Derek Stepan Announces Retirement

Today Derek Stepan announced his retirement from the NHL after 13 seasons, 7 of which came with the New York Rangers.

Stepan was selected in the 2nd round of the 2008 NHL Draft, and made his debut as a 20-year-old with a hat-trick performance against the Buffalo Sabres during the 2010-11 season.

Stepan quickly displayed his value to the Rangers, and it didn’t take him long to become the team’s No. 1 center, and he was a key contributor of a squad that did just about everything but win the Stanley Cup in the early to mid 2010s.

He was traded to the Arizona Coyotes before the 2017 NHL Draft, and spent 3 years there in a top-six role. He also spent a year in Ottawa with the Senators, and the last two years of his career with the Carolina Hurricanes. In 890 regular season games, Stepan scored 182 goals and added 333 assists for 515 points. Stepan also appeared in 120 playoff games and posted a line of 20-35-55. His biggest moment came in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. the Washington Capitals when he scored a series-winning overtime goal.

Stepan was a promising prospect who panned out in a good way for the Rangers, and had a nice little career for himself. A native of Minnesota, Stepan will be starting a position with the Minnesota Wild to stay involved with hockey in his post playing career.

Congratulations to Stepan on his retirement, and thanks for some great memories during a time where it was very exciting to be a fan of the New York Rangers.