MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Veteran defenseman Phil Housley, who contemplated retiring in the summer, now has done so.
With no teams interested in his services, Housley, 39, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that he is retiring after 20 seasons in the NHL. He is the NHL's all-time leading scorer among American-born players with 1,232 points in 1,495 games, recording 338 goals and 894 assists.
"My long-term goal is to be an NHL coach," Housley told the paper.
Housley was considering retiring before the start of the NHL season but put off the decision, hoping another team would be interested.
A member of the 2002 United States Olympic team, Housley was traded from Chicago to Toronto late last season. He played in the final regular season game and briefly in the playoffs for the Maple Leafs after recovering from a broken foot.
His career also included stints with Buffalo, Winnipeg, St. Louis, Calgary, New Jersey and Washington.
