After 21 seasons in the National Hockey League, Brendan Shanahan has finally announced his retirement. In a planned move on Tuesday, the 40-year-old winger called it quits on what can only be described as a gloriously successful career. With the 2009 NHL Hall of Fame induction ceremonies out of the headlines, Shanahan’s retirement announcement comes at a perfect time. All focus will be on the eight-time All-Star, and there will certainly be some ceremonies in his honor in Detroit in the coming days, the city where Shanahan brought back three Stanley Cups and where he undoubtedly enjoyed the majority of his success.

Shanahan now begins his road to the Hall of Fame. His career began when he was selected by the New Jersey Devils second overall in the 1987 Entry Draft. He spent four seasons there before moving to St. Louis for four more, Hartford for two, then playing the majority of his prime career with the Red Wings from 1996 to 2006. He then played two seasons in a Rangers uniform before wrapping it up where he began in New Jersey. He finishes his career with 656 goals (11th all-time) – 109 of which were game-winners (fifth all-time) – and he has 1,354 points (23rd all-time) in 1,524 games played. 237 of his goals came on the power play. Shanahan is also the only player in NHL history with at least 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes.

Outside the NHL, Shanahan has enjoyed success on many world stages. He played for Canada in the 1987 World Junior Tournament, won gold with Team Canada in each of the 1991 Canada Cup and the 1994 World Championships in Italy. He won silver in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, and participated in the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998 before winning gold at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, and finally competed in the 2006 World Championships. In 41 games at the international level, Shanahan has recorded 14 goals and 23 points. His experience under the spotlight has also been a source of inspiration for many younger players over the years.

Shanahan is certainly leaving a different NHL behind than the one he found in 1987. The game is faster, bigger and more diverse. After 21 years and five different teams, Shanahan is hanging up his skates for the last time. What’s next for the power forward is anyone’s guess. For the time being, he will be spending time with his wife and three children. However, after his role in bringing together players and coaches during the 2004-05 NHL lockout to present some key recommendations to improve the game, it might be a safe bet that he’ll be involved in hockey for years to come.