6 replies to this topic

[Tomato Assasin]

Florida Panthers centre Joe Nieuwendyk has been forced to retire because of recurring back problems. Nieuwendyk announced his retirement Wednesday.

Nieuwendyk, 40, in his twentieth NHL season, scored eight points while playing just 15 of the team's first 29 games, because of injuries. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that he visited a back specialist in Cleveland last Friday.

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[ahtikullervo]

Sad...

[Barmy Army]

He has my sympathies, back pain is not fun

[BritDuck]

Aww, that's a shame. I hope Joe feels better soon.

[jojo983]

Best of luck to Joe in the future. Hope he feels better soon.

[MrsBevo]

Like Barmy said, chronic pain isn't any fun. Great career. Sorry to see any player have to retire for medical purposes.

[DropThePuck]

Nieuwendyk classy right to the end

The game of hockey waved goodbye to one of the sport’s giants this week when Joe Nieuwendyk retired after a marvelous 20-year career that ranks him among some of the best players – and men -- to ever lace up a pair of skates.

Forced to call it quits because of a cranky back like so many other legends of the game, Nieuwendyk leaves the NHL with three Stanley Cup rings, an Olympic Gold Medal and no regrets.

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Nieuwendyk's tremendous career began in Calgary before a 1995 trade sent him to Dallas.