Mathieu Dandenault, the versatile defenseman who won three Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings and later played for the Montreal Canadiens, has retired.

Dandenault, 34, last played in the NHL in 2008-09 with Montreal. Last season, he joined Hartford of the American Hockey League, but was sidelined by a tear in his groin and opted to leave the team in March.

Dandenault, selected by Detroit in the second round of the 1994 NHL draft, had 68 goals and 135 assists in 868 career games.

"A couple of teams invited me to camp but I said no," said Dandenault, who also played forward. "I'm comfortable with my decision. It was a childhood dream to play in the NHL and having had the opportunity to play for two Original Six franchises made it even more special."

He spent his first nine seasons in Detroit, where he won Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998 and 2002, and then played his final four years with the Canadiens. Dandenault also played on the Canadian team that won a world championship in 2003.