Former Buffalo Sabres captain Brian Gionta has formally announced his retirement as an NHL player, but he has accepted a role as a development coach for the Sabres and Rochester Americans on a part-time basis.
Gionta, 38, lasted 16 years in the NHL and captained both the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. Undersized at 5'7", the forward helped the Devils win the 2003 Stanley Cup and finished his career with the U.S. Olympic team and the Boston Bruins this past spring.
Gionta ends his playoff career with 291 goals and 595 points. He had seven 20-goal seasons, including a career-high 48 with the 2005-06 Devils.
A native of Rochester, Gionta has made his home in Buffalo since 2014.
