Veteran NHL center Tyler Johnson is hanging up his skates, concluding a professional hockey career that spanned 747 games and included two Stanley Cup championships.
Johnson officially announced his retirement on Monday, bringing an end to his 13 seasons in the sport.
The 5-foot-8 forward entered the National Hockey League undrafted at the age of 22. He signed his first contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2012 and made his NHL debut later that season.
He was a key part of the Lightning team that reached the 2015 Stanley Cup Final. Five years later, he lifted his first Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay during the 2019-20 season, quickly followed by a second consecutive championship the following year.
In the Lightning organization, I found my place. My teammates became brothers, and… together we won back-to-back Stanley Cups, carving our names into history with our coaches and staff. Tampa will forever hold my heart.
The Spokane, Washington native signed a seven-year deal with the Lightning in July 2017. He ranks eighth in the team`s franchise history with 161 goals.
Johnson`s career between 2015 and 2024 was intermittently affected by injuries, which limited his games played per season. He managed to play over 80 games only twice during that nine-year stretch.
In July 2021, Johnson was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he played for three seasons.
He signed a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins in November 2024, but after appearing in just nine games, the contract was mutually terminated.
I`m thrilled to focus on starting a family and exploring new paths. This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets, only gratitude for the rinks, the teammates, the fans, and a sport that will always ignite my soul. Thank you all for being part of my journey.
