Defenseman Matt Carkner announced his retirement from playing professional hockey after a 15-year career.

Carkner, 35, appeared in 237 games in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks. The Winchester, ON, native totaled four goals, 23 assists and 556 penalty minutes. He added one goal and two assists with 35 penalty minutes in 14 career Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Senators and Islanders.

The Montreal Canadiens selected Carkner in the second round (58th overall) of the 1999 NHL Draft. Following a four-year junior career with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, Carkner made his professional debut in 2001-02 with the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League. He would go on to play 587 games in the AHL with Cleveland, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Binghamton Senators and Bridgeport.