All good things must come to an end. For Antti Raanta that time is now in relation to his NHL career.
Yesterday Raanta announced that he will not be returning to the NHL for what would have been his 12th year. While he isn’t returning to the NHL, it doesn’t appear to be the end of his playing days as Raanta indicated he hopes to keep playing in Europe, specifically in Switzerland, Czechia or Germany.
Raanta, 35, spent the last three years of his NHL career playing for the Hurricanes. Raanta started 79 regular season games in his time with the Hurricanes, providing the team with quality goaltending whenever called upon.
In the 2022-2023 season which was likely his best season in Carolina, Raanta posted a fantastic 19-3-3 record with a 2.23 goals against average and .910 save percentage. His 4 shutouts that season tied his career high previously reached in the 2016-2017 season when he was member of the New York Rangers.
Last season however, Raanta struggled with the Canes. In 24 games played during the 23-24 season, Raanta posted the worst save percentage(.872) of his career. The Hurricanes ultimately would waive Raanta and was sent to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL where he only played 8 games.
Raanta finishes his career with the Carolina Hurricanes with a record of 46-15-9 and 7 shutouts
In total, Raanta appeared in 275 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes and the Carolina Hurricanes going 139-80-29 with a career goals average of 2.48 and a .915 save percentage and 20 shutouts.