BY: The New York Rangers
NEW YORK, September 20, 2019 – National Hockey League defenseman Dan Girardi announced his retirement today after 13 seasons in the league.
“I would like to thank all my coaches, family, friends and teammates for supporting me throughout my entire hockey career,” Girardi said. “I want to thank the New York Rangers for giving me a chance to fulfill my childhood dream of playing in the NHL. Throughout those 11 incredible years, I have made so many friends on and off the ice. I bled Ranger blue and gave it my all for my team, the city, and the Garden faithful. I also want to thank the Tampa Bay Lightning for helping me continue my career by giving me a chance to play for such an amazing organization, city and fan base. The last two years in Tampa Bay have been so much fun for me and my family. I will always fondly remember my time here. Finally, I want to thank my wife Pamela for always being there for me and holding down the fort and to Landon and Shaye for always being daddy’s number one fans.
“I gave my all every single night and left it all out on the ice. Now it’s time for the next chapter of my life to begin and I couldn’t be happier…and so is my body.”
“On behalf of the entire Rangers organization, I want to congratulate Dan on an outstanding NHL career,” Rangers Senior Advisor to the Owner and Alternate Governor Glen Sather said. “Dan was the ultimate warrior. From the moment he joined the Rangers, he gave his heart and soul to his teammates, the organization, and the fans. Dan’s relentless effort and dedication to the Rangers was an inspiration to everyone. The accomplishments we achieved during Dan’s tenure with the Rangers – which included two Division Championships, a Presidents’ Trophy, and a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2014 – would not have been possible without his immeasurable contributions. We wish Dan, his wife Pam, and their two children, Landon and Shaye, the best of luck as they begin their next chapter. They will always be a part of the Rangers family.”
Girardi skated in 927 career NHL games with the Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning, registering 56 goals and 208 assists for 264 points, along with a plus-78 rating and 314 penalty minutes. Since the NHL began to track blocked shots consistently in 2005-06, Girardi has been credited with more blocked shots than any other NHL player (1,954). He helped his team advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his 12 of his 13 seasons in the league, and he skated in 143 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. During his career, Girardi helped his team advance to the Eastern Conference Final in four different years, as well as the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. Over the last 13 seasons, only six NHL players skated in more playoff games than Girardi. In addition, Girardi’s ranks 30th all-time among NHL defensemen in playoff games played.
Girardi skated in 788 games with the Rangers over 11 seasons (2006-07 – 2016-17), registering 46 goals and 184 assists for 230 points, along with a plus-54 rating and 275 penalty minutes. He ranks 10th on the Rangers’ all-time games played list among skaters. In addition, Girardi, who was signed by the Rangers as an undrafted free agent on July 1, 2006, appeared in more games with the Blueshirts than any other undrafted player in franchise history (among players who were eligible to be selected since the NHL Draft was implemented in 1963).
The Welland, Ontario native helped the Rangers advance to the playoffs 10 times during his 11 seasons with the franchise (2006-07 – 2008-09; 2010-11 – 2016-17), and in those 10 playoff appearances, the Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final three times and the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. In addition, Girardi helped the Rangers finish in first place in their division twice during the regular season (Atlantic Division – 2011-12; Metropolitan Division – 2014-15) and finish with the best record in the NHL during the regular season in 2014-15, as the Blueshirts established single-season franchise records with 53 wins and 113 points. Girardi represented the Rangers at the 2012 NHL All-Star Game and finished sixth in voting for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman in 2011-12. He led the league in blocked shots in 2010-11 and 2012-13, and he established career-highs in blocked shots (236), assists (27), and points (31) during the 2010-11 season. In addition, Girardi served as one of the Rangers’ alternate captains for six seasons (2011-12 – 2016-17).
Girardi skated in 788 of 820 regular-season games the Rangers played from the time he made his NHL debut on Jan. 27, 2007 through the end of the 2016-17 regular season (96.1%), including 651 of 656 regular-season games the team played from Jan. 27, 2007 through the end of the 2014-15 regular season (99.2%). Girardi skated in at least 80 games in seven seasons in his career, and he played all 82 games of a season five times. Since the NHL implemented an 82-game schedule in 1995-96, Girardi and Brian Leetch are the only Rangers who have played all 82 games of a regular season in five different seasons.
Girardi skated in 122 career playoff games with the Rangers, registering six goals and 27 assists for 33 points, along with 36 penalty minutes. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in playoff games played (among skaters) and only trails Henrik Lundqvist (128) in career playoff appearances by a Ranger. Girardi also holds the franchise record (among skaters) in consecutive playoff games, as he skated in 109 consecutive playoff games with the Rangers from his Stanley Cup Playoff debut in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Atlanta in 2007 to Game 1 of the First Round against Pittsburgh in 2016. Girardi’s 27 career playoff assists and 33 career playoff points rank fifth among Rangers defensemen in franchise history. Girardi registered three game-winning goals during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including one in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Ottawa on April 26, 2012, and his three game-winning goals were tied for the fourth-most any Ranger has recorded in one playoff year in franchise history. Girardi led the NHL in blocked shots (67) and led NHL defensemen in hits (80) during the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs while helping the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
During his tenure with the Rangers, Girardi received several team and league awards and nominations. He was the Rangers’ nominee twice for the Bill Masterton Trophy (2011-12 and 2016-17), which is awarded annually to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.” Girardi received the John Halligan Good Guy Award in 2012-13 for his cooperation with the media, and he was named the Rangers Fan Club Rookie of the Year in 2006-07.
