Penguins’ Pascal Dupuis to retire due to medical condition

Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis will retire from hockey due to a medical condition related to blood clots.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis will retire from hockey due to a medical condition related to blood clots, the team announced Tuesday.

His retirement is effective immediately.

“Despite playing on a medical protocol that has worked for other players in the NHL, we feel that the risk of Pascal playing with his condition and the side effects of the tests to monitor him are just not in the best interest of his long-term health,” said Dr. Dharmesh Vyas, the Penguins’ team physician.

Dupuis, 36, had played in 18 contests for the Penguins this season after missing the first two weeks of the season due to a lower body injury not related to the blood clot. He had two goals and two assists in 2015.

Dupuis missed all but 16 games last season due to a blood clot in his leg that traveled to his lung. He played in just 39 games during the 2013–2014 season due to a torn ACL.

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“It was very difficult for me to make this decision to have to step away from the game,” said Dupuis, who was originally diagnosed with a blood clot in January 2014 after sustaining torn ligaments in his knee. “My wife and four children have always been my first priority, and playing with my condition has become a constant worry for all of us. I want to thank my teammates and the Penguins organization for their unwavering support during this difficult time.”​

Dupuis, who played more than 15 seasons in the NHL, will continue to be paid his annual salary of $3.75 million. He is currently in the third year of a four-year deal.