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Pascal Dupuis will ‘step away from the game’ due to blood clots

Pascal Dupuis

Pascal Dupuis

AP

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that forward Pascal Dupuis will no longer play hockey “because of a medical condition related to blood clots.”

From the release:

Dupuis, 36, had played 18 games this season while taking blood thinners but experienced several recent medical incidents possibly related to his condition. He had to be removed from several games – most recently on December 1 at San Jose – and each time had to undergo a series of tests.

“Despite playing on a medical protocol that has worked for other players in the NHL, we feel that the risk of Pascal playing with his condition and the side effects of the tests to monitor him are just not in the best interest of his long-term health,” said Dr. Dharmesh Vyas, the Penguins’ team physician.

Dupuis called it a “very difficult decision” to “step away from the game,” but that his family is his “first priority, and playing with my condition has become a constant worry for all of us.”

Dupuis has played 871 NHL games and scored 190 goals during his career. He won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009.

Of note, this is not technically a retirement announcement. The Pens intend to place Dupuis on long-term injured reserve. He’s signed through next season for a cap hit of $3.75 million.

His playing career is effectively over, however.