Report: Milan Hejduk expected to retire

According to a report from Czech Republic based newspaper Blesk, former Colorado Avalanche great Milan Hejduk has retired from professional hockey, and will make a formal announcement to that effect shortly.

A former Olympic gold medalist, NHL leading scorer, and Stanley Cup champion, the 37-year-old Hejduk managed 11 points in 29 games with the Avalanche last season. 

Hejduk told Blesk that he has offers from teams in the Czech Republic and in Russia but that he doesn't particularly miss the game and would prefer to focus on raising his children.

The high-scoring winger made his NHL debut in 1998-99 and amassed 805 points while appearing in 1020 games during his illustrious career. While Hejduk would appear to be on the bubble for the Hockey Hall of Fame, it seems probable that his number will be retired by the Avalanche. 

The Denver Post's Adrian Dater writes that Hejduk has earned that honor:

"I’m sure the Avs will, at the least, hold a special night for him at some point," he wrote. "Will he get his No. 23 retired? I don’t know for sure, but I would bet he will. And I think he would deserve that. He scored 375 goals and 805 points in 1,020 games, all with the Avs. He scored 20 or more goals in 11 straight seasons. He led the NHL in goals one season (2002-03, with 50) and won a Stanley Cup. He deserves to be in the Avs’ raftered pantheon."