Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips announces his retirement from NHL

It's official: the longest-serving Ottawa Senator has announced his retirement from playinthe NHL.

Veteran defenceman Chris Phillips, who was drafted first overall by the Senators in 1996, has been dealing with back problems and wasn't able to play a single game in the 2015-16 season.

"I loved and will miss the competition," Phillips told reportersThursday afternoon, then rattledoff the names of some of thehockeylegends he's faced off against over the years. "Although they made for some long nights, I got a lot of enjoyment out of trying to shut them down."

Nineteenyears of professional hockey have taken their toll on his body, Phillips said.

He made the decision to retire with advice from his family and Senators medical staff, and while it disappointedhim to learn his back wasn't strong enough to continue, he said it's for the best.

The 38-year-oldunderwent surgery to repair a bulging disc in his backin April 2015, thensuffered a cracked vertebrae during rehab.

Phillips to focus onbusiness development,alumni relations

Former general manager Brian Murray, now a seniorhockeyadviser for theSens, said Phillips wasverymuch missed on the ice last season.

Murray said he'dnever seen anyone as excited as Phillips was to score goals, "though he could've scored a few more," and recalled thinking Phillips was remarkable when hemet him for the first time in St. Louis.

Phillips may behanging up his No. 4 jersey, but it doesn't mean he has to leave the team. He'll now focuson community development, business development and alumni relations in an office-basedrolefor the Sens, general manager Pierre Dorion said.

Phillips has played 1,293 NHL games, compiling 303 points.

Hesigned a two-year deal with the team in 2014,worth a reported $2.5 million US per year.