Former Canucks, Devils, Islanders goalie Schneider retires
Longtime NHL goalie Cory Schneider is hanging up his pads after 16 years in professional hockey, he announced Sunday.
"I'm at peace with it," Schneider told Phil Stacey of the Salem News. "I'll miss my teammates and the intensity of playing, but it's the right time for me."
The 37-year-old played for the Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, and New York Islanders across 13 NHL campaigns. At his peak, he was one of the game's best goalies.
From 2010-11 to 2015-16 (his last three seasons in Vancouver and first three in New Jersey), Schneider played in 260 games and owned a .926 save percentage and 2.13 goals against average - both best among NHL goalies who made at least 100 appearances during that stint.
Schneider backed up Roberto Luongo after breaking into the NHL with the Canucks. They shared the Jennings Trophy in 2010-11 and led Vancouver to the Stanley Cup Final that season.
"Vancouver was the high point for me," Schneider said. "They drafted me (26th overall in 2004), and the organization had great people, I had great teammates, and we came within one game of bringing the city its first Stanley Cup."
But it was with the Devils that Schneider became a true workhorse goalie. He also had big shoes to fill in New Jersey, eventually taking over for Martin Brodeur as the team's No. 1 netminder. Schneider ranked third among NHL goalies with 228 starts during his first four seasons with the Devils.
"New Jersey was a great place for my family and I," Schneider said. "My kids were both born there, I had some great teammates, and it was a terrific place to play."
Injuries slowed Schneider's career, and the Devils bought him out in 2020. He joined the Islanders organization for the final three years of his career, playing in one NHL game while spending the rest of his time in the AHL.