Longtime Capital Kolzig Retires

Longtime Washington Capitals goaltender and often face of the team Olie Kolzig officially announced his retirement from the NHL after 17 seasons on Wednesday.

It seems like a long time since Kolzig and the Capitals parted ways following the 2008 season, when Cristobal Huet was brought in at the trade deadline, but it's unlikely anyone will forget Kolzig's time in Washington.

The 39-year-old former Vezina Trophy winner ranks 21st in NHL history with 303 career wins.

"He'll go down as one of the best goaltenders and leaders ever in Washington and rightfully so," Capitals winger David Steckel said. "It was just a situation where the team felt like it could get somebody and it did. Unfortunately that's the business side of it. And it made our team better; it was just a hard thing to see. . . . For the most part, the guys felt for Olie, but I don't think it showed in our play and we were very professional about it all."

Caps fans: What was your favorite Olie the Goalie moment?

-- Katie Carrera

Readers Respond:

Probably not my favorite Kolzig moment, but one I'll always remember: Zilla waving his stick at the pigeon on the ice (Rally Pigeon!).

Too many great hockey moments to choose from. Olie was a great goalie and is an even greater man.