15-Year NHL Veteran Forward Retires

After 844 NHL games, a career grinder who earned every one of his nearly 11,000 minutes on the ice, Nate Thompson, has called it a career, officially retiring on a podcast (sort of inadvertently) and on social media.

From the time I was 4 until 38 hockey has been my life and best friend. I’m beyond grateful and thankful for all the great people I’ve met and friendships I’ve made. All good things must come to an end so thank you to all who supported me along this journey.✌🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/38a773D0ko

— Nate Thompson (@NateThompson44) July 20, 2023

"From the time I was 4 until 38 hockey has been my life and best friend," wrote Thompson on Twitter. "I’m beyond grateful and thankful for all the great people I’ve met and friendships I’ve made. All good things must come to an end so thank you to all who supported me along this journey."

Thompson last played in the 2021-22 season, with the Philadelphia Flyers, getting into 33 games, with three points and 31 penalty minutes. Over the course of his career, the valuable 4th-line center amassed 401 PIM in 844 games, while adding 65 goals, 99 assists and 164 points. He also won 53% of his faceoffs.

As a grinder, Thompson really had to earn his stay in the league, and he did every season, for nine different teams. His largest stay—five seasons—was with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and had his only 10-goal season there, back in 2010-11.

We're sure he'll work as hard at his post-hockey life as he did on the ice.

Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports