Cogliano joins Avalanche front office as he announces retirement

*Photo from the New York Times*

   Veteran left wing/center Andrew Cogliano has announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday after nearly two decades.

   At the same time, Cogliano announced he will be joining the Avalanche front office. He will assist the team in a variety of roles, including professional and amateur scouting, working with their AHL affiliate the Colorado Eagles, and player development.

   Cogliano said of his retirement that "The game of hockey has given me and my family so much and I am grateful for every moment. I am blessed to have played for so long with some great organizations and amazing teammates. I will miss being with the guys in the dressing room and battling for each other on the ice every night but it's time to move on. Thank you to everyone I ever played with, played for and all the great fans for all of their support. I am excited to start my new chapter in the front office."

   This past season, Cogliano finished his second full season with the Avalanche and part of a 3rd total. He ended the year with 6 goals and 13 assists for 19 points, authoring a +11 rating while averaging 10:37 of ice time per game in 75 games. He had 5 assists in 11 playoff games.

   A first round pick in the 2005 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, Cogliano debuted in the NHL in 2007-2008 and has played 17 seasons in the league. He played 830 consecutive games at one point, the 8th longest streak among all skaters in NHL history. The streak ended when he was suspended in 2018.

   Colorado GM Chris MacFarland said of Cogliano's retirement that "On behalf of the Avalanche organization, we would like to congratulate Andrew on a fantastic NHL career. He is a true pro, a fierce competitor, a great teammate and leader, and a mentor for younger players. He always set the example for the rest of the group with his hard work on and off the ice and his preparation and details. And while we will miss him on the ice, we couldn't be more excited to have him on board with our organization in this new role. He will be an invaluable resource with his unique knowledge of the game and his many years of experience to help the next generation of Avalanche players."

   Over his 17 seasons in the league, Cogliano has played for the Avalanche, Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks. He has 190 goals and 274 assists for 464 points to his name, averaging 14:06 of ice time while posting a +31 rating in 1,294 games.

   In his career, Cogliano has plenty of playoff experience as well, playing in the postseason 11 years out of the 17 for 3 teams. He has 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points, averaging 13:07 of ice time per game in 131 games, including winning the Stanley Cup in 2021-2022 with the Avalanche.