We have some other players pushing. Not long after the Niskanen news surfaced, the Flyers re-signed defenseman Justin Braun to a two-year, $3.6 million deal. Updated: October 05, 2020 06:36 PM Former University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) and Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl defenseman Matt Niskanen plans to retire from the NHL. I think I’m pretty aware of what’s available and we’ll just have to make some decisions from here. "There are different ways to attack this. He had 33 points in 68 games for the Flyers last season. Niskanen had 33 points in 68 games for the Flyers this past season. The 33-year-old Niskanen, who was acquired in a trade last offseason, was set to be on the final year of his seven-year, $40.25 million deal in which he would have held a cap hit of $5.75 million in 2020-21. I just told him to get home, see your family, spend some time and let’s talk again in a few weeks. "He’s the consummate professional and teammate," the Flyers' GM said. "It caught me off-guard, absolutely," Fletcher said Monday in a video interview. Following 2020-21, Niskanen would have been a free agent in his mid-30s. Fantasy hockey rankings Week 11 update: How to manage the NHL schedule, How the Penguins have survived another season of horrible injury luck, NHL Power Rankings: Trade-deadline sticking points for all 31 teams, From young Rangers fan to 'the next Brian Leetch,' Adam Fox describes his NHL journey, Regrading 10 recent NHL trade deadline blockbusters, MacKinnon, Avalanche stay hot with 4-1 win over Ducks, Asplund, Skinner lift Buffalo to comeback win over Flyers, Kings score 3 in second period, beat Sharks 4-2, Markstrom blanks Oilers as Flames win 5-0. The 33-year-old former defenseman, understandably, was extremely concerned with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and that led to his retirement from the league. Niskanen, 33, was part of the Flyers' No. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. “There are only … Early Monday morning, reports poured in that 33 year-old veteran defenseman Matt Niskanen is retiring after a brilliant 13-year NHL career. Among the Flyers, Niskanen was second on the team in minutes per game (21:54) and shorthanded minutes per game (2:38), third in plus-minus (plus-15), seventh in power play minutes (139:26) and finished with 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) over 68 regular-season games. "I think being away from your family, a couple months in the bubble, impacted a lot of veteran players — not just ours but around the league," Fletcher said. The 33-year-old defenceman had one year remaining on his current contract with the team. The Minnesota native won a Stanley Cup two years ago and spent this past … Niskanen, a smart, puck-moving blueliner with 140 games of playoff experience, improved the Flyers at 5-on-5, on the power play and the penalty kill. In an interview with USA Hockey Magazine in 2014, Matt Niskanen was asked about his favorite quote. It’s difficult I think for some players, so we talked about it ... there’s a lot of emotion, there’s always a lot of emotion at the end of a season, we lost a tough Game 7 the night before. With escrow, Niskanen would not have received the full $5.75 million, but he would have gotten most of it. I completely respect that, he’s earned that right and we’ll just move forward from here. I think he felt this was the time to do so. That number will be removed entirely from the Flyers books, meaning they have some extra cap space to spend this offseason. PHILADELPHIA, Penn. Photo: @Capitals. TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen is seriously considering hanging up his skates: Hearing via sources that Matt Niskanen is learning towards retirement. It was his first season in Philadelphia after being traded by the Washington Capitals, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2018. Niskanen, 33, has another year left on his contract at $5.75 million. Fletcher said Niskanen "did as much as anybody to change the mindset" of the Flyers, who became a top-six club this past season after a disastrous 2018-19 campaign, prior to the arrival of the accomplished blueliner. Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen retires, Justin Braun is quickly re-signed. After all, he’s put a lot of time into his career. The answer is the uncertainty of COVID-19 caused Niskanen’s sudden retirement, says his agent according to Sports Illustrated. Niskanen has played 949 games in the NHL with 356 points for the Flyers, Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Dallas Stars. "Thank you to the Flyers organization for the opportunity to play in Philly last season," Niskanen said, via Flyers senior director of public relations and communications Zack Hill. October 05, 2020 Flyers re-sign defenseman Justin Braun after Matt Niskanen retires Matt Niskanen, the team's steady, veteran, all-situation defenseman who was instrumental in the club's 2019-20 turnaround season, has retired. Matt just said to me that he wanted to go when it was time, he wanted to make that decision. Niskanen, 33, had one year left on his contract at $5.75 million against the salary cap, which will come off the Flyers' books as a result of his retirement. According to Elliotte Friedman, Niskanen told the Flyers a little while ago that he's walking away from hockey, the team wanted him … This announcement has really caught the Flyers by surprise. Niskanen did not detail why he decided to hang up the skates. General manager Chuck Fletcher confirmed the retirement on Monday afternoon. "He certainly won’t be an easy player to replace, but today should be about thanking Matt for what he did, for what he contributed to our group and we’re very grateful for the time that we had with him. He stabilized the game of his defensive partner, Ivan Provorov, and helped the Flyers' defense greatly improve. Let’s update this: Matt Niskanen has informed PHI that he will retire. Uncertainty Surrounding COVID-19 Led to Matt Niskanen's Retirement. The desire and need to bring back the 33-year-old Braun certainly spiked once the Flyers found out Niskanen's decision to retire. Remaining Ad Time Ad - 00:00. But replacing a player the caliber of Niskanen is not a simple, quick-decision task and could require a tough decision. "I think it’s tough when you have a young family, to be away and different circumstances, the game became a little bit different than what it was. Matt Niskanen, the team's steady, veteran, all-situation defenseman who was instrumental in the club's 2019-20 turnaround season, has retired. 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Team asked him to take some time and think about it, he did and stayed with that decision. The Flyers have announced that they have re-signed Right-Handed Defenseman Justin Braun to a new two-year $3.6 million deal, worth $1.8 million per year. Veteran defenseman Matt Niskanen decides to retire after 13 NHL seasons. Defenseman Matt Niskanen has informed the team that he has decided to retire. Niskanen told Fletcher he was going to retire. In a stunning turn of events, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen has decided to retire from the NHL. ", Niskanen retires as Flyers' offseason changes considerably, acquired the Stanley Cup champion from the Capitals, the Flyers re-signed defenseman Justin Braun to a two-year, $3.6 million deal, listening on trade offers for Shayne Gostisbehere. His winning pedigree rubbed off on teammates and Fletcher lauded Niskanen's "tremendous presence. The 33-year-old Niskanen, who was acquired in a trade last offseason, was set to be on the final year of his seven-year, $40.25 million deal in which he would have held a cap hit of $5.75 million in 2020-21. Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Matt Niskanen is retiring from professional hockey, per a report from Elliotte Friedman. These moves leave the Flyers with over $8.68 million in cap space heading into free agency, which begins on Friday. The news is significant to the Flyers' offseason decisions and 2020-21 chances. I’m sure the uncertainty of next season and some of the changes that have been brought on by the pandemic and how it has forced us to play has certainly had an impact. We’ve had a couple conversations since then and he’s resolute in his desire to retire. Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher wasted no time ensuring up the back end with Niskanen’s departure. Let’s update this: Matt Niskanen has informed PHI that he will retire. 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