It has been bittersweet when it comes to hanging up the skates. We already saw it earlier in the offseason with Boston Bruins’ Zdeno Chara retiring from the game of hockey. Another player has chosen the same path. Andy Greene, who spent this past season with the New York Islanders, has officially retired from professional hockey. Andry Green retires after a very successful NHL career.
Andy Greene Retires
A consummate professional and leader, #MadeinJersey.
Congrats on a long and successful career, Andy. Enjoy retirement!
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 12, 2022
Just like Travis Zajac did the season prior, Andy Greene will follow the same path. He has signed a one-day contract to retire as a New Jersey Devil. Before joining the Islanders, Greene spent 14 of his 16 years playing with the New Jersey Devils. It’ll be a great honour for him as the team will give him recognition during the home opener on October 15. Detroit was his hometown so the shoe is very fitting here.
They will do a ceremonial puck drop for him as well. A special day for him and Devils fans. A thankful Greene went on to say, “I want to thank the New Jersey Devils organization, for giving me my first day and last day in the NHL. You have treated not only me, but more importantly my family, with nothing but love and respect and I will be forever grateful for that. Thank you also to the New York Islanders organization for the past two and a half years.”
Greene’s Career
Greene was an undrafted free agent out of Miami University. You do not always have to be drafted to have a successful hockey career, and Greene proved that. On January 2007, he got to skate in his first NHL game. Throughout his 16-year career, he went on to skate in 1,057 games and scored 52 goals, 212 assists, and 264 points. Greene also went on to skate in 90 playoff contests notching 14 points. He was a big part of the Devils 2012 run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Greene skated in 923 games with the Devils and skated in his 1,000th game with the New York Islanders. His games played rank seventh in Devils franchise history. Greene became the team’s 11th captain in team history in 2015, taking over for Bryce Salvador. He wore the C with pride.
The Praise For Greene
He played the game the right way and received plenty of praise because of it. “Andy Greene was everything we wanted as a player, leader and individual to represent our team and the entire New Jersey Devils organization,” said David Blitzer and Josh Harris, co-Managing Partners of the New Jersey Devils.
General Manager Tom Fitzgerald went on to praise the former captain as well. He said, “Andy was a bedrock for New Jersey during his 14 years and developed into an exceptional leader and what it meant to be a Devil,” said Tom Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President/General Manager, New Jersey Devils.
New Jersey Devils Andy Greene will go down as a Devils great and will always be remembered for what he did in his time in New Jersey. Hats off to a long career for him.
Andy Greene was the OT hero for the @NHLDevils. Watch him win it here: http://t.co/JxpLyScyn4 pic.twitter.com/yasInSdJbJ
— NHL (@NHL) March 21, 2014
