Ex-Islanders, Rangers goalie Jaroslav Halak retires after 17 NHL seasons

Jaroslav Halak is calling it a career after 17 years as an NHL goalie, including four seasons with the Islanders and one with the Rangers. 

The 40-year-old last played in 2022-’23 with the Rangers. The Hurricanes signed him to a professional tryout ahead of the 2023-’24 season, but Halak was released. 

“Last year I completed summer training…but when nothing came of it, I told myself it was pointless. After that I didn’t even try anymore,” Halak told Slovakia’s Dennik Sport, per a translation. “I’m officially ending my career. I would like to thank my family, friends, fans and especially my wife Petra, who has been by my side my entire career.”

Halak started 539 games in his career, and won the William M. Jennings Trophy twice, which is awarded to the goalie on the team that allowed the fewest goals in a season.

He won it first with the Blues in 2011-’12 and again with the Bruins in 2019-’20. 

The Bratislava, Slovakia native began his NHL career with four seasons on the Canadiens before a four-year stint in St. Louis, a 12-game cup of coffee with the Capitals, a four-season stretch with the Islanders and a three-year run with the Bruins. 

He also started 14 games with the Canucks in 2021-’22 before landing on the Rangers in 2022-’23.

He has a career save percentage of .915 and an overall goals against average of 2.81, and finished just shy of the 300 career win mark with 295.

“It’s been two years, and I’ve come to terms with not reaching 300 [wins],” Halak said. “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.”

The Islanders, with whom Halak made his only All-Star appearance in 2014-’15, congratulated the goalie on his career on X, writing, “Wishing Jaroslav Halak all the best in retirement!”