VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) – Eric Desjardins broke down before saying a word. Retirement was more difficult than the former Philadelphia Flyers captain had imagined.

Desjardins, the second-highest scoring defenseman in Flyers history, called it quits Thursday, ending a 17-year career that included a Stanley Cup and an Olympic appearance.

“My game was not where I wanted it,” Desjardins said at the Flyers’ practice facility.

Desjardins’ eyes welled up and he paused several times during an emotional speech, the realization that he never again would wear a Flyers sweater hitting him harder than a check into the boards.

The 37-year-old Desjardins could have kept playing, but injuries took a toll in recent seasons. He had surgery last season to repair a partially dislocated right shoulder and missed 29 games. He missed the 2004 playoffs with a broken arm. If he decided to continue playing, he would have needed hip surgery before the season.

“After the seven surgeries I had to go through, it always takes something from your game,” he said. “You always try and get back to where you were, but you never get back.”

When Desjardins was at the top of his game, there were few in the league any better.

He ranks second behind Mark Howe among Flyers defensemen in goals (93), assists (303) and points (396), and is eighth on the team’s career games list (738). In 1998, Desjardins was selected to represent Canada at the Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Desjardins finishes his career with 136 goals, 439 assists and 575 points in 1,143 games.

“Desjardins was what everybody believes an athlete should be,” general manager Bob Clarke said.

Desjardins, a seven-time winner of the team’s most outstanding defenseman award, spent the last 11 seasons with the Flyers after being acquired from Montreal in a 1995 deal that also brought John LeClair to Philadelphia. LeClair attended the news conference.

“It was tough to leave Montreal, but as soon as I got here, we went on a great stretch,” Desjardins said.

Desjardins was team captain for more than a year, and his 14 playoff goals were the most by a defenseman in team history. He helped Philadelphia to the 1997 Stanley Cup finals, where it lost to Detroit.

“I was lucky to be here,” he said. “Every year I felt we had a chance to win.”

Success came early in Montreal, with an All-Star spot in 1991-92, and then a Stanley Cup championship in 1992-93. Desjardins scored 14 points in 20 playoff games that season, highlighted by a hat trick in a 3-2 overtime win against Los Angeles in Game 2 of the finals.

He became a leader in the locker room for the Flyers, assuming the captaincy after Eric Lindros was stripped of the title. Desjardins handled the transition until Keith Primeau assumed the role in 2001.

“I needed someone to lean on when I became captain and he was the perfect guy to bounce things off,” Primeau said.

Desjardins said he wanted to take some time away from the game, though he might be interested in coaching one day. Clarke said Desjardins declined an offer to coach in the minor leagues next season.

Desjardins was not offered a contract this summer by the Flyers and, at best, would have been limited to a role as a sixth or seventh defenseman. That wasn’t how he wanted to go out.

“When you can’t do it, it’s frustrating,” he said, wiping his eyes. “That’s what makes it really tough.”