Andrew Cogliano has decided to retire after 17 NHL seasons and will join the Colorado Avalanche front office, he announced Friday through the club.
Cogliano, who played 1,294 regular-season games and another 131 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, won a championship with the Avalanche in 2022 and has been one of the most respected “glue guys” of his generation.
“The game of hockey has given me and my family so much and I am grateful for every moment,” Cogliano said in a statement released by the Avs. “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.”
Cogliano was a first-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2005 NHL draft. He played for five teams — Edmonton, Anaheim, Dallas, San Jose and Colorado. The Avalanche traded for him before the 2022 trade deadline, and he became a key role player during the club’s championship run that season.
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Always one of the fastest skaters in the league, Cogliano became a well-respected leader and top penalty killer at each of his stops. He was also an ironman, playing in 830 consecutive games to start his career and missing a total of 27 regular-season contests in 17 years.
Cogliano’s role in the Colorado front office will be varied to start, including doing some work in player development, professional and amateur scouting. He’ll also work with the Colorado Eagles, the club’s AHL affiliate.
“On behalf of the Avalanche organization, we would like to congratulate Andrew on a fantastic NHL career,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a statement. “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.”
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