Vinny Prospal celebrates a goal as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets last seasonNam Y. Huh/The Associated Press
Veteran forward Vinny Prospal has had a change of heart and will not be joining the Vancouver Canucks.
The 38-year-old Prospal had agreed to a professional tryout contract and was set to make his debut with the Utica Comets of the AHL this weekend. However, one day after that news emerged, Prospal decided he was going to call it a career instead.
"After further thought and talking with his family, Vinny Prospal has informed Canucks that he's retiring and won't be joining Utica on PTO," the Canucks tweeted on Friday.
Propsal played 48 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, scoring 12 goals and 18 assists. However, he had not seen any action this year after becoming a free agent.
Prospal played 16 seasons in the NHL, with seven of those under the tutelage of current Canucks coach John Tortorella, five in Tampa Bay and two in New York.
Prospal's agent had contacted the Canucks last summer about a shot with the team but it is only now that Vancouver agrees, struggling with injuries to key players such as captain Henrik Sedin, who is "day-to-day," and forward Mike Santorelli, who could be out for months.
Files from David Ebner were used in this report