A veteran of 1,058 NHL games, Jakub Voracek has announced his retirement at the age of 34. The Czech midfielder had 223 goals and 583 assists for 806 points.
At his peak, Voracek was one of the best players in the NHL. What did he do in his career, and why did he retire?
Awards & Reason for Retirement
Voracek had solid achievements in his NHL career. He was a two-time member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, finishing with 202 points in 331 contests from 2008-11 and 2021-23. He spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Flyers, finishing with 604 points in 727 contests from 2011-21. Twenty-seven of the 28 total points came against the Flyers, too. He won two playoff series in his career.
During his 2014-15 season, Voracek led the NHL in points leading up to the All-Star Break. Through his first 48 contests, he had 17 goals and 39 assists for 56 points. Ultimately, he finished the season tied for fourth place with 81 points and six points behind first place.
Internationally with the Czech Republic, Voracek won a gold medal at the 2010 World Championships, won bronze at the 2011 World Championships, and was named Czech Player of the Year in 2014-15. He was the fourth player in national history to reach at least 800 NHL points.
The reason for Voracek's retirement was just bad luck. During his 2022-23 season, he suffered a concussion that prevented him from playing hockey for the rest of the campaign. At the trade deadline, he and his $8.25 million annual contract were traded to the Arizona Coyotes so the Blue Jackets could save a little money. With that deal expiring after the 2023-24 season, it was clear he wouldn't play again — the Coyotes had a habit of doing this sort of thing to injured athletes but not to retired athletes.
Related: Golden Knights Trade Shea Weber to Coyotes
Considering Voracek's age, the fact that he has $78.9 million in earnings per CapFriendly, and how risky it is to try to re-engage in controversy, it makes sense that the veteran chose to end his career. While he probably won't end up making the Hockey Hall of Fame when all is said and done, he had a great hockey career overall.
