New York Rangers 16-year veteran goaltender Martin Biron announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on Sunday. (file photo)BILL BOYCE/The Associated Press
Goaltender Martin Biron announced his retirement at the age of 36 on Sunday, after playing parts of 16 NHL seasons.
The New York Rangers put Biron on waivers last week, at which time he said he needed to talk to his family and friends and consider his options. Biron was assigned to the Hartford Wolfpack on Tuesday, but he did not report.
"After thinking about it with my family, I've decided to retire as a player and move on to a new chapter," Biron wrote on his verified Twitter account. "Thank you all for your support."
Biron went 230-191-52 with a 2.61 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 508 games with the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and Rangers. He gave up nine goals on 38 shots in two appearances this season before being waived.
Biron, a native of Lac-Saint-Charles, Que., played three seasons in the QMJHL for the Beauport Harfangs and the Hull Olympiques. He was the 16th overall pick of the Sabres in 1995 and started there until he was displaced by Ryan Miller and requested a trade.
He spent two-plus seasons with the Flyers before going to the Islanders and then serving as Henrik Lundqvist's backup on the Rangers.
Biron missed the start of training camp to attend to a personal situation. Not long after he arrived, the Rangers released veteran goalie Johan Hedberg from a professional tryout.
His early-season struggles led to the Rangers calling up 26-year-old Cam Talbot from the AHL. New York starter Lundqvist went 2-4-0 with a 3.45 goals-against average and .890 save percentage in his first seven appearances.
Biron's retirement brought an outpouring of support on social media, from current and former teammates including Rangers defenceman Michael Del Zotto and forward Brian Boyle, Philadelphia Flyers assistant coach Ian Laperriere and Phoenix Coyotes enforcer Paul Bissonnette.