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Martin St. Louis on retiring: 'It was the easiest tough decision I've ever made'

Brace Hemmelgarn / USA TODAY Sports

Martin St. Louis was simply ready to move on.

The 40-year-old, who announced his retirement from professional hockey July 2, addressed the media Monday and explained his decision to hang up the skates rather than prolong his career after exploring free-agent opportunities.

Once his contract with the New York Rangers expired, and it became apparent he wouldn't be retained due to salary cap restraints, St Louis - who said he envisioned finishing his career in the Big Apple - decided it was time to call it a career.

"My heart wasn't in it," St. Louis added, "so it was time to walk away."

St. Louis admitted he was "80-20" in terms of learning towards retirement prior to free agency, but he and his agent did field calls from suitors around the league on July 1.

"I knew there were teams interested," he said. "(But) I feel like if I do something I'm 100 percent in it, and right now it's time to be 100 percent a family man and dad."

St. Louis said he felt like he could still play, citing the 51 goals scored and legitimate chances to win Stanley Cups over the past two seasons, but added he couldn't see himself going through the summer rigors of preparing for another season.

When asked if he felt his career was Hall of Fame worthy, St. Louis responded that his pride was in how he played the game, and that the honor - nice as it would be - wouldn't change how he viewed his career.

His resume would suggest there's a good chance he'll be there one day. All told, he recorded 1,033 points (391 goals, 642 assists) in 1,134 career regular-season games, winning two Art Ross Trophies (2004, 2013), a Hart Trophy (2004), and the Stanley Cup (2004) as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He finished his career with the Rangers, with whom he appeared in another Stanley Cup Final and went as far as the Eastern Conference Final last season, after requesting a trade out of Tampa Bay in 2014.

For now, St. Louis is using his newfound freedom to focus on his family and coaching his kid's hockey team, with his long-term future up in the air.

Which seems to be just the way he wants it.

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