ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild re-signed right wing Marcus Johansson on Monday to a one-year, $800,000 contract that keeps the 15-year veteran from becoming a free agent.
Johansson had 11 goals and 23 assists in 72 games for the Wild during the 2024-25 regular season, bouncing between the second and third lines. He was sixth on the team in points.
The 34-year-old, who was acquired by the Wild from Washington a few days before the NHL trade deadline in 2023, played the 2024-25 season on a $2 million salary cap charge.
Johansson had four goals and four assists in nine games for Sweden last month at the ice hockey world championships to help his native country’s team win the bronze medal. He has 185 goals and 332 assists over 983 career regular-season games with seven teams in the NHL.
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Sweden’s Marcus Johansson shoots over Denmark’s Christian Wejse during the bronze medal match between Denmark and Sweden at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
FILE – Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Johansson, right, celebrates his goal against Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn, File)
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit center Frank Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who was key to coach Dan Campbell’s Lions revival, announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday after seven seasons.
Ragnow, 29, posted to social media that he has tried to convince himself he’s feeling well enough to play, “but I’m not,” he said.
“I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don’t,” said Ragnow, who was drafted 20th by the Lions in 2018. “I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life.”
Ragnow battled through multiple injuries during his career. In 2021, following a season in which he played with a fractured throat, general manager Brad Holmes made him the league’s highest paid center at the time with a $54 million, four-year extension.
Ragnow earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020, 2023 and 2024. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2020 under then-coach Matt Patricia, and then made three straight from 2022-24.
“These past couple of months have been very trying as I’ve come to the realization that my football journey is ending and I’m officially retiring from the NFL,” Ragnow said. “The Lions organization has been absolutely incredible throughout this process and I can’t emphasize this enough how grateful I am for this team and all the fans. It was an absolute honor going to battle for you all.”
Harrison Phillips, the eighth-year veteran defensive tackle with division rival Minnesota, raved about Ragnow when asked on Monday about the news of his retirement.
“He’s one of the best centers I’ve ever had the privilege to play against,” Phillips said. “I know that every time I had to play against him, I had to buckle my chinstrap extra tight and watch a lot of extra film.”
Phillips said his teammates on the Vikings’ offensive line would often ask him for tips about Ragnow’s technique because his fundamental blocking skills were so exceptional.
“The way that he played was acknowledged amongst all players on both sides of the line of scrimmage,” Phillips said.
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FILE – Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow looks to block during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Detroit, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/David Dermer, file)