Rehabbing his beleaguered, injury-ravaged body wasn’t worth it anymore. Mike Van Ryn has finally started to live his life comfortably again. That’s good enough. When a coaching opportunity materialized, the 31-year-old defenseman pulled the plug on his solid eight-year NHL run.

Van Ryn, who experienced a slew of severe injuries late in his 353-game career, was named an assistant with the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara Ice Dogs earlier this week.

“My body just doesn’t really have it anymore,” Van Ryn told the Toronto Star on Monday, the day he retired. “It was time to move on. This just seemed like a great fit.”

Van Ryn played only 47 games in the past three seasons. He was last healthy in 2008-09, when he played 27 contests for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Following a setback in training camp, he missed the entire 2009-10 campaign.

A wrist injury early in 2007-08 started Van Ryn’s ordeal. He recovered, though, and then suffered a stunning string of injuries after the Leafs acquired him from the Florida Panthers, enduring two concussions, two knee injuries and two surgeries on his right knee.

Van Ryn, an unrestricted free agent, had recently announced he planned to spend 2010-11 rehabbing. He quickly reconsidered.

“It’s not like I can’t walk,” Van Ryn said. “But there’s a difference between living your life and getting to the point where you can play against the best hockey players in the world.

“I just don’t think there’s any way I can do that at the point I’m at right now,” he said. “Walking a golf course, I can’t do that yet. I’m better than I was. I was at the point where I couldn’t even go up and down stairs. I’m definitely living my life way more comfortable. The surgery was a success. It was such a success that I feel I can play again at that level. It’s just been a long process but it’s one I’m comfortable with and excited about.”

Leafs general manager Brian Burke believes Van Ryn will make an excellent coach.

“He worked like a dog to come back,” Burke wrote in an e-mail to MSG.com. “It’s a shame his leg did not respond. He’ll do well. (He’s got a) high hockey IQ, great people skills, good intensity.”

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