Marián Hossa, sidelined for the entire 2017-18 NHL season due to a skin disorder, confirmed today to a Slovakian newspaper that his hockey career was over, and he will formally retire once his current contract expires in 2020.

Hossa, the 12th overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators, spent seven seasons with Ottawa before floating between Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Detroit, infamously losing in the Stanley Cup finals to the Red Wings in 2008 before joining Detroit, only to lose in the 2009 Finals to the Penguins. But it was in Chicago, where he joined in 2009, that Hossa found his chance to shine, winning three Stanley Cups in eight seasons with the Blackhawks (2010, 2013, 2015), but his six-time All Star career was sadly cut short due to this disorder that will now sideline him permanently.

A Trenčín native, Hossa first represented Slovakia at the World Junior Championship in 1997 and 1998, first joining the senior men’s team at the 1997 World Championship. Hossa would suit up at eight World Championships (1997, 1999, 2001, 2004-07, 2011), three Olympics (2002, 2006, 2010) and two World Cups (2004, 2016), only managing a medal in his final appearance at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, as part of the Team Europe contingent that finished second. Hossa also was a three time Golden Puck winner, as the world’s top Slovakian player.

Despite his many starts with the national team, Hossa surprisingly only won the IHLC twice in his career, both times at the Olympics, at Turin in 2006 and at Vancouver in 2010. We wish Marián and his family the very best for his retirement, and hope he is able to take the next step in good health!

Photo Credit: Zimbio – IIHF – HHOF – IOC