Bryan Bickell to Retire from NHL After Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis

Carolina Hurricanes forward Bryan Bickell will retire after 10 seasons in the NHL after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November. 

He announced his decision Saturday prior to Carolina's home game against the St. Louis Blues at PNC Arena. 

"I've made the decision with my family that I'm going to call it quits, so it's just these last two games," he said, per NHL.com's Kurt Dusterberg.         

Bickell sat out five months this season while learning to control his symptoms. He returned to the Hurricanes lineup April 4. 

"Since the 2015 playoffs, I've been struggling to understand what was going on with my body," he said in November, per NHL.com. "Again during the past few weeks, it felt like something wasn't right. Obviously, this is a bit of shock for my family and me, but I am hopeful I will be able to return to the ice and continue playing the game that I love."

The 31-year-old was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2004. He made his NHL debut during the 2006-07 season and won Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015 before being traded to the Hurricanes last offseason.