While Brad Marchand is signed to play through age 43, a former teammate of his with the Boston Bruins—who won two Stanley Cups and later played alongside Connor Bedard with the Chicago Blackhawks—has now announced his retirement from the NHL.
The NHL is a tough business. Players put their bodies on the line night in and night out and it’s ultimately unfathomable. However, it could be all worth it if it leads to having one’s name etched onto the Stanley Cup’s base. That might be the thought process for Tyler Johnson, who is hanging up the skates after a sensational career.
“After 747 NHL games, two-time Stanley Cup champ Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement,” as stated by @NHL on X. The once undrafted prospect’s decision came after a 14-season career, during which he hoisted back-to-back Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
Career numbers
Only a 5’8” prospect out of Spokane, Washington, it was easy for every NHL team to underestimate Johnson as he entered the league. The Lightning took a chance at him, and the forward didn’t disappoint. Johnson was a member of the Bolts’ side that lost to Chicago in the 2015 Stanley Cup Final. Still, far from giving up—Tampa and Johnson learned from the heartbreaking experience.
Tyler Johnson #90 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on April 02, 2024 in Elmont, New York.
Five years later, the Lightning had become a force to be reckoned with in the NHL, and Johnson played a huge role, contributing on both ends of the ice while deployed on the second and third lines. He was a key piece of the puzzle, which was fully displayed when Tampa traded him in July 2021 to Chicago. The Lightning went on to lose the 2022 Final to the Colorado Avalanche.
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Johnson’s time with Bedard and the Blackhawks was marred by injuries, as he only appeared in 149 games across a three-season stay in the Windy City. Johnson went on to sign as a free agent for the Bruins in November 2024, but he appeared in just nine games this past season alongside Marchand and company. Now, he’s made the decision to call it a career and move on to the next chapter of his life.
Closure—at last
“This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets—only gratitude for the rinks, the teammates, the fans, and a sport that will always ignite my soul. Thank you all for being a part of my journey,” Johnson capped off the retirement letter on his Instagram account.
