Veteran Matt Carkner retires after 15 seasons

NEW YORK -- Defenseman Matt Carkner has retired after a 15-year career.

Carkner, 35, appeared in 237 NHL games with the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks. He scored four goals, added 23 assists and compiled 556 penalty minutes. He added one goal and two assists with 35 penalty minutes in 14 career playoff games with the Senators and Islanders.

Montreal selected Carkner in the second round (58th overall) of the 1999 draft.

Carkner made his professional debut in 2001-02 with the AHL's Cleveland Barons and played 587 games in the AHL with Cleveland, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Binghamton and Bridgeport.