Veteran NHL forward Vinny Prospal has decided to retire from professional hockey.
This news comes one day after it was announced Prospal was expected to sign an American Hockey League tryout contract with the Vancouver Canucks affiliate Utica Comets.
After further thought and talking with his family, Vinny Prospal has informed Canucks that he's retiring and won't be joining Utica on PTO.
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 24, 2014
The 38-year-old told News1130 Sports that he knew after the first practice with the Comets that he wouldn’t be able to give the game 100 percent. He added that you need the right amount of heart and passion to play in the NHL, but that he doesn’t have it anymore.
Prospal was drafted 71st overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1993 draft and spent time with eight different NHL clubs including: Flyers, Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets.
His most recent season was the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign spent with the Columbus Blue Jackets where he amassed 30 points in 48 games.
In 1,108 career NHL games played over an 18-year period, Prospal generated 255 goals, 510 assists and 581 penalty minutes. He also added 35 points in 65 playoff games.
