T.J. Oshie announces he's retiring
WASHINGTON — T.J. Oshie, who scored four shootout goals for the U.S. to beat host Russia at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and helped the Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup in 2018, announced he is retiring after playing 16 NHL seasons.
Oshie shared his news in front of hundreds of fans gathered at the fountains at Washington Harbour in Georgetown, seven years to the day of one of the most memorable Cup celebrations in hockey history when he and several teammates jumped into the fountains and took a dip.
President of hockey operations Brian MacLellan, general manager Chris Patrick, coach Spencer Carbery and longtime teammates Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson came out to support Oshie as he called it a career.
'My only contribution was that this could be a good day and place to have (the ceremony),' Oshie said, adding, 'I can't thank the Caps enough. Another first-class move by them to have my retirement here, invite all the people out. It really made this day special.'
The announcement had been expected for quite some time, with Oshie's contract expiring. The 38-year-old did not play this past season because of a nagging back injury that sidelined him off and on, going on long-term injured reserve instead.
Oshie said in the spring of 2024 he would only return to the Capitals if he found a permanent solution or fix to the issue. His final game was at home on April 28 last year against the New York Rangers, a 4-2 loss in the first round that eliminated Washington in a sweep.
'I was fully prepared that could be my last game: I got the pictures taken of me taking off the skates to prove it,' Oshie said. 'I hadn't thought too much about (the end), honestly, besides that moment. Even before that moment, knowing how tough it was on really the whole team with me, what I was going through, actually saying the words out loud at the podium with my family in front of me and the Caps organization, my teammates, all my close friends, it was emotional.'
Taken 24th in the 2005 draft by St. Louis, Oshie played 1,116 regular-season and playoff games in the league with the Blues and Capitals since making his debut in 2008. He had 336 goals and 428 assists for 764 points, including 21 points during Washington's Cup run.
Oshie made an international name for himself at the Olympics, earning the nickname 'T.J. Sochi' for going 4 for 6 in shootout attempts against Sergei Bobrovsky during the U.S.-Russia preliminary round game in that tournament.
U.S. Olympic coach Dan Bylsma figured one game would go to a shootout, hence the choice of bringing Oshie. Bylsma kept going back to him over and over.
'T.J. had been on fire that season in the shootout, and with the scouting report on Bobrovsky we felt T.J. would have a great chance against him,' Bylsma told The Associated Press by text message. 'Even when he didn't score, he had beaten Bob with his move, so we kept rolling with him.'
In the NHL, his biggest impact came after he was traded from the Blues to the Capitals in 2015. Oshie took on an immediate leadership role as a key addition to the core of Alex Ovechkin, Backstrom and Carlson, helping the team make the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons in the nation's capital.
'I'll be the first to give credit to my teammates, because without them, I was nowhere near good enough to do it without a group like that,' Oshie said.
Oshie's 76 power-play goals in D.C. are the fifth most in franchise history. He scored 49 times in the shootout, tied for third all time since it was implemented in 2005.
'I like to think that when I was playing, that I was playing for my teammates, for my coaches, for my family, for my fans. I rarely thought about my own accolades,' Oshie said. 'To be remembered (as a 'warrior' type of player) is a huge honor because that was my goal and the way I played the game.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Carolina Hurricanes re-sign Eric Robinson for 4 years after his most productive NHL season
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed depth forward Eric Robinson to a four-year contract worth $6.8 million. General manager Eric Tulsky announced the extension Friday. Robinson will count $1.7 million against the salary cap through the 2028-29 NHL season. The Bellmawr, New Jersey, native set career highs with 14 goals, 18 assists and 32 points this past season after joining the Hurricanes as a free agent. Robinson had three points in 15 games on their run to the Eastern Conference final, which ended with a series loss to the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers. 'It's no surprise to us that Eric had his best professional season last year with Carolina,' Tulsky said. 'His size and speed make him an excellent fit for the way we want to play.' Carolina has made the playoffs seven consecutive years since Rod Brind'Amour took over as coach. Robinson's only previous playoff experience in the league came in the 2020 bubble with Columbus. Robinson, 30, has played 413 NHL regular-season and playoff games with the Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres and Hurricanes since debuting in 2018.
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Blackhawks acquire forward André Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for Joe Veleno
The Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday acquired veteran forward André Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for Joe Veleno. On its surface, the move appears to benefit both parties. The Kraken unload Burakovsky's contract ($5.5 million salary-cap hit) without a burdensome buyout. The Hawks upgrade their offense from the 25-year-old Veleno ($2.275 million), a center who was acquired in a March trade that sent goalie Petr Mrázek and forward Craig Smith to the Detroit Red Wings — a deal completed mainly as a favor to Mrázek. Veleno put up three goals and four assists in 18 games for the Hawks last season. Burakovsky is a two-time Stanley Cup winner, helping the Washington Capitals win the Cup in 2018 and the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. But the 30-year-old winger is no slam-dunk addition. While he twice was a 20-goal scorer with the Avs — he had 22 goals, 39 assists and 61 points in 2021-22, all career highs — injuries and offensive struggles plagued him during his three seasons in Seattle. Last season Burakovsky produced 10 goals and 27 assists in 79 games. The 6-foot-3, 203-pound, left-handed shot is a native of Klagenfurt, Austria, and was the 23rd pick in the 2013 draft by the Capitals. The 11-year-veteran has appeared in 696 career regular-season NHL games, producing 153 goals and 234 assists.
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Pocono starting lineup: Denny Hamlin becomes oldest Cup pole winner since 2017
LONG POND, Pa. — Denny Hamlin won his 44th career Cup pole Saturday, while William Byron and Bubba Wallace had issues in qualifying at Pocono Raceway and will start at the rear of the field. Hamlin won the pole with a lap of 172.599 mph around the 2.5-mile track. The 44-year-old driver becomes the oldest to win a Cup pole since Matt Kenseth won the pole at age 45 at Richmond in September 2017. Hamlin is back at the track this weekend after missing last week's race in Mexico to remain home for the birth of his son. MORE: Cup starting lineup Chris Buescher will start second after a lap of 172.325 mph. It matches his best starting spot of the season. Carson Hocevar (171.825 mph) qualified third, John Hunter Nemechek (171.789) will start fourth and Cole Custer (171.6389) completed the top five. Byron, who had the fastest lap in practice, crashed in qualifying. He got loose off the Tunnel Turn, hit the outside wall and came down the track and nosed into the inside SAFER barrier. #NASCAR … William Byron on his crash in qualifying at Pocono Bubba Wallace, who was second-quick in practice, also will start in the back. His car did not start when it was time to qualify and did not make an attempt. Hamlin, co-owner of Wallace's car, said the No. 23 had a starter issue. Byron and Wallace will be joined at the back of the field by Josh Berry, whose team had to replace the diffuser after practice and did not make an attempt to qualify. Brennan Poole also will start at the rear after his car failed inspection three times. He was not allowed to qualify and will have to do a pass-through on pit road after taking the green flag in Sunday's race.
