Nate Thompson Announces Retirement After 15 NHL Seasons

Veteran forward Nate Thompson has announced his retirement after 15 NHL seasons.

One of this generation's glue guys is hanging them up. 

Nate Thompson announced his retirement from the NHL on the Empty Netters Podcast on Wednesday, officially closing the door on a career that placed him on nine different teams across 15 seasons. 

"From the time I was four until 38, hockey has been my life and best friend," Thompson said on Twitter. "I'm beyond grateful and thankful for all the great people I've met and friendships I made. All good things must come to an end so thank you to all who supported me along this journey."

Drafted in the sixth round of the 2003 NHL draft by the Boston Bruins, the Anchorage, Alaska, native managed to turn an unfavorable draft position into a lengthy and successful career. Thompson finished his time in the big leagues with 65 goals and 99 assists for 164 points in 844 games while adding eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points in 86 career playoff games for good measure. 

While never an offensive phenom, Thompson was known as a beloved dressing-room presence and an effective depth forward throughout his NHL tenure. Those traits made him an attractive trade acquisition for teams looking to reinforce their rosters, as Thompson spent time with the Bruins, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Winnipeg Jets. 

Thompson last played in the NHL in 2021-22, racking up one goal and two assists for three points in 33 games with the Flyers while logging nearly 12 minutes in average nightly ice time and winning 55.7 percent of his draws. He spent 

With his reputation as a well-liked teammate, one can only wonder if a transition into media is next on Thompson's list.