Los Angeles Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr announced his retirement following Saturday’s season-closing 4-1 win against the San Jose Sharks, according to multiple reporters.
(OK, the word “likely” crept into some of those accounts, so consider it a retirement announcement with some wiggle room.)
Regehr goes out a winner in many ways, most obviously with today’s victory. Most importantly, he grabbed a Stanley Cup ring during the Kings’ 2014 championship run.
Overall, the 34-year-old managed to appear in 1,089 regular season games and 67 postseason contests. That’s impressive by any standards, yet it’s that much more of an achievement when you ponder the fact that his career was in great danger of being cut short by a car accident. Regehr is a physical defenseman, so it’s remarkable that he recovered from that scary scene and enjoyed a lengthy career.
(Many remember him as much for his part in the Calgary Flames’ run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final than anything else.)
If this really is it for Regehr, it sounds like the decision has been in the works for some time.
I had never spoken to Regehr about it, but from my understanding his decision to retire had been made for a substantial amount of time.
— LA Kings Insider (@lakingsinsider) April 11, 2015
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Here are highlights of the Kings’ 4-1 win against the Sharks, by the way: