Seven years to the day that he and several Caps teammates swam in the fountain at Washington Harbour to celebrate their 2018 Stanley Cup, T.J. Oshie announced his retirement in front of that fountain and a large crowd of Capitals faithful.
As he led up to the announcement, Oshie spent some thank thanking many who had a hand in getting him to and through an NHL career with over 1,000 games played and a Stanley Cup, including his teammates and staff from 14 years in the league.
“This moment is bittersweet, but I’m filled with gratitude as I reflect on an incredible journey,” Oshie said before shouting out man who helped him get to this point. “Before I got here, I was in St. Louis for seven years, and on July 2, 2015, I got a call telling me I’d been traded to the Washington Capitals, and moments later, I got a call from Caps GM Brian MacLellan that changed my life, as I was finally freed up to just be me.”
He gave dap to Spencer Carbery for winning the Jack Adams Award, and then to the staff behind the scenes for getting him through a difficult final playing season and LTIR season in DC, and relayed the story of how he gave MacLellan a napkin with several blanks looking for a contract extension when he hit free agency – a napkin that was filled in when he signed his eight-year deal in June 2017.
“I wanted to stay here for a lot of reasons, but mostly because of my teammates,” Oshie said. “It was an absolute privilege to go to war with you on the ice, and 30 years from now, looking back and telling my grandkids what it was like to play in the NHL, I’ll tell them my favorite memory was my time with you.”
And then, it was officially time to say goodbye, as Oshie choked back tears and emotion that had been building for minutes.
“I hope I’ve made you and this city proud in the way I’ve played the game. In 2018, we won the Cup, and we felt your energy and fed off it – the fans were a huge part of my career, and it was an absolute honor to play for you,” Oshie told the fans. “I’ve had the five loves of my life at home waiting for me as I lived my dream – Lauren, my beautiful wife, who always put back the pieces when hockey tore me apart, and Lyla, Leni, Campbell & Lucy, who I love more than you’ll ever know.”
And then came the announcement at the top, and seven years to the day of his most infamous moment after the greatest season of his career, T.J. Oshie’s NHL journey officially ended.