Buffalo Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen has officially decided to retire, his agent told the Buffalo News on Wednesday.

Don Baizley confirmed reports first released on a Finnish Web site Tuesday that the 41-year-old Numminen is calling it a career after 20 seasons in the NHL to join the Finnish national team as a scout for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

"I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play with and against the best players in the world for so many years," Numminen said in a statement released by the NHL Players Association. "I want to thank my teammates, coaches, fans, and the media for all the great years."

Numminen played 57 games last season for the Sabres, scoring two goals and 15 assists. Although never finalizing his retirement, Numminen was clearly leaning that way when the season ended. He was a healthy scratch for much of the final few weeks and was an unrestricted free agent the Sabres did not intend to re-sign.

Nevertheless, just making it back on the ice was a big comeback for Numminen after he underwent heart surgery in September, 2007. Numminen played just one game in the 2007-08 season, the finale in Boston, before deciding to return last year.

"There's no question coming back from that surgery and playing the one game at end of the proceeding year was a huge lift for him to continue his career," Baizley said by phone from his Winnipeg office. "To then come back and get another season under his belt and not end his career with his heart situation was really wonderful."

Numminen played the final four years of his career in Buffalo and was key member of the Sabres' back-to-back Eastern Conference finalists. He played 75 games in 2005-06 and 79 games in the 06-07 season.

In 1,372 career games with the Sabres, Dallas Stars, Phoenix Coyotes and Winnipeg Jets, Numminen amassed 117 goals and 520 assists.