Chaz Lucius, a first-round pick by the Winnipeg Jets in 2021, retired from professional hockey Tuesday after being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Lucius, 21, never played in the NHL but scored seven goals and 27 points in 54 AHL games for the Manitoba Moose, the Jets’ top minor league affiliate.
“Recently, I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) which is a hereditary disorder that affects the connective tissue that stabilizes and supports the joints and organs throughout the body,” Lucius said in a statement on social media from his agency, Newport Sports.
On behalf of Chaz Lucius and his family.
We would like to congratulate Chaz and his family on all his career accomplishments and wish him all the best in his next chapter. pic.twitter.com/nVCapIbRh9
— Newport Sports (@TheHockeyAgency) April 8, 2025
“As I struggled with incurring and recovering from various joint injuries over the past several years, I had thought I was just unlucky. With this diagnosis of EDS, I now realize that my body impacted by EDS could not handle the physical nature of playing hockey,” he continued.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, EDS is “a genetic condition that makes your body’s connective tissue weaker than it should be.” It also explains that EDS usually impacts the skin and joints. There is no cure, but EDS is not life-threatening once a person learns to manage symptoms and prevent potentially dangerous complications.
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Lucius, a center, was ranked as the top Jets prospect in 2023 by The Athletic’s Murat Ates. However, even then, injuries were a concern.
Ates wrote this as part of his 2023 rankings:
“Chaz Lucius needs to stay healthy. He’s finished three straight seasons on the sidelines and, at 20 years old, can already name his shoulder, knee and ankle as ‘body parts repaired by surgery.’”
Lucius had fallen to eighth among Jets prospects only a year later — primarily because of his inability to stay healthy.
The Jets, also in a statement, said they supported Lucius’ retirement.
“After much discussion and consultation with Chaz, his representatives, and medical professionals, the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club fully supports his difficult decision to retire. Chaz’s condition and struggles with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) put him at risk of injury if he continues to play at the professional level, so we understand his choice. We wish Chaz all the best in his efforts to be an advocate for those dealing with EDS and hope for a bright future in front of him.”
Lucius reiterated that he looks forward “to being an advocate for those suffering with EDS and to all that is ahead of me.”
(Photo: Richard A. Whittaker / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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