Former Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak retires from NHL
Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak makes a glove save against the Detroit Red Wings at Barclays Center on Dec. 4, 2016. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Jaroslav Halak had long realized he wasn’t going to play in the NHL again. The former Islanders and Rangers goalie made that official on Friday, announcing his retirement after 17 seasons.
The 40-year-old Slovakian last served as Igor Shesterkin’s backup with the Rangers in 2022-23 but did not receive any job offers the last two seasons. He also played for the Islanders from 2014-18 and finishes his career with a 295-189-69 record, a 2.50 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and 53 shutouts.
“It's been two years and I've come to terms with not reaching 300,” Halak told Slovakia's Dennik Sport, via translation. “Looking back on my career, it's been a good one. It would have been nicer with 300 wins. But I'll be happy with 295.”
Halak broke into the NHL with the Canadiens in 2007 and spent four seasons in Montreal and then four more with the St. Louis Blues. He also played three seasons for the Boston Bruins, had a one-season stint with the Vancouver Canucks and played part of one season with the Washinton Capitals.
Halak went 88-65-19 with a 2.69 GAA and .913 save percentage with the Islanders, including a 38-17-4 mark with a 2.43 GAA and a .914 save percentage in 2014-15 when he earned his lone All-Star appearance. He started all seven games in the Islanders’ first-round playoff loss to the Capitals that season, notching a 2.30 GAA and a .926 save percentage.
Ironically, the Islanders acquired Halak from the Capitals for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft and that pick was again traded to the Rangers, who used it to select Shesterkin. Halak went 10-9-5 with a 2.72 GAA and a .903 save percentage as Shesterkin’s understudy in his final NHL season.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
