Gary Roberts' NHL career is over.
Unclaimed on waivers on trade deadline day, the 42-year-old veteran will not play another game with the Tampa Bay Lightning this season. He had already announced that he would retire at the end of this season.
A formal announcement of Roberts' retirement is expected from the Lightning.
Roberts' contract worked against him being picked up on waivers. His cap hit was more than $2 million and he has a bonus package that pays him $10,000 for each game he plays.
Roberts was selected by the Calgary Flames 12th overall (1st round) in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He won a Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1988-89.
In 1996, at the age of 30, Roberts announced his retirement from hockey due to injuries, but he underwent an intense re-conditioning program and returned to the NHL after the following season.
In 1,224 career NHL games with Calgary, Carolina, Toronto, Florida, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay, Roberts had 438 goals and 471 assists for 909 points, adding 2,560 PIM.