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Marty St. Louis retires after 16 seasons (with photo gallery)

 
Martin St. Louis hoists the Stanley Cup while on stage with his wife Heather St. Louis and Sean Kelly from the Samples band at a private party during St. Louis' time with the cup in Burlington, Vermont in 2004. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Martin St. Louis hoists the Stanley Cup while on stage with his wife Heather St. Louis and Sean Kelly from the Samples band at a private party during St. Louis' time with the cup in Burlington, Vermont in 2004. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Published July 3, 2015

Former Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk called him the most important person in franchise history. Another former captain, Vinny Lecavalier, called him the best teammate he has had. Current Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said no other player has influenced him more.

But former teammate Dan Boyle put it best. He said Thursday was "a sad day."

Simple, but true. Marty St. Louis, perhaps the greatest player in the history of the Lightning, retired Thursday after 16 NHL seasons. St. Louis, 40, ended his career with the Rangers, but it was his 13 seasons in Tampa Bay that featured the best moments of his career, including a league MVP trophy and the 2004 Stanley Cup win.

"The Lightning organization would not be where it is today without Marty St. Louis," Andreychuk said. "I truly believe that."

In announcing his retirement in a statement issued through the Rangers, St. Louis thanked the Lightning and Rangers, former teammates, his family and the fans. He also said he was blessed for having an "amazing ride" in the NHL.

That ride featured 391 goals and 1,033 points in 1,134 regular-season games, two scoring titles, an MVP award, six All-Star appearances and three Lady Byng trophies, awarded to the league's most gentlemanly player.

Born in Laval, Quebec, just outside Montreal, and undrafted out of the University of Vermont, St. Louis started his NHL career in 1998 as a free agent with the Flames. He signed with the Lightning as a free agent in 2000.

Despite his 5-foot-8 frame, St. Louis went on to become one of the league's top players after he joined the Lightning. St. Louis became Tampa Bay's all-time leader in points and assists, and is second in games and goals.

He led the league in scoring and won the MVP award in 2003-04 when he posted 94 points in 82 games. In the Stanley Cup final that season, his goal in double overtime of Game 6 against Calgary forced Game 7, which the Lightning won for its only championship.

Eight years later, St. Louis won his second scoring title.

In addition, he served as Lightning captain and became a mentor to the current group of players.

"He was a guy that took me under his wing since I was 18 years old," Stamkos said during this year's playoffs. "He's the ultimate competitor, the ultimate professional. I mean, you could go on and on with how well he conducts himself."

Though known for his intensity, St. Louis had a different side off the ice.

"A lot of people don't realize what a great sense of humor he has," Lecavalier said. "He's hilarious. And a prankster."

Said Andreychuk: "That's true. He's a guy that everyone always wanted to be around."

St. Louis' career in Tampa Bay ended in controversy after he requested a trade to the Rangers in the middle of last season for family and personal reasons. After going to New York in March 2014, he helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup final last year — they lost to the Kings — and the Eastern Conference final this season, in which they were eliminated by the Lightning.

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He had 52 points in the 2014-15 regular season but only one goal in the playoffs, and the Rangers made it clear they were not interested in re-signing the 40-year-old. He probably could have found another team interested in his services, but he chose to call it quits instead, saying he wanted to start a new chapter with his family.

"I think he could still play if he really wanted to," Andreychuk said. "But it would have to have been the perfect situation. It's too bad. It's unfortunate. I'm sure it's a sad day for him.

"It's a sad day for all of us."