Updated

Tomas Holmstrom has made his retirement official after 15 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

Holmstrom's announcement Tuesday was no surprise, but the Red Wings held a news conference before their home opener to give the Swedish winger a chance to reflect on a career that included four Stanley Cups and over 1,000 regular-season games.

Holmstrom, who turns 40 on Wednesday, says he had the greatest job in the world.

Last season, Holmstrom had 11 goals and 13 assists in 74 games — the 24 points were his lowest total since 1997-98, his second season.

The gritty forward was known for his hard-nosed play in front of the net.