Longtime NHL Player Kyle Calder Dead Tuesday at 47

The hockey world is in mourning this week as former NHL left wing Kyle Calder, who played for six different teams over a 13-year career, passed away after a battle with an illness. He was 47 years old.

"Dad, there will never ever be enough words in the world to describe how incredibly lucky I was to have you as my dad. Never in a million years would I have thought this day would come. There will forever be a void in my heart, but forever a spot just for you," Calder's daughter Madison wrote on social media in an announcement of his passing.

Born in Mannville, Albert, Canada, Calder played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and finally Kazakhstan's Barys Astana during his pro career.

Rest in Peace

Calder was a fifth-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1997 NHL draft and made his debut for the team in the 1999-2000 season. He would spend the next five years with the Blackhawks, scoring 26 goals and 33 assists during the 2005-06 season alone.

In 590 career NHL games, he scored 114 goals and had 180 assists.

At the international level, Calder was a part of three separate Canada teams that competed in the Ice Hockey World Championships. In 2003, he had one goal and one assist in nine games as Canada won the IIHF World Championship.

The NHL Alumni Association released a statement on Calder's passing, mourning "a respected former NHL player" and a "cherished teammate."

"Our NHL Alumni family is deeply saddened by the passing of Kyle Calder," the NHL's Alumni Association said. "Today, we mourn not only a respected former NHL player but a cherished teammate, friend, and member of our hockey brotherhood."

Our hearts go out to Calder's family and loved ones.

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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 1:19 PM.