Scott Gomez, Former Devils And Rangers Standout, Announces Retirement

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CBSNewYork) -- Former Devils and Rangers All-Star center Scott Gomez is calling it a career after 16 seasons.

Gomez, 36, told the Alaska Dispatch News in an article published online Wednesday night that he is retiring from the NHL.

"This has been my life," he told the newspaper. "It's so weird to think I'm never going to play hockey again.

"People say, 'You'll find something.' But saying that, there will never be that feeling again, of even playing a preseason NHL game. You're playing at the highest level there is.

"But I'm done. I'm done."

The Devils selected Gomez in the first round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He became the first Hispanic to play in the NBA and is one of only a handful of Alaskans to do so.

Gomez spent seven seasons with the Devils, helping to win the Stanley Cup in 2000 and 2003. He was an All-Star during his 1999-2000 rookie season and won the Calder Memorial Trophy after he registered 70 points. Gomez tied for the NHL lead in assists with 56 in 2003-04. His best season came in 2005-06, when he had 33 goals and 51 assists (84 points).

In 2007, Gomez signed a seven-year, $51.5 million contract with the Rangers. He had two good seasons in Manhattan, including an All-Star year in 2007-08, before he was traded to Montreal in the deal that brought future captain Ryan McDonagh to New York.

Gomez's production declined in his 30s as he bounced around the league, playing for San Jose, Florida, St. Louis and Ottawa. He also returned to play for the Devils during the 2014-15 season.

He finishes his career having skated in 1,079 games, recording 181 goals and 575 assists (756 points).