LOS ANGELES _ Former Blackhawks and current Hurricanes winger Bryan Bickell said he plans to retire from the NHL after this season, Bickell told NHL.com.
Bickell, 31, worked his way back to the ice for the Hurricanes late this season after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November.
Bickell played in parts of nine seasons with the Hawks before they traded him this offseason to the Hurricanes. Bickell was scheduled to play in the Hurricanes' final two games this weekend.
"From where I was at my peak to where I am now, there's a difference in my game," Bickell said, according to NHL.com.
"I don't think I will ever get back to that point with the circumstances," he said. "For the last couple months, from where I was mentally and physically to where I am now, it's a big change. I'm just happy to finish up here and move on."
Bickell contributed to the Hawks' three Stanley Cup runs this decade and in the 2013 run, he contributed nine goals in 23 playoff games to help the Hawks win the game. He scored the tying goal late in the third period of the clinching Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final that year against the Bruins. Dave Bolland scored the winning goal 17 seconds later.
"He gave us a nice presence and did a lot of things for us," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Size, physicality. He could shoot the puck. One of those guys that you like as a coach and you appreciate as a teammate. You're happy to have him and fortunate to get a chance to coach for him."
Bickell battled health issues his final two seasons with the Hawks. Bickell said he contracted vertigo during the 2015 playoffs and later that year said he was battling an ocular issue. He was sent down to Rockford for much of the 2015-16 season to save cap space on a four-year, $16 million deal he signed after the 2013 season.
The Hawks traded him along with Teuvo Teravainen to the Hurricanes last offseason.
"I thought he did great job this year doing everything he could to get back and play," Quenneville said. "And commend Carolina giving him a chance to do what he had to do to get back to play again. It's a tough story, but at the same time, special guy."
