Brad Richards Retires: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Longtime NHL center Brad Richards officially announced his retirement from hockey Wednesday after 15 seasons in the league.

The National Hockey League Players' Association posted the announcement confirming his decision on its official site.

Richards included a statement thanking those who helped him along the way during his five NHL stops since arriving to the sport's top level for the 2000-01 season:

"

I want to thank the fans and the five organizations I have played for: Tampa Bay [Lightning], Dallas [Stars], and the three original six teams—the New York Rangers, Chicago [Blackhawks], and Detroit [Red Wings]. During my time with those teams I met many great people. I also want to thank the staff and management in those organizations for all the help and support they gave me. I appreciate all the trainers who did tireless work to help me play and keep me healthy. I had many amazing teammates and made many great friendships along the way that I truly appreciate, and I will never forget the great times we had together. Thank you to all my coaches for pushing, teaching and giving me the opportunity to play this great game. Winning the Stanley Cups in Tampa Bay and Chicago was the best part of my career and I will never forget those moments. Nothing compares to enjoying that night with your team and knowing what you have accomplished together.

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The Prince Edward Island, Canada, native shone at the junior level with Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before the Tampa Bay Lightning selected him in the third round of the 1998 draft at No. 64 overall. He ended up providing incredible value for a mid-round choice.

Richards scored 150 goals and tallied 339 assists for 489 points in 552 games across seven seasons with the Lightning. He also helped lead the franchise to its first Stanley Cup title in 2004, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with 26 points in 23 postseason contests.

His success continued after a midseason trade to the Dallas Stars in 2008. He averaged better than a point per game over four seasons in Dallas (227 points in 220 games) and, a bit surprisingly, made his only All-Star Game during the 2010-11 campaign.

The center, who's now 36, went on to spend three years with the Rangers and one season apiece with the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings as his impact began to fade. He did raise the Stanley Cup for a second time while a secondary contributor with Chicago in 2014-15.

In all, he scored 932 points in 1,126 career games. He added 105 points in 146 postseason contests, reaching the playoffs 10 times in his 15 seasons.

His resume includes winning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship in 2014. He also got the opportunity to represent Canada at the national level in the World Junior Championships, the World Championships, the World Cup of Hockey and the Olympics.

Ultimately, while Richards may have never been one of the NHL's top-tier forwards, he made a far greater impact than most third-round selections. And he'll always hold a special place in Lightning history for being the driving force in bringing a championship to the non-traditional hockey market.