Former Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist retires at age 36

Patric Hornqvist, a vital component of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017 who played as if he would never quit, has retired.

The 36-year-old power forward announced his retirement in an interview with journalist Per Bjurman of Swedish outlet Aftonbladet on Wednesday.

A veteran of 15 NHL seasons, Hornqvist was a rambunctious net-front presence who scored goals and agitated goaltenders by simply refusing to leave the crease. That hard-scrabble style extracted a toll, however, as Hornqvist suffered several concussions, among other injuries, during his career.

This past season, as a member of the Florida Panthers, Hornqvist suffered two concussions and, as a result, was sidelined for the final 57 games of the regular season as well as the Panthers’ entire 21-game postseason run to the Stanley Cup Final.

“I feel good now and hopefully have many good years ahead of me, and with my injury history, I don’t want to risk future ones,” Hornqvist said to Aftonbladet via translation. “It will be a big adjustment, but it feels good now. I’m looking forward to the rest of my life.”

A native of Sweden, Hornqvist joined the Penguins during the 2014 offseason when he was acquired via trade from the Nashville Predators. Affectionately known as “Horny,” Hornqvist reached the 20-goal mark during his first four seasons with the Penguins.

His most notable moment with the franchise came during a 2-0 win against the Predators in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final when he scored the championship-winning goal late in regulation.

Over six seasons with the Penguins, Hornqvist appeared in 407 regular-season games and scored 264 points (132 goals, 132 assists).

During the 2020 offseason, Hornqvist was traded to the Panthers.

The last overall selection (No. 230 overall) of the 2005 NHL Draft, Hornqvist appeared in 901 career games and had 543 points (264 goals, 279 assists).

Follow the Penguins all season long.