from Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,

Blues veteran Andy McDonald plans to retire from the NHL due to concussion concerns.

McDonald, 35, was set to become an unrestricted free agent later this month.

"When the season was initially over, I was intending on playing again," McDonald said. "I was motivated by the results of the season and how I struggled. That was almost driving me to come back and play again. But after stepping back and talking it over with my wife and my family and my friends, it became pretty clear that this is the right decision and the best thing for my health."

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