Ference had played just six games over the course of the last two seasons; he underwent major hip surgery in 2015-16, which forced him to stay off the ice and forfeit the captaincy. He failed his medical testing at training camp this past year, which held him out for the year, as the Oilers placed him on the long-term injured reserve. This effectively ended his hockey-playing career.
Drafted 208th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Ference played 16 seasons with the Penguins, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins and Oilers.