Tampa Bay Lightning: Former Defenseman Matt Carle Retires From NHL
Former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Carle has officially announced his retirement from the National Hockey League.
Every season brings some sort of changes for teams in the National Hockey League. Some players make their way into the league while others say goodbye to a team they’ve spent many years with to pursue their hockey journey in a new home. At the same time, some players say goodbye to the sport once and for all.
The latter of the aforementioned is the case when it comes to former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Carle. Earlier this week, Nashville Predators defenseman Matt Carle decided to hang up his skates once and for all and has officially announced his retirement from the National Hockey League.
As many Lightning fans already know, Carle spent four seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Matt Carle joined the Lightning in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season where he would play in all 48 games. The next season, Carle would have what would become his best offensive season with the Bolts.
Tampa Bay Lightning
In the 2013-14 season, Carle played in all 82 games with the Bolts. In that amount of time, the defenseman was able to bring home two goals and 29 assists for a total of 31 points.
Unfortunately, after four seasons with the team, the relationship between Matt Carle and the Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t end very well. After being made a healthy scratch on more than one occasion during the 2015-16, the Tampa Bay Lightning elected to buy out the remaining two years on Carle’s contract and part ways.
Thankfully for Carle, it wouldn’t take very long for him to find a new home. On July 27, 2016, Matt Carle signed a one-year deal with the Nashville Predators. Unfortunately, Carle played in a mere seven games with the Predators before decided to call it a career.
As one could easily imagine, Matt Carle was thankful to many people for the time he was able to spend in the National Hockey League. One of the most important of those people is his family, including his wife, Clancey. He also thanked the Lightning organization, among others, for the opportunities afforded.
"“It has been an honor to be a player in the National Hockey League and play for four great organizations over the past 12 seasons,” Carle said. “At this time, I have decided to retire as a National Hockey League player. I want to thank the San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators for the opportunity to play for each organization. I would also like to thank all the fans that I have met throughout my career for the support that you have given me. Most importantly, I want to thank my family for all the sacrifices they have made on behalf of my career. My Parents, brothers, and wife Clancey allowed me to focus on the pursuit of playing the best sport in the world, in the best League in the world and I will always be grateful.”"
It is never easy for a player to make a decision like this. Much like the others that have come before him, Carle has put a rather large portion of his life chasing a dream that so few ever have the chance to achieve. After a while, the sports world takes its toll on a player. It seems that time has come for Matt Carle.
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We here at Bolts By The Bay would like to wish Matt Carle the best of luck as he embarks on a new journey in his life. Saying goodbye is never an easy thing to do. That being said, we will end by saying “until we meet again.”