American centre Derek Stepan, a seasoned NHL veteran with a recurring presence on Team USA, today announced his retirement from hockey due to recurring injuries at age 33.

After a collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin, Stepan was drafted by the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Draft, joining the team in 2010. In his seven seasons on Broadway, Stepan helped the Rangers to the playoffs each season, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, also notching an All-Star Game nomination in 2011. Stepan was traded to Arizona in 2017, spending three seasons in the desert before joining Ottawa in 2020, spending a single season before a shoulder injury sidelined him. Joining Carolina as a free agent in 2021, Stephan struggled with injury issues in his two seasons there, failing to play a full 82 games in either season, prompting his retirement after 890 career games, notching 182 goals and 515 points, along with another 55 points in 120 career playoff games.

A Minnesota native, Stephan made his Team USA debut with the national Under-17 team in 2008, joining the World Junior team at the 2010 tournament, leading the tournament in points and captaining the team to a stunning Gold Medal overtime victory over Canada, who entered the tournament winning five consecutive Gold Medals prior. Stephan made his senior team debut at the 2011 World Championships in Slovakia, his only Worlds appearance, making lone appearances as well at both the Sochi Olympics in 2014 and Toronto World Cup Of Hockey in 2016.

Stepan captured the IHLC twice in his career, the first coming in the 2010 World Junior Gold Medal Game, the other coming in the lead-up to the 2016 World Cup. We wish Derek and his family the very best for his retirement and the things to come!

Photo Credit: USA Hockey – IIHF – HHOF – IOC