A longtime NHL forward officially retires after a career fans won't forget
Photo credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Ryan Johansen announced his NHL retirement Friday, and the news hits hard because one of hockey's craftiest big centers is done after 13 seasons.
The 33-year-old walks away after 905 NHL games, a long run built on patience, touch, and real power down the middle. He never played the game in a rushed way.
Columbus picked Johansen fourth overall in the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft. The Blue Jackets bet on size, skill, and poise, and that package carried him for years.
His career line finishes at 202-376-578. Those numbers do not scream superstar, but they tell the story of a player coaches trusted in hard minutes.
Johansen was at his best when the puck slowed down around him. He could hold off pressure, find the late trailer, and make a top-six line feel settled.
Nashville fans will probably feel this one the most. His best stretch came with the Predators, where his hands and vision gave their attack a real backbone.
You can almost feel the game breathe in the clip, then see the smile of a player who knows the grind is finally over.
His 2021-22 season still stands out, a 26-37-63 line that showed he could still drive offense. He was never just a passenger on the man advantage.
Ryan Johansen leaves Nashville Predators memories behind
That is why this retirement feels bigger than a simple transaction note. Fans remember the player who could calm a game and then swing it with one pass.
The playoff run in 2017 remains part of his story too. Nashville leaned on him in big spots, and his absence after injury left a real hole in that lineup.
That ripple matters when people talk about his career. Johansen was not built on flash alone, he was built on matchup value, puck protection, and tough offensive zone work.
He could play through contact and still make a clean read. That combination kept him useful even when his footspeed became a bigger talking point.
There were better stars of his era, no question. There were not many centers his size who could thread plays through traffic the way he did.
Retirement also closes the file on a player who changed teams, roles, and expectations without losing his identity. Johansen stayed a thinker with the puck until the end.
Thirteen seasons is a long time between the boards, and 905 games is no accident. The next milestone is simple now, seeing how long his game stays in fans' memories.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 20|63 ANSWERS A longtime NHL forward officially retires after a career fans won't forget Will Ryan Johansen be remembered most for his Nashville years? | ||
| Yes | 48 | 76.2 % |
| No | 15 | 23.8 % |
| List of polls | ||