottawa Senators and secure a playoff spot. He played in each of the club's 12 playoff games and recorded 10 points to tie for the team lead.

"My time in Montreal was special beyond playing hockey," Koivu noted. "Thank you to the fans and lovely people of Montreal for your support and love, and for providing my family and me with wonderful memories that we will always cherish as well as the immense support during my illness. Thank you with all my heart to Dr. and Mrs. David Mulder and Dr. and Mrs. Blair Whittemore and the staff at Montreal General Hospital for saving my life."

Koivu was the 2002 recipient of the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded for perseverance and dedication to hockey and received the King Clancy Trophy in 2007 to acknowledge his leadership qualities and humanitarian contributions.

In addition to his NHL excellence, Koivu also represented Finland four times at the Olympics and helped the country win three bronze medals and one silver.