Pascal Dupuis Retires: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Pascal Dupuis has been forced to retire from the NHL because of health problems related to blood clots.

Dupuis made the announcement alongside Penguins management at a press conference Tuesday, per the team's official website:    

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It was very difficult for me to make this decision to have to step away from the game. My wife and four children have always been my first priority, and playing with my condition has become a constant worry for all of us. I want to thank my teammates and the Penguins organization for their unwavering support during this difficult time.

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Penguins team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas said in the release that Dupuis' condition made it impossible for him to keep playing.

"Despite playing on a medical protocol that has worked for other players in the NHL, we feel that the risk of Pascal playing with his condition and the side effects of the tests to monitor him are just not in the best interest of his long-term health," Vyas said.

The 36-year-old was first diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung in January 2014, after tearing his ACL against the Ottawa Senators in December. He then played only 16 games last season before the Penguins revealed in November that he had another blood clot in his lung.

In a February post for the Players' Tribune, Dupuis went into detail about the process of being diagnosed with a blood clot for the first time and what it was like:

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The doctor explained that I had a pulmonary embolism. One of the branches of my lung was clogged. The clot probably started in my calf when my leg was immobilized on the flight back from Ottawa. My lung wasn't getting blood supply and was slowly dying. ...

I was on blood thinners from January to July, while I was rehabbing my knee. I wasn't on the ice for six months. I didn't tell my teammates about the blood clot. I didn't tell the press. Only my family knew.

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Per the Penguins' official Twitter account, Dupuis said there had been discussions about his retirement since Pittsburgh's game against the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 1.

Dupuis has appeared in 18 games this season, totaling four points, but his time on the ice has been limited to less than 14 minutes in four straight games. His final NHL game as a player was on Dec. 6 against the Anaheim Ducks.

As for his post-playing plans, Dupuis said, "I still want to help the team win a [Stanley] Cup, it just won't be on the ice," per the team's official Twitter account.

Even though Dupuis' health problems won't allow him to continue playing, he had a successful 15-year career with 190 goals and 219 assists, and he was part of Pittsburgh's championship team in 2008-09. That's a tremendous resume for a player who was undrafted.

Dupuis may not have gone out on his terms, but the veteran winger was able to accomplish more than most athletes. He has to take care of his health and family now, so credit him for understanding when to walk away and being able to do it with his head held high.