1100-game NHL veteran and longtime New York Ranger hangs up the skates

After a stellar career that lasted over 15 years, Marc Staal has officially taken a new role, confirming his retirement from the NHL.

The NHL has seen many star players come and go over the years, and while Marc Staal wouldn't be considered a star, he played his role excellently over a long time in the league. Being drafted No. 12 overall back in the 2005 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers, he would begin his career in the 2007/08 season, and would eventually play in 13 seasons with the team, and after leaving would compile an impressive 1,136 total games in the league.

Now, the 37-year old has confirmed he's hanging up the skates, as he officially returns to the Rangers as a development role after spending the past few years playing in Detroit, Florida and Philadelphia.

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While he never became the offensive force that is needed to be a star on the blue line in today's NHL, Staal was a consistent force on the back end, notching 50 goals and 234 points over his time in the league, while posting a positive +/- in nine of his 13 years in New York.

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His career may never have reached the heights that some expected when he was picked in the first round, but Staal was always a consistent contributor to New York, and now he'll parlay all of that experience into a crucial role as he looks to develop the future of his beloved Rangers.

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