Martin Erat calls it a career

Did you know Martin Erat was still playing professional hockey? Well, he was. However, the 38-year-old has officially announced his retirement as per media in his home country of the Czech Republic.

"It's final, it's time," Erat told the iSport.cz. "Like the vast majority of boys, it's family and health."

Erat was drafted in round seven, 191st overall, by the Nashville Predators in 1999. He made a splash right away as a member of the "vowel line", which consisted of himself on left wing, Vladimir Orszagh on right wing and Denis Arkhipov at centre. IN his first year, 2001-20, he set a then Nashville rookie record for games played (80), assists (24) and points (33).

After struggling in his sophomore year, Erat picked up the pace again in 2003-04, becoming a very consistent player for the Predators. In 2007–08, Erat posted a new career-high of 23 goals and added 34 assists to reach the 57-point plateau for the second straight season. The following off-season, he signed a seven-year, $31.5 million contract extension with the Predators.

After four more seasons with the Preds, Erat demanded a trade, apparently unhappy with his role with the team. That's when he was involved in a hugely lopsided exchange. On April 3rd, 2013, the Predators traded Erat and Michael Latta to the Washington Capitals at the NHL trade deadline in exchange for prospect Filip Forsberg. Forsberg has gone on to have an excellent career in Nashville. Erat never regained his form and would demand a trade from Washington in November of the same year. At the trade deadline, he would be shipped to the Phoenix Coyotes. He finished out that season and played one more before signing in the KHL for the 2015-16 season. After one year there, he signed with Brno Kometa of the Czech Extraliga, where he's been playing ever since.

"I have two plates in my back, there's a hole up to twelve millimeters. So only surgery would do it, or I would have to constantly practice and try it with self-denial. So far, I've only undergone the latter, I've suffered a lot. But that was enough," Erat said Friday.

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