Mattias Norstrom played 14 NHL seasons with the Rangers, Kings and Stars. (L.M. Otero/Associated Press)

Dallas Stars defenceman Mattias Norstrom retired Wednesday from the NHL.

Norstrom, 36, had two goals and 11 assists for 13 points with 40 penalty minutes in 66 games as Dallas secured the fifth seed in the Western Conference this season.

"This was not a rash decision, by any means, and I'm comfortable with it," he said. "I knew going into the season that this was the last year of my contract, and I didn't want to make a big distraction out of it."

Norstrom posted seven career playoff points — five of them this spring as the Stars reached the conference final, losing in six games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

"The last game against Detroit was my final one," Norstrom said. "I studied building techniques in high school, so carpentry is a possible alternative.

"Let's see. I will think about it during the summer."

Norstrom totalled 18 goals and 165 points with 661 penalty minutes in 903 games over 14 NHL seasons with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Stars.

He was drafted in the second round (48th overall) by New York in 1992.

"Dallas wanted to keep me, but it is over now," Norstrom told Aftonbladet, a Swedish tabloid, on Tuesday.

"I promised myself 10 years ago that I would quit while I still had a strong position in the team. And now, it is over."

With files from the Associated Press