Kris Versteeg, 2-time Stanley Cup champion with Blackhawks, retires

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Two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Blackhawks (2010, 2015) Kris Versteeg retired from professional hockey on Tuesday via a press release from the NHL Players' Association.

Versteeg played in 11 NHL seasons, including five with the Hawks, and recorded 358 points (149 goals, 209 assists) in 643 NHL games. 

He was selected at No. 134 overall in the fifth round of the 2004 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins. 

After coming to Chicago in a Feb. 3, 2007 trade with the Bruins, the Lethbridge, Alberta native made his NHL debut on Nov. 22, 2007 with the Hawks against the Calgary Flames.

Versteeg, now 33, was a Calder Trophy (NHL's best rookie) finalist for the 2008-09 season. 

Following the Hawks' 2010 Stanley Cup championship, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on June 30, 2010 in a salary cap move.

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Versteeg also played for the Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers before returning to the Blackhawks via trade on Nov. 14, 2013. 

After Chicago's 2015 championship, Versteeg and Joakim Nordstrom were traded to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Versteeg played for the LA Kings and Flames before captaining the Hawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, for six games earlier this year before requesting the termination of his contract. 

He's the only NHL player to score a goal at Wrigley Field (2009 NHL Winter Classic), Soldier Field (2014 NHL Stadium Series) and the United Center. 

"I want to thank the Chicago Blackhawks’ entire organization, from top to bottom, especially including the fans. The 2010 Championship was the highlight of my career," Versteeg said in a statement released on Tuesday.

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