NHL Free Agency Rumors: The Top 10 Players Who Will Retire by 2012-13

Ask any person who has ever played a sport what the toughest moment in their career was.  Nine out of ten times the player will admit that the toughest moment was when they had to retire. There are some players in the NHL who have done a lot for the game. The following 10 players will have hung up their skates by the time the 2012-13 seasons rolls around.

Teemu Selanne

Ken Levine/Getty Images

16 Jan 1993: Rightwinger Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine /Allsport

The Finnish Flash is an icon when it comes to the game of hockey. His speed at his peak was unmatched, his hands were soft and gentle, and his scoring touch was electric and lethal. Teemu Selanne will have amassed a total close to 1400 points by the time he hangs up his skates.

Achievements 

• Goals: 637
• Assists: 703
• Points: 1340
• Winter Olympic Games all-time points leader (37)^[
• NHL single-season record for goals by a rookie (76 in 1992–93)
• NHL single-season record for points by a rookie (132 in 1992–93)
• NHL single season record for most goals by a European player (76 in 1992–93 tied with Alexander Mogilny)
• NHL calendar month record for most goals (20 in March 1993)
• 10-time All-Star 
• 2006-07 Stanley Cup with Anaheim Ducks
• Calder Trophy: 1993

Nicklas Lidstrom

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

DETROIT - MAY 6: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the San Jose Sharks in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 6, 2011 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by G

Nicklas Lidstrom will go down in history as one of the greatest defenseman to ever play in the NHL. His overall play has made him one of the greats and fan favorites amongst the Detroit Red Wings. Nicklas Lidstrom's offensive and defensive skills make him a dual threat on the ice.

Achievements 

• Four-time Stanley Cup Winner
• 12-time All-Star 
• Six-time Norris Trophy winner 
• Conn Smythe Trophy winner 
• Olympic gold medal winner (2006)
• 253 goals, 855 assists, 1108 points
  
  
  

Martin Brodeur

Jonathan Klein/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: Martin Brodeur #30 of the New Jersey Devils stretches prior to the game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jonathan Klein/Getty Images)

Marty Brodeur is a goalie who needs no introduction so I will let his stat sheet speak for itself.

Achievements and Records

• Most regular season wins: 625
• Most shutouts: 116
• Most shutouts, regular season & playoffs combined: 137
• Most overtime wins: 45
• Most consecutive 30-win seasons: 12
• Most consecutive 35-win seasons: 11
• Most 40-win seasons: 8
• Youngest goalie to reach 300, 400, and 500 career wins
• Only goalie to reach 600 career wins
• Most games played by an NHL goaltender: 1132
• Most total minutes played by an NHL goaltender: 66,636
• Only NHL goalie to score a game-winning goal
• Tied for Most career goals by a goaltender, including playoffs - 2 with Ron Hextall 
• Two Time Olympic Gold Medalist 
• Three Time Stanley Cup Winner 
• 10-Time All-Star
• Four time Vezina Trophy Winner
• Five Time William J Jennings Trophy Winner

Regular season

• Most wins in a single season: 48
• Most minutes played in a single season: 4697

Marty Brodeur is simply one of the greatest goalies the game of hockey has ever seen. He has put up mind-boggling numbers and records that may never be broken.

Chris Drury

Jonathan Klein/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: Chris Drury #23 of the New York Rangers skates in warmups prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on April 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jonathan Klein/Getty Images)

Chris Drury is one of the most clutch players in NHL history when it comes to scoring game winning goals 

He had a total of 11 game-winning goals in four straight playoff seasons in Colorado. Avalanche captain Joe Sakic once said of Drury, "You want a goal, you're in overtime – you want him."

Chris Drury has always been a great two way forward who was known for his faceoff and penalty killing abilities.

Achievements 

• Two-time Olympic Silver Medalist
• 2000-01 Stanley Cup winner with Colorado Avalanche
• Only player in hockey history to win both the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and Calder Memorial Trophy.

Mark Recchi

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - MAY 17: Mark Recchi #28 of the Boston Bruins controls the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 17, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Pho

Currently, Mark Recchi is the oldest active player in the NHL at 43 and is the active leader in points scored and games played. He has worn many different jerseys over the course of his NHL career. He is one of the most prolific scores in NHL history.

Achievements

• Seven-time All-Star
• Two-time Stanley Cup Champion: 1991: Pittsburgh, 2006: Carolina
• 577 Goals, 956 Assists, 1533 Points
• 1652 games played

Chris Osgood

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 2: Chris Osgood #30 of the Detroit Red Wings turns a shot away in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on January 2, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Flyers defeated the Wings 3-2. (Photo by Claus Anderzen/Get

Chris Osgood is one of the best goalies in Detroit Red Wings history. Had he not have left the Red Wings back in 2001, he could have some more wins and another cup or two

Achievements

• 400 Career Wins
• Three- time Stanley Cup Champion
• Two-time All-Star
• Two-time William J. Jennings Award Winner

Kris Draper

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

DETROIT - MAY 6: Kris Draper #33 of the Detroit Red Wings looks on the San Jose Sharks in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 6, 2011 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Sha

Kris Draper is one of the great grinders in the NHL today. He is a member of the famed Grind Line in Detroit, consisting of himself, Kirk Maltby and either Joe Kocur or Darren McCarty.

Kris Draper has amassed over 1,000 carrer games as a Detroit Red Wing.

Achievements

• Four-time Stanley Cup Winner
• Selke Trophy Winner in 2004

Dwayne Roloson

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - MAY 21: A first period goal by Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins gets past Dwayne Roloson #35 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at St

Dwayne Roloson has a knack of keeping up with the youngsters come playoff time. Dwayne Roloson is a 41-year-old goalie in a young man's game. Throughout his career, Roly the goalie has defied the stereotype that older goalies can't hack it.

Dwayne Roloson will go down as one of the more underrated goalies in NHL history. 

Alexei Kovalev

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 16: Bobby Holik #16 and Alex Kovalev #27 (right) of the New York Rangers celebrate after Holik scored a goal against Patrick Lalime #40 of the Ottawa Senators on February 16, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by

During his prime and heyday, Alexei Kovalev was one of the most lethal snipers in the NHL. He got off to a hot start when he entered the league with the New York Rangers.

Kovalev bounced around the league and suited up for many teams during his NHL career.

Achievements 

• Stanley Cup Winner in 1994 with the New York Rangers
• Three-time All-Star
• All Star Game MVP in 2009
• 428 Goals, 596 Assists, 1024 Points
• 1st Russian Born Player drafted in 1st Round of NHL Draft
• One of the 1st Russians to have name engraved on Stanley Cup

Mike Modano

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

DALLAS - APRIL 08: Center Mike Modano #9 of the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on April 8, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

It is uncertain wether or not Mike Modano will hang up his skates for good this offseason. When he does finally decide to hang them up he will go down as one of the greatest American Born NHL'ers in history.

Achievements 

Most:

• Goals by a player born in the United States (561)
• Points by an American-born player (1374)
• Playoff points by an American-born player, career (145)
• Games played by an American-born forward (1499)
• Eight-time All-Star
• Stanley Cup Champion with Dallas Stars in 1999.

Comments, Questions, Concerns?

For more Stanley Cup playoffs and NHL news updates and alerts,

Follow Tom Urtz on Twitter and at

SportsHaze NYC