Height: 6’2” Weight: 195 lbs. Shoots: Right Born: November 23rd, 1982
Birthplace: Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada Drafted: Pittsburgh’s 1st rounder (21st overall) in 2001. Acquired: Signed as an unrestricted free agent.
The Specs
The last time he was a free agent, he signed with a certain rival of Montreal’s. A successful (and somewhat blurry but still very present in the mind of a few Habs’ fans, namely this one) past with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was the cornerstone of the deal that sent Marian Hossa from the Thrashers to the Penguins, but injuries have slowed him down quite a bit, enough for him to be bought out by the Leafs.
The Skinny
Broken nose. Foot injury. Sprained left ankle. And that’s only last season. What he lacks in actual bulk, he makes up for with hard work, nitty-gritty play and versatility. A team player, he tends to pass even when he probably shouldn’t.
What you’ve probably heard by now
“Oy, what a beak on that one!” – my mother.
He has hit the 40-point plateau twice in his career. The first was his rookie year, where he led the Penguins with a +15 rating.
He was good buddies with Sidney Crosby during his time in Pittsburgh.
What you may not know
He’s known as the jokester of the team, but admits he doesn’t have as much creativity when it comes to pranks.
He has a younger brother, Riley, who played with the San Jose Sharks.
His goal stood as the game-winner in 2007’s IIHF World Championship Final against Finland.
He won the Memorial Cup in 2002 with the Red Deer Rebels, and he had 16 points in 23 playoff games.
He admitted during an All-Access interview with the Maple Leafs that in his earlier days, he was a fan of the Canadiens. He also got ribbed by his dad about it growing up!
The Stats
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
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1998-99 Red Deer Rebels WHL 1 0 1 1 0 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Red Deer Rebels WHL 68 13 25 38 122 2 0 1 1 11
2000-01 Red Deer Rebels WHL 72 36 42 78 156 21 6 6 12 39
2001-02 Red Deer Rebels WHL 64 27 41 68 115 23 6 10 16 32
2002-03 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL 73 7 11 18 76 3 0 0 0 4
2003-04 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL 67 10 17 27 71 24 3 2 5 4
2004-05 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL 80 18 37 55 89 10 4 2 6 14
2005-06 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL 31 11 18 29 44 -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 47 16 24 40 58 -- -- -- -- --
2006-07 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 80 12 22 34 67 5 0 1 1 11
2007-08 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 54 9 15 24 50 -- -- -- -- --
2007-08 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 18 4 7 11 6 -- -- -- -- --
2008-09 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 82 22 18 40 75 -- -- -- -- --
2009-10 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 79 15 14 29 61 -- -- -- -- --
2010-11 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 50 8 15 23 38 -- -- -- -- --
2011-12 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 29 1 2 3 9 -- -- -- -- --
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NHL Totals 439 87 117 204 364 5 0 1 1 11
