Riley Sheahan, a familiar face for Detroit Red Wings fans, has decided to retire from pro hockey.
Drafted in the first round back in 2010, he played a total of 637 NHL games and 120 AHL games over twelve years with six different teams. His last stint was during the 2022-23 season when he briefly left his position with the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans to play 12 games in Switzerland’s top league with EHC Biel-Bienne.
Sheahan began his journey after his freshman year at Notre Dame, playing until his junior year before going pro at the end of the 2011-12 season. He quickly made an impact with the Fighting Irish, scoring 66 points in 114 games. This success translated into a strong start in the AHL, where he notched up 38 points in his first 79 games. By the following season, Sheahan had earned a spot on Detroit’s roster, contributing 24 points across 42 games as a rookie.
Header Text: Riley’s Journey Through NHL
For four seasons, Sheahan was a solid presence for Detroit until he was traded to Pittsburgh in exchange for Scott Wilson and some draft picks. However, his role didn’t expand much there either and soon enough, another trade sent him packing as Pittsburgh acquired Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann from Florida. This marked the beginning of Sheahan’s wandering years — moving from Edmonton to Buffalo and then Seattle over three seasons.
Despite being reliable wherever he went, surpassing more than 25 points only thrice during his career (36 points in ’14-’15; 25 points ’15-’16; and again reaching that mark ’17-’18), injuries started taking their toll later on. Fans might think this is quite common among athletes nearing retirement age.
Injuries plagued him through these later years—landing him on IR lists repeatedly between ’19 to ’22—and after an undisclosed injury put him out once more on October seventh last year…he decided it was time for goodbyes! Scoring totals stood at respectable numbers:194 NHL points plus another sixty-one within AHL ranks!
Now stepping away from competitive ice battles altogether doesn’t mean slowing down entirely though! These days you’ll find Riley helping Sunday night development skates alongside Niagara North Stars while considering future coaching endeavors too—though family remains priority number one with wife & kids always coming first!
What do you think about Riley’s decision?
