Brendan Shanahan, who scored big on and off the ice during his 21 NHL seasons, Tuesday announced his retirement.

Shanahan leaves the game with 656 goals and 1,354 points in 1,524 games. He's 11th all-time in goals and 23rd in points. He's also the only player in NHL history with at least 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes.

"I would like to thank my family and all of the friends who have helped me achieve and maintain my childhood dream of playing in the National Hockey League," Shanahan said. "I am enormously grateful to all of my coaches and teammates I've had the privilege of learning from and playing along side of, throughout my career. While I always dreamed of playing in the NHL, I can't honestly say that I would have ever imagined that I'd be this fortunate and blessed. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me fulfill this dream."

He won three Stanley Cups, an Olympic gold medal and played in eight NHL All-Star Games, but Shanahan's ultimate legacy will be how he helped lead the game coming out of the labor stoppage that forced the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.

His "Shanahan Summit" brought together some of the best and brightest minds of the game from both sides of the player/management debate. A number of philosophical and rules changes came about, leading to the way the game is played today, from tighter enforcement of obstruction-type fouls to the trapezoid behind the goals.

The second pick of the 1987 Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, Shanahan also played for the St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers during his career.

After four seasons with New Jersey, he signed with St. Louis following the 1990-91 season; as compensation, the Devils were awarded defenseman Scott Stevens. Shanahan twice scored 50 goals in four seasons with the Blues, and then was traded to Hartford following the 1994-95 season, in exchange for Chris Pronger. Shanahan spent just one full season with the Whalers, and then was dealt to the Red Wings just two games into the 1996-97 season.

Shanahan's greatest on-ice success came during his nine seasons with the Red Wings. He played at least 75 games each season, scored at least 30 goals seven times and more than 40 goals three times. He also won his three Stanley Cups, in 1997, '98 and 2002.

He signed with the Rangers prior to the start of the 2006-07 season, and spent two seasons on Broadway.

Shanahan last played in the NHL last season, signing with Devils midway through the season and finishing with 6 goals and 14 points in 34 games. He re-signed with the Devils over the summer, but left the team during training camp when he and coach Jacques Lemaire couldn't come to an agreement on what Shanahan's role on the club would be.