Former New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak officially announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday.
Halak, who spent four seasons with the Islanders, ends an impressive 17-year career between the pipes.
Halak joined the Islanders during the 2014 offseason as part of a significant roster shake-up, acquired for a fourth-round draft pick. That summer, the team also added fellow goalie Chad Johnson, defensemen Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk, and forwards Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski.
Halak quickly established himself as the Islanders’ starting netminder, making an immediate impact by earning an All-Star selection in his first season. He finished that year with a 38-17-4 record, a 2.43 goals-against average (GAA), and a .914 save percentage (SV%). His 38 wins remain the franchise’s single-season record.
The following season, Halak delivered another strong performance, recording an 18-13-4 record with a 2.30 GAA and .919 SV%. Unfortunately, his campaign ended early due to a season-ending injury sustained against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 8, 2016.
Halak’s last two seasons with the Islanders were marked by inconsistency. In 2016-17, he struggled early, posting a 6-8-5 record with a 3.23 GAA and .904 SV%, amid tension created by a crowded three-goalie rotation that included Thomas Greiss and Jean-Francois Berube. He was demoted to AHL Bridgeport on December 30 but returned in March to finish the season with improved numbers—12-9-5, a 2.80 GAA, and .915 SV%.
His final year on Long Island was a disappointing one, with the team’s defensive struggles contributing to his only losing record as an Islander: 20-26-6 with a 3.19 GAA and .908 SV%. That offseason, Halak signed with the Boston Bruins, where he served as a dependable partner to Tuukka Rask for three seasons.
Over his 17-year NHL career, Halak appeared in 581 games, posting a 295-189-69 record with a 2.50 GAA and .915 SV% across seven different teams. He also earned two William M. Jennings Trophies for fewest goals allowed in the league—sharing the honor with Brian Elliott in 2011-12 and Tuukka Rask in 2019-20.
No Comment! Be the first one.