Devan Dubnyk moves into broadcasting after NHL retirement

After last playing in the NHL in 2021, Devan Dubnyk has retired and moved into the world of hockey broadcasting.

Dubnyk, 36, last played in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021 after a rocky run with the San Jose Sharks. Dubnyk had a four-game stint with the Charlotte Checkers last year in hopes of turning it into an Olympic opportunity with Canada that ultimately didn’t happen. Dubnyk played 542 games over 12 seasons with Edmonton, Nashville, Arizona, Minnesota, San Jose and Colorado.

After emerging as a starter with the Oilers early in his career, everything came crashing down in 2013-14 when he eventually found himself in the AHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Everything changed in 2014-15, when he turned a successful stint with Arizona into a better opportunity with Minnesota, where won the Bill Masterton Trophy and finished as a Vezina Trophy finalist. It was one of the more remarkable bounce-back stories in some time, and it helped him spark a six-year run as Minnestoa’s starting goalie, playing 60-plus games on four occasions with a career-high 40 wins in 2016-17.

Now that that chapter’s over, Dubnyk has kickstarted his career on the other side of the camera.

In an interview with Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Dubnyk reached out to his agent about potentially starting a television gig at the NHL Network. One Zoom call later, and he was acting as an analyst for a playoff game between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.

Yesterday, Dubnyk made his regular season debut analyzing the Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild game, featuring a team he played his best career hockey with.

“It’s been fun to stay in the game,” Dubnyk told Mizutani. “There were some nerves going in. Now, getting a chance to do it more, I’ve been able to put my own personality in there. I’m really enjoying it.”