Rafalski Retires

It was scooped on Monday afternoon that the Detroit Red Wings had called a press conference and in that scoop, it was said that Brian Rafalski was set to retire.

Indeed, that is to be the case.

The 3-time Stanley Cup winner retires after 10 NHL seasons with the Devils and Red Wings, scoring 79 goals and 515 points in 833 games, not to mention 100 playoff points in 165 playoff games.  Rafalski was a good puck moving defenseman with some good defensive upside, played well as a sidekick to defensemen like Scott Niedermayer and Nicklas Lidstrom in his career.

His 2011 season was marred by injury, playing in only 63 games, scoring 4 goals and 44 assists for 48 points, which was good enough for 12th among all defensemen in pool scoring.

Injuries are said to be the leading cause of his decision to retire and he will forego the final year of his deal, which is set to pay him $6 million, also taking that off the Red Wings' books for the 2012 season.