The NHL’s defensive landscape is going to look quite different for the 2022-23 season and beyond.
On Tuesday, P.K. Subban, Zdeno Chara, and Keith Yandle all announced their retirements from the sport of hockey. Through either a strange stroke of fate or a coordinated effort, hockey fans were quite surprised to see all three announce their retirements before 10 a.m. on a weekday morning.
Subban, Chara, and Yandle played a combined 3,977 NHL games (playoffs included) stretching back to 1997-98, when Chara played his rookie season with the New York Islanders. The three have accolades to spare, with Subban and Chara each winning a Norris Trophy in their careers while Yandle, as of September, is the NHL’s current Iron Man, having played the most consecutive games (989) in league history.
Thank You! pic.twitter.com/rpyePEKvyG
— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) September 20, 2022
After playing 1,109 games as well as setting a new Ironman record, Keith Yandle has announced his retirement from the NHL.
Congratulations on a great career! 👏 pic.twitter.com/0NGmfvM6eU
— NHL (@NHL) September 20, 2022
Times certainly are changing when three pillars of the NHL’s defensive corps all retire on the same day! Hockey fans made sure to salute Subban, Chara, and Yandle for their illustrious careers on social media after the announcements were made.
Keith Yandle, Zdeno Chara and P.K. Subban all announced their retirements today.
They played a combined 54 seasons and 3,977 NHL games (regular season and playoffs) .
Congratulations to all three players on their outstanding careers 👏
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) September 20, 2022
Keith Yandle, Zdeno Chara and P.K. Subban would have made quite a top 3 on D not long ago. All of them are retiring.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) September 20, 2022
End of an era. Cheers to retirement for Chara, Subban, Yandle.
We hope to keep seeing these guys around the game somehow. pic.twitter.com/x4ltRli5Lx
— Bring Hockey Back (@BringHockeyBack) September 20, 2022
PK SUBBAN, ZDENO CHARA, AND YANDLE ALL RETIRED TODAY ??
— Victoria (@fakehockeyteam) September 20, 2022
Subban didn't actually intend to retire today but Chara was retiring so the refs pulled off another guy for no reason to balance it out
— Acting the Fulemin (@ATFulemin) September 20, 2022
Zdeno Chara, PK Subban, and Keith Yandle all retiring on the same day. That's a shitload of defensive talent hanging up the skates.
Respect to them all.
— Unmistakable Latin Flavor (@UrinatingTree) September 20, 2022
Time to catch our breath. Three stalwart NHL defensemen of the last two decades P.K. Subban, Zdeno Chara and Keith Yandle all retiring and calling it a career this morning.
— Ian Cameron (@bobano) September 20, 2022
Zedno Chara, Keith Yandle and P.K. Subban all retired today. Really is a changing of the guard for defenseman.
— John Williams (@JaW1224) September 20, 2022
Some NHL legends hanging up the blades today. What careers for Subban, Chara and Yandle 👏🏼
— Jessi Pierce (@jessi_pierce) September 20, 2022
P.K. Subban, Zdeno Chara and Keith Yandle, all great ambassadors of the game and all announced their retirements today. Not sure I can take any more today OK guys? 🏒
— Christine Simpson (@SNChrisSimpson) September 20, 2022
Keith Yandle, Zdeno Chara and P.K. Subban all retire from the @NHL within hours of each other. The game just lost 3 terrific players but likely gained 3 incredible alumni ambassadors.
— Matthew Blittner (@MatthewBlittner) September 20, 2022
PK Subban, Zdeno Chara, and Keith Yandle all retired and it’s not even 10AM yet. Terrific careers, all of them.
— Liam_Gotimer (@gotimer_liam) September 20, 2022
Chara, Yandle and Subban all hanging them up this year.
They were great to watch, fantastic careers.
I also feel extremely old today.
— Cam / NoSleeves (@NoSleevesGaming) September 20, 2022
Today's been one hell of a day for retirements.
P.K. Subban and Zdeno Chara were both at one point the best defenseman in the league. Keith Yandle's career is impressive in its own right as well.
Happy retirement to all three of them.
— Colby Guy (@ColbyDGuy) September 20, 2022
Lowkey sad seeing Subban, Chara, and Yandle all retire in the same day
These guys in their prime were all very different but absolute workhorses
— JT Miller is the 🐐 (@Conditional1st) September 20, 2022
Mad respect to Zdeno Chara, PK Subban and Keith Yandle. Respects on their retirements 👏
— Hot Take Hockey (@HotTakeHockey) September 20, 2022
