Defenseman Keith Yandle ends his 16-year NHL career

Defenseman Keith Yandle, who holds the mark for the most consecutive games played, announced Tuesday that he is ending his 16-year career in the National Hockey League.

The 36-year-old skater played in 77 games for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, recording 19 points, including one goal. It was on January 25, against the New York Islanders, that Yandle relegated the score of former Montreal Canadiens color holder Doug Jarvis to second place by playing his 965th game in a row.

His streak stopped at 989 games, when the Flyers left him aside on April 2 for a duel against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

While Jarvis’s mark has held for decades, Yandle’s could well be beaten this season, as Vegas Golden Knights forward Phil Kessel kicks off the 2022-23 campaign with 982 straight games on the clock.

A Boston native, Yandle was drafted in the fourth round, 105th overall, by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2005. He made his NHL debut in 2006-07. In all, he played 1,109 games with the Coyotes, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Flyers.

Yandle has scored 103 goals and added 516 assists for 619 career points. He had 36 points (6-30) in 58 playoff games.