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Mike Grier calls it quits after 14 seasons and no new job offers

Buffalo Sabres v Philadelphia Flyers - Game Two

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 16: Mike Grier #25 of the Buffalo Sabres looks up to an official asking for a penalty that was not called against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on April 16, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

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Mike Grier probably didn’t want to go out like this but after 14 seasons in the NHL, he’s calling it quits. In a career that saw him start and end with the Buffalo Sabres -- while playing in Edmonton, San Jose, and Washington in between -- Grier was the consummate grinder.

Grier would never win nor play for a Stanley Cup, but his value to his teams was immense. After coming out of Boston University where he was a physical menace with a powerful goal scoring ability, his game adapted well to the NHL.

While he was able to score a few goals early on, he changed into a solid checking forward. That ability to fit into the game and the systems he played is what made him such a true professional.

All that ability, unfortunately, wasn’t enough to see him land a new job this offseason as Grier’s final games were played against the Flyers in the playoffs last season. If nothing else, Grier leaves the game with a hard-hitting legacy that won’t be forgotten.