New Delhi, July 18 -- Jaroslav Halak, veteran goaltender, announced his retirement at the age of 40 on Friday (July 18), closing a remarkable 17-year NHL career that spanned seven teams. Known for his clutch playoff performances and steady presence, the Slovak player will leave behind a legacy as one of Europe's finest goalies.

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...