Former NHL Veteran Surprises the Hockey World by Retiring From the Game to Join Women's Soccer
Anton Stralman was a long-time veteran in the NHL, a journeyman who played 15-years, with seven teams in the league.
He has decided to hang up the skates, after playing 48 games in Sweden with the HV71 Jonkoping HC.
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Stralman in 2005, and would only play in Toronto for two seasons before becoming a seasoned veteran, who would make the rounds in the NHL. He'd play for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
He'd finish his career in the NHL in 2022-2023, after playing 7 games with the Bruins and heading home to Sweden.
Stralman has played 938 games in the NHL split between seven NHL clubs, scoring a total of 293 points( 63 G, 230 A).
His most productive year in the NHL was in 2014-2015, with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he'd post 39 points( 9 G, 30 A) in a team that would meet the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals.
You'd think the defenseman would continue his hockey career in a coaching or consultant fashion, with one of his local hockey clubs.
But he has instead ditched the skates and the hockey rink entirely, for a different sport altogether.
He has decided to move into coaching women's soccer, namely as a coach on the Skultorps IF team.
This is a surprising switch, from someone who had a solid albeit career which didn't accumulate many accolades or awards in the NHL.
But the Tibro, Sweden native has decided to begin new, in a new sport and we wish him much success in retirement from hockey.
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