Former Golden Knight/Blackhawk Retires at 24

In some unfortunate news, Mikael Hakkarainen has been forced to retire due to a rare heart condition that could be life-threatening if he suited up again.

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Hakkarainen was the infamous Chicago Blackhawks prospect who was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Marc-Andre Fleury one-for-one swap. The move was very much a salary dump for the Golden Knights as they had to trade the Vezina-winning Fleury to save some money.

Hakkarainen was originally a fifth round selection in the 2018 draft and was trying to go an interesting route to the NHL. After starring in Finland and then performing well in the USHL, the 6-foot-1 forward went to Providence College, but only ended up playing one game. He then turned pro and it wasn't an ideal situation for a young player, as he only suited up in 14 total games in the AHL and another nine more in the ECHL.

He'll unfortunately be remembered most as the player who was dealt for Fleury and then immediately released back to Europe. We wish the 24-year-old nothing but health and happiness as he goes through this tough time away from the rink.