Doug Weight announces his retirement.

Doug Weight’s time in a Ducks uniform won’t be the focal point of any career-retrospective highlight packages. In fact, Anaheim was the least memorable stop along his decorated 19-year career.

That in itself makes it blog-worthy today, when Weight announced his retirement in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders’ captain the past three seasons, Weight retires with the sixth-most points (1033) of any American-born NHL player.

After stints with the Rangers, Oilers, Hurricanes (with whom he won his only Stanley Cup in 2006) and Blues, Weight came to Anaheim in December 2008 in the trade that sent Andy McDonald to St. Louis. The Ducks needed to create salary-cap space after Scott Niedermayer un-retired, and then-GM Brian Burke figured to have obtained an adequate second-line center in Weight – who was by that time a future Hall of Famer.

But Weight never jelled in Randy Carlyle’s dump-and-grind system, recording just six goals and eight assists in 38 regular-season games. He had only one point, an assist, in the Ducks’ first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars.

Skepticism was the natural reaction when Weight said after the season that he intended to find work elsewhere in the NHL as a top-six forward. The Islanders granted his wish, prolonging has career another three (injury-plagued) seasons.

Weight played in 107 games for the Isles, logging 12 goals and 54 points. His last game came Nov. 17 against Tampa Bay.

This entry was posted in Anaheim Ducks/NHL and tagged by J.P. Hoornstra. Bookmark the permalink.

About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.

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