Veteran defenceman Darryl Sydor has retired from playing as a professional hockey player after 18 years spent in the NHL. Sydor, 38, played in only 47 games for the St.Louis Blues last season, posting eight assists.

Sydor played in 1,291 NHL games with Los Angeles, Columbus, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Dallas, and St. Louis, recording 98 goals and 409 assists. His 1,291 games played currently ranks him 16th all-time among NHL defenseman.

The 6-foot-1, 211-pounder won Stanley Cups with Dallas in 1999 and Tampa Bay five years later. The Edmonton native spent most of his career in Dallas, playing nine seasons for the Stars.

Sydor, who was originally drafted by the Kings with the seventh overall pick in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, appeared in 155 playoff games, accumulating nine goals and 47 assists. As a junior player he won a Memorial Cup with the Kamloops Blazers and also represented Canada at the World Junior Championships.

The announcement was made on the 13th of July and he report is that he has currently signed on as an assistant coach with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League.