St. Louis' career filled with milestones, awards

Thursday, 07.02.2015 / 6:59 PM
Kristen Nelson  - NHL.com Correspondent

Martin St. Louis announced his retirement from the NHL on Thursday after 16 seasons.

The undrafted forward struggled at the beginning of his career with the Calgary Flames before establishing himself with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

St. Louis had 391 goals and 642 assists (1,033 points) in 1,134 regular season games in the NHL, and won the Stanley Cup, two Art Ross trophies and three Lady Byng trophies.

Here are some highlights from St. Louis' NHL career:

Feb. 19, 1998: St. Louis signs with the Flames as an undrafted free agent after scoring 50 points in 56 games for the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League. Prior to signing with the Lumberjacks, the Ottawa Senators offered St. Louis a tryout but released him.

Oct. 9, 1998: After spending the remainder of the 1997-98 season with the Saint John Flames in the American Hockey League, St. Louis makes his debut with the Flames against the San Jose Sharks.

Oct. 20, 1998: St. Louis scores his first goal in a 3-1 loss against the Dallas Stars. He goes on to play 13 games in the NHL, spending most of the season in the AHL where he tallied 28 goals and 34 assists for 62 points in 53 games with the Saint John Flames.

Nov. 18, 1999: St. Louis is recalled from the AHL to play his first game of the 1999-2000 season with Flames. He scored three goals and had 18 points in 56 games.

April 11, 2000: The Flames fire general manager Al Coates and coach Brian Sutter after missing the playoffs for four straight seasons. Before his firing, Coates had picked up St. Louis contract for the 2000-01 season, but the new management staff eventually bought out his contract.

July 31, 2000: St. Louis, an unrestricted free agent signs a two-year contract with the Lightning.

Oct. 6, 2000: St. Louis makes his debut with the Lightning. He finished with 18 goals and 40 points in 78 games during the 2000-01 season.

Jan. 23, 2002: St. Louis breaks his right leg in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He finishes the season with 16 goals and 35 points.

May 21, 2002: St. Louis re-signs with the Lightning for another two-year contract.

Jan. 30, 2003: St. Louis scores his first hat trick in a 3-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Feb. 2, 2003: In his first NHL All-Star game, St. Louis doesn't score, but finishes second in the fastest skater skills competition.

April 20, 2003: The Lightning win their first Stanley Cup Playoff series in franchise history with a 2-1 triple-overtime win against the Washington Capitals, and St. Louis scores the game-winning goal on the power play 4:03 into the third overtime.

Jan. 8, 2004: On the day he learns he will be an All-Star for the first time, St. Louis has two goals and two assists in his hometown in a 4-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens

June 5, 2004: With the Lightning facing elimination in the Stanley Cup Final, St. Louis scores 33 seconds into double-overtime of Game 6 in a 3-2 win to force Game 7.

June 7, 2004: Tampa Bay wins its first Stanley Cup by defeating the Flames 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Flames. St. Louis also won the Art Ross Trophy, leading the League with 94 points, the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award that season.

Nov. 4, 2004: St. Louis signs with Lausanne HC in Switzerland during the 2004-05 lockout, scoring nine goals and 25 points in 23 games.

Aug. 24, 2005: St. Louis re-signs with Tampa Bay, agreeing to a six-year, $31.5 million contract.

Feb. 9, 2007: St. Louis plays in his 500th-career NHL game, against the New York Islanders.

April 7, 2007: St. Louis scores his 102nd point of the season, his career high. He ends the season with 43 goals and 59 points in 82 games.

July 1, 2010: The Lightning give St. Louis a four-year contract extension after he had 94 points (29 goals, 65 assists) in 82 games in the 2009-10 season. St. Louis won his first of three Lady Byng trophies as the League's most gentlemanly player, that season.

April 27, 2013: St. Louis scores a goal and an assist in the Lightning's final game of the regular season to secure his second Art Ross Trophy, scoring 60 points in 48 games. The 37-year-old becomes the oldest player to win the scoring race. St. Louis also wins his third Lady Byng Trophy.

Oct. 1, 2013: Tampa Bay names St. Louis its ninth captain in franchise history.

Jan. 30, 2014: St. Louis scores his 600th career assist on a goal scored by defenseman Victor Hedman.

March 5, 2014: After requesting a trade, St. Louis is traded to the New York Rangers for forward Ryan Callahan and two draft picks.

April 1, 2014: After going 14 games without a goal, St. Louis scores his first as a New York Ranger. He scored one goal in 19 regular-season games.

June 13, 2014: The Rangers are defeated by the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in double overtime in the decisive Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. St. Louis has eight goals and 15 points in 25 playoff games.

Nov. 17, 2014: St. Louis scores a goal in a 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the first game against them since being traded.

May 29, 2015: St. Louis plays in his final game as the Rangers are eliminated from the playoffs in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

July 2, 2015: St. Louis retires from the NHL after 16 seasons.

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