Kris Versteeg announced his retirement from professional hockey on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old forward, who last played in the NHL with the Calgary Flames in 2017-18, won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 and 2015. He scored 358 points (149 goals, 209 assists) in 643 games with the Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Flames. Versteeg scored 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) in 93 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"What a run it was," Versteeg said in a statement released by the NHL Players' Association. "A kid from North Lethbridge (Alberta) who played on the streets every day, dreaming of playing in the NHL. I took a lot for granted in my time in the NHL, but the one thing I never took for granted were the relationships I made with my teammates and staff of the hockey clubs I played for."
Versteeg played three of his four junior hockey seasons for Lethbridge of the Western Hockey League and was selected by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round (No. 134) of the 2004 NHL Draft. He played 56 games over two seasons for Providence of the American Hockey League before he was traded to the Blackhawks on Feb. 3, 2007.
"A bunch of people have made huge impacts on my life," Versteeg said. "There was one guy who took a kid with a different personality and a massive chip on his shoulder and helped give him hope, and that was (Providence coach) Scott Gordon. (Blackhawks general manager) Dale Tallon also took a chance on me and gave me multiple opportunities throughout my career. I know I wasn't always the easiest to deal with. Without people like Scott and Dale, the road to today would not be what it was."
Versteeg scored 53 points (22 goals, 31 assists) during his first full NHL season in 2008-09 and was voted a finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. He scored six goals, including two game-winners, in 22 games in the 2010 playoffs to help the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1961.
Versteeg was traded three times over the next year. He set NHL career highs in goals (23) and points (54) and tied his personal best in assists (31) during his first season with the Panthers in 2011-12. He was traded to Chicago by Florida on Nov. 14, 2013, and won the Cup for the second time when the Blackhawks defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the 2015 Cup Final.
After playing for the Hurricanes and Kings in 2015-16, Versteeg finished his NHL career by playing 93 games in two seasons for the Flames from 2016-18.
"Thank you to every organization I was able to play for," Versteeg said. "I didn't realize it then, but I certainly appreciate now how amazing it was to play in the NHL. I want to thank the Chicago Blackhawks' entire organization, from top to bottom, especially including the fans. The 2010 championship was the highlight of my career. I also want to thank (Flames general manager) Brad Treliving for letting me come home to finish my NHL career. As a person and a GM, he made a huge impact on me."
Versteeg split the 2018-19 season between Avangard of the Kontinental Hockey League and Vaxjo of the Swedish Hockey League. He rejoined the Blackhawks organization in 2019-20, when he was named captain of Rockford in the AHL. After leaving Rockford in November, Versteeg played his final professional game in Slovakia for HK Nitra of the Slovak Extraliga, where he was teammates with his brother, Mitch.
"My grandparents Morris and Joanne helped pay for skates and equipment, while feeding us when we couldn't afford it," Versteeg said. "They are my real heroes for keeping me and my brothers in the rinks and off the streets. I'm both nervous and excited for what comes next. I have a wife who has supported me endlessly, two boys and a daughter who all have their journeys ahead of them, and I'm excited to see where those might lead.
"Lastly, a special thanks to my mom and dad. I could thank you guys for a thousand things, but it all leads back to saying thank you for the hockey stick. It may be going on the rack, but the endless amount of amazing memories it gave our entire family will be etched in our minds forever."
