He is in the NHL record books as the highest drafted player ever from Denmark. Today, he's announced his retirement. Mikkel Boedker, or Bødker, played for Denmark at the World Championships today. Following the 7-1 loss to Finland, Boedker told reporters he's done now.
Boedker was drafted 8th overall by the then Phoenix Coyotes back in 2008. He spent most of his career there, including being on the roster when the team changed from the Phoenix Coyotes to Arizona in 2014. In 2016, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. He left the team as a free agent, signing a four-year deal with the San Jose Sharks. At the 2018 draft, he was sent to Ottawa in an exchange that put Mike Hoffman in San Jose (Hoffman was flipped to Florida hours later). Boedker finished out his NHL career in Ottawa, leaving in 2020 to play in Europe, where's he's been until now.
Boedker never really lived up to the expectations that come with being a highly-touted draft pick. In 2013-14, Boedker had his best season, scoring 19 goals and 51 points in a full season with the Coyotes. He had never hit the 50-point mark in a season before, and never did again.
