Detroit Red Wings forward Greg Johnson retired Wednesday as an active player to accept a position in player development.
Johnson, 35, was forced to quit because of a hereditary heart abnormality discovered during a training-camp physical.
The native of Thunder Bay, Ont., played 12 NHL seasons, posting 145 goals and 224 assists and 369 points in 785 games for the Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators.
Greg Johnson (22) played a franchise record 502 games for the Predators.
(Mark Humphrey/Associated Press)
Johnson played a franchise record 502 games for the Predators before rejoining the Red Wings as a free agent on Aug. 14.
He was drafted in the second round (33rd overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1989, but debuted with Detroit and scored his first goal in a 6-4 loss to the Dallas Stars — the first NHL game played in Texas — on Oct. 5, 1993.
With files from the Associated Press
