On a partly cloudy, humid day in Washington, D.C., a large crowd of Capitals fans and members of the organization gathered at the Washington Harbour Fountains, a site forever linked to Washington hockey history, to celebrate the career of T.J. Oshie. While other famous hockey landmarks include the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Madison Square Garden in New York, and Bell Centre in Montreal, Washington’s entry is the Washington Harbour Fountains located in Georgetown. The site is where, exactly seven years to the day, TJ and his shirtless Capitals teammates went viral for swimming in the fountains after winning the Stanley Cup in 2018.
On Monday, 9 June at 5:53 PM EST, TJ Oshie announced his retirement after sixteen NHL seasons that included a Stanley Cup Championship, big-time plays, and an even bigger heart for the game, fans, and community off the ice.
Oshie was joined by family, friends, and members of the Capitals’ organization, including players Nick Backstrom and John Carlson, Coach Spencer Carbery and staff members, and Team Management Chris Patrick and Brian MacLellan.
He began his speech by saying, “Thank you all for being here today. This moment is bittersweet, and I’m filled with gratitude as I reflect on an incredible journey.”
During the 30-minute farewell ceremony, TJ Oshie took a moment to thank the family, friends, coaches, staff, and teammates who had supported him from his early days in youth hockey through his NHL career. A central figure in his journey was his father, known affectionately as “Coach.” Oshie shared a powerful memory of a laminated sign hanging in their home that read: “Today I will give all I have, for this moment may never come again.” The quote’s influence was clear as TJ reflected on a lifetime filled with meaningful moments shared with teammates, coaches, and loved ones.
From winning two Minnesota high school championships to three years of “just fun hockey” living with teammates at the University of North Dakota, to representing Team USA in the Olympics and World Championships, Oshie has wholeheartedly embraced his father’s message. One moment that stood out was during the IIHF World Championship, when the team’s general manager called him out in front of the squad for forgetting his passport, telling him he’d never reach 200 or 300 NHL games with that attitude. Instead of letting it define him, he used the criticism—and his father’s enduring words—as motivation. He ultimately surpassed his goal, giving his all and reaching the milestone of over 1,000 NHL games played.
Oshie continued his speech by sharing what the St. Louis Blues organization meant to him. He initially thanked long-time Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong for taking a chance on him before he thought he could be a professional, along with several other members of the Blues during his time in St. Louis. Finally, he thanked the Blues fan base for their long-time support of him, both in St. Louis and beyond.
TJ began concluding his speech by thanking the city of Washington and an organization that made him feel instantly welcome and helped elevate his game to a level he knew still existed after a reduced role in St. Louis. Oshie stated that the leadership group of Ovechkin, Backstrom, and then Brooks Orpik welcomed him with open arms, and former Capitals coaching staff members, most notably Barry Trotz, for being the ones who pushed his game the furthest.
Oshie finished his speech by emotionally reflecting on his playing and personal bond with the Capitals’ “core four,” which includes John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin, Nick Backstrom, and Tom Wilson. Emphasizing the closeness with the Backstrom family allowed their kids to be linemates too, as their friendship led to the families being neighbors and as close to family as they could be. He concluded by formally announcing his retirement,
“After 17 unforgettable years in the NHL, I’ve decided to retire.”
Originally from Warroad, Minnesota, Oshie was selected as the 24th overall pick by the St. Louis Blues in the 2005 NHL Draft. He played three seasons of college hockey at the University of North Dakota before signing a professional contract before the 2008-2009 NHL season. Oshie spent seven seasons with the St. Louis Blues, where he recorded 109 goals, 200 assists, and 309 total points in 443 games. In 2013-2014, Oshie was named an assistant captain and recorded a career-high 60 points as a fan favorite in St. Louis; his stardom took off.
As a member of the 2014 US Olympic team, on February 15, 2014, Oshie put together one of the greatest individual performances in US Olympic history, scoring four goals on six attempts in the shootout against host nation Russia in a preliminary round thriller. After the legendary performance, as social media was claiming Oshie was an American Hero, he left the ultimate line for media members: “The American heroes are wearing camo. That’s not me.” Oshie finished the 2014 games with four points in six games as the US finished 4th in the tournament.
Oshie’s run with St. Louis, following his Olympic heroics, would be short-lived, as he was dealt to the Washington Capitals in the summer of 2015.
On July 2, 2015, the Washington Capitals traded top-six forward Troy Brouwer, goalie Phoniex Copley, and a third-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft in return for Oshie from the Blues.
At the time of the trade, this was a blockbuster deal in the NHL. St. Louis was trading their fan-favorite assistant captain to make room for younger players and open up ice-time opportunities for them. As the Blues had won one playoff series in five attempts with Oshie on the roster, while this wasn’t the primary reason Oshie was dealt, St. Louis sought to transition from a veteran-led, mature group with a heavy style of play to a lineup that was younger and more agile. For Washington, Oshie provided a skilled right winger who could play with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin, as the duo lacked a consistent right winger on their line.
Long-Term Impact For Washington
In TJ’s first season with the Caps, he put up 51 points in 80 games, followed by a career high in goals with 33 on a Capitals team that won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2016-2017.
Going into the 2017-2018 season, Oshie signed an 8-year, $46 million contract worth $5.75 million a season, keeping him in Washington through the 2024-2025 season.
After signing the long-term deal with Washington, Oshie recorded 47 points in 74 regular-season games and was a core pivotal piece in the playoffs as the Capitals went on to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2018. During the championship run, Oshie put up 21 points in 24 games and tied Alex Ovechkin for the team lead with the most power-play goals in the playoffs with six. Oshie wasn’t just a leader on the ice for the Capitals; his teammates also noted his presence off the ice and in the locker room.
Oshie was incredibly emotional about his dad after winning the Stanley Cup. In a postgame interview, Oshie had stated his dad had been diagnosed with dementia and added how much the championship title had meant to him personally. I’ll let the video do the talking:
Long-Term Impact For St. Louis
While TJ Oshie became a Stanley Cup champion with Washington in 2018, the trade that sent him from St. Louis quietly planted the seeds for the Blues’ own championship run. At the time, parting ways with a fan favorite was tough to swallow, especially when the immediate return didn’t seem to match his value. However, as the years passed, the “trade tree” that stemmed from that deal began to bear fruit.
St. Louis used the assets acquired in the Oshie trade to make further moves, eventually building the core of their 2019 Stanley Cup team. Though it took time, that single transaction helped shape a roster that delivered the franchise’s first championship just a year after Oshie’s triumph.
For Blues fans, the trade was painful at first, but in the long run, it became a turning point. What started as a difficult goodbye ultimately grew into a vital part of St. Louis hockey history.
Oshie’s Career Post 2019
After St. Louis won the Stanley Cup in 2019, Oshie would play five more seasons riddled by injury and a deep personal issue.
On May 4th, 2021, Oshie’s father, Tim Oshie, passed due to Alzheimer’s:
TJ went on to play against the New York Rangers, where he potted a hat-trick in his first game after his passing:
The Capitals showed full support for Oshie after the third goal:
After the 2020-2021 season, Oshie would suffer 12 different injuries over the next three seasons, playing in a total of 154 games.
However, Oshie would play in his 1,000th career NHL game on March 16th, 2024, and play his final game against the New York Rangers after being swept in the first round of the 2024 Playoffs. Assigned to Long Term Injury Reserve on September 18th, 2024, for a chronic back issue, Oshie did not play or practice during the entire 2024-2025 season.
Oshie finished his career with 302 goals, 393 assists, totaling 695 points in 1010 games played over 16 seasons.
Oshie was considered a fan favorite, regardless of which team he played for. Whether it was with St. Louis, Washington, or even Team USA, his enthusiastic and energetic personality endeared him to fans.
One of his marquee moments off the ice as a member of the Capitals came during the 2018 Championship parade, when he initiated a now-DC sports staple by notoriously chugging a beer through his jersey.
A number of DC athletes have carried the legacy on, but most recently, this past season in the playoffs, Commanders Quarterback Sam Hartman added himself to the list.
Not only was Oshie popular for chugging beer through a hockey jersey, but he also engaged with the community during his time with the Blues, participating in events like Athletes for Animals, a charity that helps shelter animals. He also granted a Make-A-Wish request, meeting with a young fan and playing hockey with him. While in Washington, Oshie actively supports causes like the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), inspired by his father’s battle with the disease.
He’s participated in fundraising events and spoken about his family’s experience to raise awareness. He also co-founded “Warroad,” a hockey apparel company focused on high-quality performance and safety, including the development of a neck guard to prevent tragic cuts and improve the safety for hockey participants.
Personally, while I’ve never met TJ directly, his engagement and enthusiasm for his community are evident through the shout-out to my high school hockey team after one of my teammates had a legendary shootout performance of his own (Go Cards!):
TJ Oshie’s career is the type that transcends statistics. Yes, he retires with over 1,000 games played, nearly 700 points, and a Stanley Cup, but it’s everything around the numbers that defines his legacy. Oshie became a symbol of resilience, heart, and joy in a sport that often values toughness above all else. He truly fit the definition of “a Warrior.” Whether it was his unforgettable shootout heroics in Sochi, the emotional Stanley Cup celebration with his father in 2018, or his ability to connect with fans and communities both in St. Louis and Washington, Oshie left an indelible mark on hockey culture.
His impact off the ice, through charity work and advocacy, proves that his influence extends well beyond the rink. Oshie’s career was not just about goals and assists; there were moments that transcended it. Moments that made fans believe, rallied teammates, and brought cities together to celebrate. As Washington fans gathered at the same fountain where the 2018 Cup celebration went viral, it wasn’t just to mark the end of a playing career. It was to honor a courageous player who gave everything to the game, his teams, and the people who cheered for him along the way.
For Capitals fans, for Blues fans, for Team USA, and hockey fans everywhere, TJ Oshie will always be remembered not just as a great player, but as one of the game’s true good guys. And in a career full of highlights, his most incredible legacy might be the way he made hockey feel fun, human, and unforgettable.
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