Coffey Retires After 21 Seasons, Four Cups

Paul Coffey retired Wednesday, ending a 21-year NHL career in which the star defenseman won four Stanley Cups.

The 40-year-old Coffey was a 14-time all-star who won three Norris trophies as the NHL’s best defenseman.

With 1,531 points, he is second to Ray Bourque in career scoring by a defenseman and is the leading career playoff scorer among defensemen with 196 points in 194 games. He won three Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers and one with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Coffey also played with the Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins.

He was waived by the Bruins last season after 18 games.

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Martin Brodeur, the goalie who led the New Jersey Devils to two Stanley Cups since 1995 and got them within a game of a third last year, signed a five-year, $40-million contract extension.

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Charlie Henry, general manager of the Hull Olympiques for the last 16 years, joined the Phoenix Coyotes as director of player development.

Wayne Gretzky, the Coyotes’ managing partner and minority owner, wooed Henry, his longtime friend, to leave the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team.

The 62-year-old Henry, a former Ottawa firefighter, ran the East Ottawa minor hockey association when Gretzky played for the Brantford team 30 years ago.

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Atlanta Thrasher Coach Curt Fraser agreed to a contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.