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TJ Oshie announces retirement from the NHL after 16 seasons

Oshie has been in Washington since 2015 and has become a beloved member of the DC sports community.
ByMatthew Miguez|
New York Rangers v Washington Capitals - Game Four
New York Rangers v Washington Capitals - Game Four | Scott Taetsch/GettyImages

After 10 exciting years in the District, TJ Oshie is calling it a career.

The 38-year-old held a ceremony at Washington Harbour, the site of the famous fountain celebration following the Washington Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup victory on the seventh anniversary of that special day.

Oshie released this statement prior to his ceremony:

“After 17 unforgettable years in the NHL, I’ve decided to retire,” said T.J. Oshie. “I would like to thank the Washington Capitals and the St. Louis Blues for giving me the opportunity to play the game I love, all of my teammates who battled with me every night, my coaches who challenged me to be better every day, and the athletic trainers and equipment staff who got me ready to play. I also want to thank the fansyour energy and passion made every game memorable, and it was an honour to play in front of you.”

Oshie was selected 24th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues. However, he spent three seasons at the University of North Dakota following his draft and didn't make his NHL debut until 2008.

In 443 games while a member of the Blues, Oshie racked up 100 goals and 210 assists for 310 total points. Then, on July 2, 2015, Oshie was traded to the District.

Quickly, Oshie became a crowd favorite. From his electric offensive ability on the ice to his leadership and bond with the fans and teammates alike, it was well known early that Oshie would be a Caps fixture for years to come.

Right before the special 2017-2018 season, Oshie was a free agent for the first time in his career. However, he knew he wanted to stay in D.C. and the team wanted him to finish his career at Capital One Arena.

He even wrote down a fake contract on a paper towel and handed it to then-GM Brian MacLellan. Shortly after, the paper towel was signed and the contract was later made official.

Oshie then was a critical part of the most special season in Capitals winning, capturing the franchise's first Stanley Cup in franchise history. He went viral that night celebrating with his father, who was struggling with Alzheimer's at the time. His father passed away three years after the Stanley Cup victory.

For his career with the Caps, Oshie appeared in 567 games and scored 192 goals while making an All-Star Game appearance. He missed the entire 2024-2025 season with injury.

Oshie has been a tremendous piece of the Capitals puzzle over the last 10 years and a part of the best core in franchise history along with Tom Wilson, Alex Ovechkin, Nick Backstrom, and John Carlson.

77 will be missed on the ice, but he will definitely still be involved with the team and the community.

While hanging around your house over the next couple days thinking about the days of Osh-babe, cue up "Country Roads" one last time for good measure.

Thanks for everything, Osh.