Brian Campbell announces retirement after 17 NHL seasons

Unrestricted free agent and former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell announced his retirement after 17 seasons in the NHL, the Blackhawks announced on Monday.

Campbell played out his final NHL season last year with the Blackhawks, rejoining the club after an initial stint in Chicago between 2008 to 2011. He tallied five goals and 17 points in 80 games.

While Campbell's playing career comes to an end, the 38-year-old will remain with the Blackhawks organization. Campbell will join the team's business operations department, where he will work with the team in marketing, community relations, and youth hockey initiatives.

"I'm excited to transition into the next step in both my professional career and life," Campbell said in a release. "I'm grateful to the countless number of teammates, coaches, team staff and fans that I have crossed paths with throughout my playing career in Chicago, Buffalo, Florida and San Jose. The Blackhawks organization has allowed me to take on this challenge and I’m thankful for this new opportunity."

Campbell concludes his playing career with 87 goals and 504 points in 1,082 career games spent between the Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Blackhawks.

He was part of the 2010 Blackhawks team that captured the Stanley Cup, and was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy in 2012 as the league's most gentlemanly player.