Veteran defenseman Justin Braun has announced his retirement after 13 NHL seasons.
Justin BraunOne of hockey's pluckiest veterans is officially hanging them up.
Justin Braun announced his retirement from the NHL on Monday morning, closing the book on a successful career that spanned 13 big-league seasons. In 842 NHL games, Braun finished with 34 goals and 165 assists for 199 points while averaging nearly 20 minutes per night in ice time and cashing out as a plus-23.
That Braun managed to carve out such a lengthy career is a testament to his determination to make it against the odds. The rugged defenseman was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round of the 2007 NHL draft, 201st overall. He worked his way up the organization's prospect rankings over the next four years while finishing his collegiate career at U-Mass Amherst and beginning his professional journey with the AHL's Worcester Sharks.
Braun made his NHL debut for the Sharks in November 2010, becoming a regular staple on the club's blueline shortly thereafter.
After nine years in San Jose, Braun also suited up for the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, with whom he played his final season in 2022-23.
Riding off into the sunset now, Braun stands as another testament to how hard work and consistency can make up for a lack of draft pedigree. Here's hoping he deserves a well-earned retirement.