He was a key acquisition at the Trade Deadline in 2022, and gave an important speech in front of his teammates prior to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. After 1,294 NHL games, Andrew Cogliano is calling it a career.

This is not goodbye, though.

On Friday morning, the 37 year old announced his retirement from the game of hockey. He leaves the game having scored 464 points over a 17 year career, and he leaves the game a champion. He isn’t leaving the Colorado Avalanche organization, though. Cogliano will be joining the organization’s front office, assisting in a number of roles, including player development, scouting, and working with the Colorado Eagles.

The veteran forward released the following statement…

“The game of hockey has given me and my family so much and I am grateful for every moment,” said Cogliano. “I am blessed to have played for so long with some great organizations and amazing teammates. I will miss being with the guys in the dressing room and battling for each other on the ice every night but it’s time to move on. Thank you to everyone I ever played with, played for and all the great fans for all of their support. I am excited to start my new chapter in the front office.”

Here’s what Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland had to say…

“On behalf of the Avalanche organization, we would like to congratulate Andrew on a fantastic NHL career,” said Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland. “He is a true pro, a fierce competitor, a great teammate and leader, and a mentor for younger players. He always set the example for the rest of the group with his hard work on and off the ice and his preparation and details. And while we will miss him on the ice, we couldn’t be more excited to have him on board with our organization in this new role. He will be an invaluable resource with his unique knowledge of the game and his many years of experience to help the next generation of Avalanche players.”

There’s really no other word to describe Cogliano other than “warrior.” That man is as committed a pro as I’ve ever seen. After every morning skate, he’s in the hallway doing ladders, preparing his body for the evening. He’s always the first on the ice for morning skate and ready to go, and was very generous with his time with the media. Congratulations to him on one heck of a career, and it’s a big win that he will be staying with the organization.