NEW YORK – New York Rangers forward Markus Naslund has told team he is retiring from the NHL, according to a report in the New York Post.
The 35-year-old signed a US$ 8-million, two-year contract with the Rangers last summer after 11 seasons with Vancouver.
The former Canucks captain still has one year remaining on the deal, worth $3 million.
Citing unnamed sources, the Post says Naslund, who wore down dramatically this season and into the playoffs, notified Rangers GM Glen Sather of his decision Thursday.
The Rangers, who lost in seven games to the Washington Capitals in their first-round series after holding a 3-1 lead, have yet to comment on the report.
Naslund’s 24 goals and 22 assists with New York represented a fifth straight season of decline from his career-high 104 points in 2002-03 with Vancouver.
In 15 seasons in the NHL, Naslund scored 395 goals and 869 points in 1,117 games.
Naslund was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins 16th overall in the 1991 NHL draft. He scored 40 or more goals three times in his career.
