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NHL defensemen PK Subban, former Senator Zdeno Chara announce retirements

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Zdeno Chara was traded to the Ottawa Senators in June 2001 along with Bill Muckalt and the number two pick in the draft (Jason Spezza) for Alexei Yashin.

Two prominent National Hockey League (NHL) defenseman announced they are calling it quits after a combined three decades plus in the league.

Zdeno Chara and PK Subban both revealed their retirement plans in social media posts on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Chara, one of the greatest defensemen of his generation, is leaving the game after 24 seasons.

“After 25 seasons of professional hockey, 1,680 NHL regular season games, 200 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and hundreds of international games, I am proud to announce my decision to retire from the National Hockey League,” Chara wrote on Instagram.

“There are so many people that have helped contribute to my success, including all of you, and I look forward to properly thanking everyone this afternoon,” Chara said.

The 45-year-old announced he signed a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins on Tuesday to retire with the team he played more than 1,000 games for, including winning a Stanley Cup in 2011.

Chara was drafted in the third round, 56th overall, by the Islanders back in 1996 and spent his first four seasons in the league with the club. He was traded to the Ottawa Senators in June 2001 along with Bill Muckalt and the number two pick in the draft (Jason Spezza) for Alexei Yashin. He then signed as a free agent with the Bruins in July 2006.

PK Subban retiring after 13 seasons

PK Subban is announcing his retirement from the NHL following 13 seasons.

“I never looked at myself or ever felt I was just a hockey player,” said Subban in a social media post. “I always looked at myself as a person who happened to play hockey.”

Having that perspective allowed me to enjoy every shift like it was my last, celebrate every goal with emotion, and play every game as if someone paid to watch me play who had never seen me play before.”

Drafted in the second round, 43rd overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, Subban spent his first seven seasons with the Habs and captured the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman in 2013. Subban also made his first NHL First All-Star Team selection. that year, an honor he also received in 2015.

The 33-year-old signed an eight-year, $72 million contract extension with the Canadiens in 2015, however, Subban was traded to the Nashville Predators for fellow star defenseman Shea Weber before his no-trade clause kicked in.

Subban reached the Stanley Cup finals during his first year in Nashville.

The Toronto native won back-to-back world junior championships in 2008 and 2009 and an Olympic gold medal at the Winter Games in 2014, while representing Canada.