Mike Green announces retirement after 15 NHL seasons

Mike Green is calling it a career after 15 NHL seasons spent between the Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, and Washington Capitals.

The 34-year-old defenseman suffered an MCL injury in February and opted out of the NHL's return-to-play plan in July. Green says he feels healthy, but is looking forward to spending more time with his family and pursuing new things in life.

"Being an athlete isn’t the only part of who I am," he said, according to The Athletic's Tarik El-Bashir. "I am a husband, father, son, brother, uncle. I’ve been very fortunate to turn my passion into my profession, but at this point in my life, I’m considering other things that I feel called to do."

Green was acquired by the Oilers ahead of the trade deadline but played just two games with the club before the injury.

The Alberta native was one of the most electric blue-liners in the league over his decade-long tenure with the Capitals. Green finished as runner-up in Norris Trophy voting in consecutive campaigns (2009, 2010) and is one of eight defensemen in history - and the only this century - to score 30 goals in a season, netting 31 in 2008-09.

The 6-foot-1 veteran amassed 150 goals and 501 points over 880 regular-season contests, adding 37 points in 76 career playoff contests.