Florida Panthers
Former Florida Panthers Defenseman Keith Yandle Retires
Former Florida Panthers defenseman and NHL IronMan Keith Yandle announced his retirement on Tuesday morning while on the Spittin’ Chicklets podcast.
Hanging at his house in Fort Lauderdale, Yandle said he was “shutting it down, retiring from the game of hockey and literally taking my talents to South Beach and doing nothing.”
Yandle, 36, spent last season with the Philadelphia Flyers after having the final two years of his contract bought out by the Panthers.
He spent 16 seasons in the NHL, playing 1,109 games.
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Yandle ends his career with 103 goals and 619 points between the Coyotes, Rangers, Panthers and Flyers.
After being bought out by the Panthers, Yandle signed with the Flyers where he scored a goal and 19 points in 77 games.
He continued his IronMan streak with the Flyers — which started March 26, 2009 — as he played an NHL-record 989 consecutive games before it came to an end March 29 when Philadelphia made him a healthy scratch.
There was speculation that teams were considering bringing Yandle into training camp on a PTO.
On the podcast with Paul Bissonette and Ryan Whitney, Yandle said he is “at peace with the decision” as training camps begin to open around the NHL this week.
“The last year, it has been one of those things I had been thinking about,” Yandle said. “When it is all you know in your life and to call it quits — you don’t even want to call it quits but an end — it is nerve-wracking. You don’t know what you’re going to do. …
“For me, the past few weeks, I have been at ease with it and have really enjoyed spending time with the family. … I really at ease with it and looking forward to the next chapter for sure.”
Although Yandle is retiring from the game, he remains a part of the Panthers for at least the next few seasons.
Due to the structuring of the seven-year contract he signed with the team in 2016, Yandle’s buyout will cost the Panthers $5.391 million against the salary cap this season and $1.241 million for the following two seasons.
Yandle spent five seasons with the Panthers, scoring 30 goals with 231 points in 371 games.
His retirement announcement coincides with similar announcements from fellow defensemen Zdeno Chara and P.K. Subban.
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Was never a fan of this signing, for one thing, I thought it absolutely stunted the development of Aaron Ekblad. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that after that phenomenal Calder winning Rookie season, Aaron’s regression coincide with the signing of Yandel. It was thought that he was going to be a mentor to Aaron but I truly believe his presence stunted his development just my opinion he seems to have really flourished and kind of gotten back to where he was since Keith’s departure. I’m not knocking Yandles play, I just think it was bad timing on the part… Read more »
This signing and buyout in my opinion was reason we didnt have money for weegar or marchment .Yandles play was below average IMO.We will be paying the price for next 3 years.
Well, if they had not bought him out, they would be paying him $6 million to be playing in the final year of his contract anyway. Regardless, the Panthers were getting hit this season one way or another. Last year they saved $4-plus million on the cap and that gave them flexibility. His hit the next two seasons is just over $1m which is not much.
Just a quick question George doesn’t really matter now but I often wondered if the Huberdeau Tkchuck trade happens prior to signing day for free agents, would the club had come up with the money for Marchmant, knowing they wouldn’t have had to sign Weegar next year? I realize everything at this point is conjecture I’m just curious what your thoughts are
I don’t think so; the combined huberdeau/weegar salary for this season is about what tkachuk makes. Plus, he couldn’t sign an eight-year deal with calgary until after the free agency period opened. Florida simply did not have the money for marchment — especially for this season. If he was UFA next year, well, maybe.