Bryan Bickell will sign one-day contract with Blackhawks before retiring

Bryan Bickell, who had to quit hockey for good due to multiple sclerosis, will sign a one-day contract with the Chicago Blackhawks before officially retiring on Wednesday.

Bryan Bickell is getting his ‘swan song’ contract. He will sign a one-day contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday before officially retiring from hockey.

Bickell had to quit playing hockey after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. At the time of his diagnosis, he was playing with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, he played with the Blackhawks between 2007 and 2016.

Multiple sclerosis is described as such:

"Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the brain and spinal cord. Early MS symptoms include weakness, tingling, numbness, and blurred vision. Other signs are muscle stiffness, thinking problems, and urinary problems. Treatment can relieve MS symptoms and delay disease progression."

Bickell was moved to Carolina to clear up salary cap space for the ‘Hawks. He started experiencing symptoms of multiple sclerosis before being traded but wasn’t diagnosed until he was already in Carolina. The rapid deterioration of his health in Chicago was cause for confusion.

Bickell was selected in the second round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, 41st overall, by Chicago. He went on to play for primarily their AHL affiliates, the Norfolk Admirals and Rockford IceHogs, during his first few seasons of professional hockey.

He appeared in 285 games in the AHL with Norfolk, Rockford and the Carolina Checkers. Bickell finished his AHL career with 67 goals and 77 assists to go along with his 263 penalty minutes.

Next: Report: Jack Eichel signs eight-year, $80 million extension with Sabres

Bickell will finish his NHL career having played in 395 games for the Blackhawks and the Hurricanes with all but 11 of those games coming with the Blackhawks organization. Also, 65 of his 66 career goals and all of his 70 career assists were recorded during his time with Chicago.

Bickell also won the Stanley Cup in Chicago in 2010, 2013 and 2015.