Love him or hate him, Dan Carcillo was one of the members of the most memorable Flyers team in the last decade.
On Thursday, Carcillo became the fourth member of the 2010 Flyers to announce his retirement this offseason, joining Kimmo Timonen, Danny Briere and Simon Gagne. But Carcillo did it in the most interesting way.
As a close friend of the late Steve Montador, who passed away on February 15, Carcillo addressed an issue that is widely spread among hockey players across the league, but seldom talked about: depression. Montador dealt with it among other issues.
Carcillo had battled alcohol and substance abuse during his career and shared that battle with Montador. The two became close friends and often discussed the off-the-ice issue they dealt with.
Carcillo further explained this relationship and the impact of Montador’s death in an article and video for the Players Tribune. He used the same platform to announce his retirement.
In this excellent piece, Carcillo explains his next challenge and why he’s giving up playing the game to help pave the way for many players in the days after playing.
Carcillo references more than the depression that some players face but seldom discuss. It’s also about the stress that players are under during their careers as professionals in the National Hockey League and how they can move on to the next phase of their lives effectively.
Carcillo was a member of the Flyers for parts of three seasons, his last being the 2010-11 season. In 153 games with the Flyers, scoring 16 goals and adding 16 assists for 32 points. He had 414 penalty minutes in those three seasons.
Carcillo also appeared in 32 playoff games with the Flyers, scoring five goals and adding six assists for 11 points. He totaled 69 penalty minutes in those 32 playoff games.
His finest playoff moment, arguably the finest moment of his Flyers career, came in Game 3 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the New Jersey Devils, when Carcillo pounced on a loose puck in the crease to beat Martin Brodeur for an overtime game-winning goal.
Carcillo’s career now turns to be an advocate and adviser for players following their careers. It is an admirable step for one of the NHL’s bad boys, who revealed the emotion behind the game and the friendships made in it with Montador’s loss in February.
In his career, Carcillo played in 390 NHL games with the Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers, scoring 44 goals with 48 assists and reached the ultimate goal twice, winning the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2013 and 2015.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
