Pittsburgh Penguins' Pascal Dupuis to retire due to health

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis' NHL career appears to have come to an end. Dupuis, 36, was found to have a medical condition related to blood clots, the Penguins announced on Tuesday.

"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 who had played the final nine years of his NHL career in Pittsburgh, was a member of the Penguins' Stanley Cup-winning team in 2009.

"It was very difficult for me to make this decision to have to step away from the game," Dupuis said. "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."

A native of Laval, Quebec, Dupuis played 871 NHL games over 15 seasons, scoring 190 goals and 409 points.