"Europe started to attract more": Former Hurricanes goalie and Canucks PTO target Antti Raanta retires from NHL

Antti Raanta is leaving the NHL after 11 seasons as the Finnish goaltender plans to continue his career in Europe. In an interview with Ilta-Sanomat on Saturday, Raanta said that playing in Europe has been more appealing to him.

“At the end of the season and in the summer, I thought about all sorts of things, but as the summer progressed and my body felt good, Europe started to attract me more,” Raanta said.

He added that NHL teams offering only two-way contracts or backup roles as another reason for his decision.

Antti Raanta played in 301 NHL regular season and playoff games for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes. Last season, playing in the AHL made him rethink his future as Raanta doesn’t want to be a backup or wait for an injury to get a chance in the NHL. He believes European leagues offer better value for his career and family.

The Vancouver Canucks showed interest in Raanta as a backup but he declined their offer. He felt that returning to North America did not fit his plans anymore even with interest from other NHL teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs. Raanta is now considering opportunities in Switzerland, Germany or the Czech Republic.

Antti Raanta is considering a move to Europe to prioritize family

Antti Raanta’s hometown team, Lukko, showed interest in bringing him back; however, tax issues in Finland made it a less viable option for him. The Finnish tax system would significantly affect his income this year. This has led Raanta to consider other options in Europe. He remains in Finland, staying prepared for potential offers while enjoying time with his family.

“In a dream world, it would be great to play in Lukko and win the championship, but the reality could be a little harsher,” Raanta said. “As soon as Lukko asked in the spring, I said that I could probably make it work, but it would be difficult.”

Antti Raanta also explained that after playing 12 years in North America, it's a good time for him to move back to Europe.

“I played 11 years in the NHL. Now is a good time to return to Europe with my family. Every other day, the wife sees on Instagram, when the wife of someone playing in Switzerland has updated pictures from there, and how great it looks there,” he said.

Raanta is now ready to start the next chapter of his career in Europe. After his time in the NHL and AHL, he is now looking for a balance between his professional life and family time.