Mike Van Ryn

According to radio show host Jeff Marek from Hockey Night in Canada , Toronto Maple Leafs oft-injured defenseman Mike Van Ryn has decided to retire from pro hockey.

Van Ryn, having undergone multiple surgeries on his knee, was expected to be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future and it was unlikely he would ever return.

He decided to join the Niagara Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League as an assistant coach.

The title says it all. Often injured and mostly forgotten about, Mike Van Ryn has had quite a tumultuous last few years in the NHL.

Having only played roughly half a season the last three years, Van Ryn has never really been able to show off his abilities. 

In late 2009, Van Ryn underwent micro-fracture knee surgery, the same surgery Steve Yzerman and Jason Kidd have had done.This surgery can either go two ways—career reviving or career ending. For Van Ryn, he hopes that this will revive his career.