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| 1981 NHL DRAFT PICK |
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John Vanbiesbrouck
Selected in fourth round
No. 72 overall by New York Rangers
Born
September 4, 1963
 | Position:
Goaltender
Height: 5-8 Weight: 165
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| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Sault Ste. Marie (OMJHL)
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan (USA)
Hometown:
Detroit, Michigan |
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| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | W-L-T |
GAA | SO |
SV% | | 1979-80 |
Detroit | Mich. AAA |
-- | -- |
-- | -- |
-- | | 1980-81 |
S.S. Marie | OMJHL |
56 | 31-16-1 |
4.14 | 0 |
n/a |
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PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
OMJHL Moore Trophy (Lowest Rookie GAA): 1980-81 (SSM) (4.14)
OMJHL All-Star Third Team: 1980-81 (Sault Ste. Marie)
Miscellaneous: Wore glasses under his birdcage-style goaltender's mask
during 1980-81 season before switching to contact lenses. ... Signed with
Sault Ste. Marie as a free agent in summer of 1980 after going undrafted
through the entire 1980 OMJHL priority selection. ... Played in Detroit Little
Caesar's program before entering OMJHL. ... Grew up as an avid
baseball fan, rooting for hometown Detroit Tigers. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: December 5, 1981 (N.Y. Rangers at
Colorado)
Numbers: 34 (N.Y. Rangers); 34 (Florida);
34 (Philadelphia); 34 (NYI); 34 (New Jersey)
Stanley
Cup: Never won.
Playing Status: Retired
for final time on May 22, 2002 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP |
W-L-T | GAA |
SO | SV% |
| 1981-2002 |
NYR, Florida,
Phila., NYI, N.J. | 882 |
374-346-119 | 2.98 |
40 | .899 |
| | CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP | W-L |
GAA |
SO | SV% |
| 1984-1999 |
NYR, FLO, PHI | 71 |
28-38 | 2.68 | 5 |
.915 |
|
NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
Vezina Trophy: 1985-86 (N.Y. Rangers)
NHL All-Star First Team: 1985-86 (N.Y. Rangers)
Sporting News
All-Star First Team: 1985-86 (NYR), 1993-94 (Fla.)
NHL All-Star Second Team: 1993-94 (Florida)
All-Star Game: 1994,
1996, 1997 (Florida)
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 1996 (Florida), 2001 (N.J.) (did not play)
NHL SuperSkills Goaltending Champion: 1997
N.Y. Rangers MVP: 1985-86
N.Y. Rangers Players' Player Award:
1985-86
N.Y. Rangers Rookie of Year: 1984-85 (first winner)
N.Y. Rangers Boucher Trophy (Most Popular): 1985-86
N.Y. Rangers McDonald Award (Extra Effort): 1988-89 (co-winner with Kelly
Kisio)
N.Y. Rangers Crumb Bum Award (Service to Local Kids): 1986-87
N.Y. Rangers Good Guy Award (Media Vote): 1984-85
N.Y. Rangers
Budweiser Man of Year: 1990-91
Florida Star of
Year (Three-Stars Leader): 1995-96
Florida Mayor's Cup
(Sportsmanship/Dedication): 1996-97
N.Y. Rangers Records: Most career assists by a goaltender (25), most
career penalty minutes by a goaltender (212), most assists by a goaltender in one season (5 in
1984-85 and 1987-88, shares record), most assists by a goaltender in one game
(2 at Winnipeg on Jan. 8, 1985, shares record)
Florida Records: Most
career games played by a goaltender (268), most career wins (106), lowest
career goals-against average (2.58), lowest goals-against average in one
season (2.29 in 1996-97), highest save percentage in one season (.924 in
1993-94), most wins in one season (27 in 1996-97), most career ties (43), most
career losses (108), most career goals allowed (666), most goals allowed in
one game (7 at Pittsburgh on Feb. 7, 1995, shares record), most goals allowed
in one period (6 in first period vs. Chicago on March 15, 1998, shares
record), most shots faced by a goaltender in one period (26 in third period
vs. Anaheim on Jan. 1, 1994, shares record), most saves in one period (24 in
third period vs. Anaheim on Jan. 1, 1994, shares record), most penalties by a
goaltender in one game (2 at Hartford on Nov. 27, 1993, shares record), most
penalty minutes by a goaltender in one season (38 in 1993-94), most
consecutive starts by a goalie (17 from Jan. 4, 1998, to Feb. 27, 1998), most
consecutive games played by a goalie (17 from Jan. 4, 1998, to Feb. 27, 1998),
most consecutive wins (5 games from Nov. 5, 1995, to Nov. 14, 1995, shares
record), longest unbeaten streak (10 games from Oct. 5, 1996, to Oct. 30,
1996), most consecutive losses (8 from Feb. 7, 1998, to March 23, 1998), most
consecutive games by a goalie without a victory (10 from Feb. 1, 1998, to
March 23, 1998), most career playoff games by a goalie (27), most career
playoff wins (13), most career playoff shutouts (2), lowest career playoffs
goals-against average (2.31), most wins by a goalie in one playoff year (12 in
1996), most shutouts by a goalie in a playoff year (1 in 1996 and 1997), most
penalty minutes by a goalie in one playoff year (20 in 1996), most points by a
goalie in one playoff year (1 in 1996), most goals allowed in one playoff game
(4 at N.Y. Rangers on April 22, 1997, at Colorado on June 6, 1996, at Boston
on April 25, 1996, shares record) most goals allowed in one playoff period (4
in first period at Colorado on June 6, 1996), most shots faced in one playoff
period (24 in second period vs. Philadelphia on May 9, 1996), most saves in
one period (22 in second period vs. Philadelphia on May 9, 1996), most shots
faced in a playoff game (56 vs. Colorado on June 10, 1996), most saves in a
playoff game (55 vs. Colorado on June 10, 1996), most penalties by a
goaltender in one playoff game (2 vs. Boston on April 22, 1996, and vs.
Philadelphia on May 7, 1996), most consecutive playoff starts by a goalie (22
in 1996), most consecutive playoff games played by a goalie (22 in 1996), most
consecutive playoff wins (4 from May 9, 1996, to May 18, 1996), most
consecutive playoff losses by a goalie (4 from April 20, 1997, to April 25,
1997, and from June 4, 1996, to June 10, 1996), longest playoff shutout streak
(141:31 vs. Colorado from June 8, 1996, to June 10, 1996)
Philadelphia
Records: Longest shutout streak (227:04 from Oct. 17, 1999, to Oct. 26,
1999)
NHL Wins Leader: 1985-86 (N.Y. Rangers) (31 wins, tie)
NHL Ties Leader: 1998-99 (Philadelphia) (15 ties)
NHL Playoffs
Shutouts Leader: 1986 (N.Y. Rangers) (1 shutout)
NHL Playoffs
Goalie Games-Played Leader: 1996 (Florida) (22)
NHL Playoffs Losses Leader:
1996 (Florida) (10)
NHL Playoffs Save Percentage Leader: 1996
(Florida) (.932)
1993-94: Played on first Florida Panthers team.
Broadcasting Career: Was TV studio analyst for Fox network's coverage
of 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Miscellaneous: Started and won his first NHL game for N.Y. Rangers at
age 18, making 30 saves to beat Colorado 2-1. At that time, he became the
fourth-youngest player to play for N.Y. Rangers, and the youngest since World
War II. ... Set N.Y. Rangers record (since broken) for combined regular-season
and playoff wins by a goaltender with 39 in 1985-86. ... Missed start of
1987-88 season with broken jaw, an injury suffered when he was hit by Tomas Sandstrom's shot during a N.Y. Rangers
training-camp practice in October 1987. ... Suffered
severe lacerations of his left wrist in a June 13, 1988, accident at his home.
Practicing with a video camera he intended to use to videotape his first
child's birth, Vanbiesbrouck fell through a glass coffee table on which he was
seated. The severe cut of the ulnar nerve on his left wrist and three partial
tendon lacerations
required five hours of micro surgery. Vanbiesbrouck was expected to miss the
first several months of the 1988-89 season but made an amazingly quick
recovery and was able to play in N.Y. Rangers' season opener on Oct. 6, 1988.
... Underwent postseason knee surgery on May 11, 1990. ... Named NHL Player of
Month for October 1990. ... Joined with Mike Richter in setting NHL record for
the longest 1-2 goaltender rotation when the two religiously alternated starts
for 76 straight games in 1990-91. ... Missed part of 1991-92 season with
lower-back spasms, an injury suffered during N.Y. Rangers' Feb. 25, 1992, game
vs. Chicago. ... Set N.Y. Rangers single-season record (since broken) for best
save percentage with .910 in 1991-92. ... Missed part of 1992-93 season with
pulled groin, an injury suffered during N.Y. Rangers' Nov. 2, 1992, game vs.
Buffalo. ... Traded by N.Y. Rangers to Vancouver in exchange for future
considerations on June 20, 1993, but never played for parent team. ... Left
unprotected by Vancouver for 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. He was claimed by
Florida with the expansion draft's first overall pick on June 24, 1993. ...
Was starting goalie in first game in Florida Panthers history, on Oct. 6,
1993, at Chicago. He earned a 4-4 tie in that game. ... Won first game and
earned first shutout in Florida Panthers history at Tampa Bay on Oct. 9, 1993.
... Joined Bob Kudelski as first All-Star Game representatives in Florida
Panthers history in 1994. He was the winning goaltender for the Eastern
Conference in that game. ...Missed part of 1993-94 season with lacerated hand,
an injury suffered during Florida's Feb. 1, 1994, game at Pittsburgh. ...
Named NHL Player of Week for week ending March 21, 1994. ... Set Florida
single-season records (since broken) for saves (1,767) and shots faced (1,912)
in 1993-94. ... Named by The Hockey News in a poll of NHL players as
the player most valuable to his team and NHL's best goaltender for 1993-94.
... Finished third in voting as finalist for 1993-94 Hart Trophy. ... Was
runner-up to Dominik Hasek for 1993-94 Vezina Trophy. ... Was starting goalie
in first playoff game and first playoff win in Florida Panthers history, on
April 17, 1996, vs. Boston. He earned a 6-3 win in that game. ... Recorded
first playoff shutout in Florida Panthers history at Philadelphia on May 2,
1996. ... Finished third in voting for 1996 Conn Smythe Trophy. ... Had
shoulder surgery in summer of 1996. ... Named NHL Player of Week for week
ending Oct. 13, 1996. ... Named NHL Player of Month for October 1996. ... Led
all Eastern Conference players in balloting for 1997 NHL All-Star Game. ...
Won his 300th NHL game for Florida on Dec. 27, 1997, at N.Y. Islanders. ...
Set Florida single-season records (since broken) for games played by a goalie
(60) and minutes played by a goaltender (3,451) in 1997-98. ... Left Florida
with franchise record (since broken) for career shutouts (13). ... Signed
three-year, $11.25 million contract with
Philadelphia as a Group III unrestricted free agent on July 7, 1998. ... Set
Philadelphia record (since broken) for longest regular-season shutout streak
(218:42 from Jan. 3, 1999, to Jan. 16, 1999). ... Became first Philadelphia
goaltender to face a penalty shot in the playoffs, stopping Toronto's Mats Sundin on April 22, 1999. ...
Decided to retire prior to 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs and announced
retirement for the first time at age 37 on June 10, 2001, after New Jersey
lost Game 7 of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals. He had elected not
to announce the retirement while New Jersey was still competing in the 2001
playoffs. ... Came out of retirement at age 39 to sign with New Jersey as a Group III
unrestricted free agent on Feb. 4, 2002. ... Holds record for career NHL
victories by a U.S.-born goaltender (374). |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams: Sault Ste. Marie (OHL);
Tulsa (CHL)
Olympics: 1998 (5-8 place)
Canada Cup: 1984
(fourth place) (reserve goaltender, did not play), 1987 (fifth place), 1991 (second place)
World Championships: 1985 (fourth place), 1987
(seventh place), 1989 (sixth place), 1991 (fourth place)
World Junior Championships: 1982
(sixth place), 1983 (fifth place)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
CHL Adams Cup: 1984
(Tulsa)
Hockey News Minor-League Player of Year: 1983-84 (Tulsa)
CHL Ivan Trophy (MVP): 1983-84 (Tulsa) (shared with Bruce
Affleck)
CHL Sawchuk Trophy (Lowest Team GAA): 1983-84 (Tulsa)
(co-winner with Ron Scott)
OHL Pinkney Trophy (Lowest Team GAA): 1981-82 (Sault Ste. Marie)
(co-winner with Marc D'Amour)
World Championships
All-Star Second Team: 1985
CHL All-Star First Team: 1983-84 (Tulsa)
OHL All-Star Second Team: 1982-83
(Sault Ste. Marie)
CHL Shutouts Leader: 1983-84 (Tulsa) (3 shutouts)
CHL Playoffs
Goals-Against Average Leader: 1984 (Tulsa) (2.50)
OHL Goalie Games-Played Leader: 1982-83 (S.S. Marie) (62 GP)
OHL
Playoffs Shutouts Leader: 1982 (Sault Ste Marie) (1 shutout)
Coaching Career: Named Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) head coach on May 22, 2002,
and remained in that position until March 10, 2003.
Management Career:
Purchased 25 percent share of Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) in April 2001, and
remained team's part-owner through 2002-03 season. ... Named Sault Ste.
Marie (OHL) director of hockey operations on May 22, 2002, and held position
until March 10, 2003.
Miscellaneous: Played on 1983-84 Tulsa (CHL) team that suspended
operations on Feb. 16, 1984, but continued playing final six weeks of season on road and then went on to win playoff title.
Vanbiesbrouck returned to the team during playoff run after playing for N.Y.
Rangers in 1984 Stanley Cup playoffs. ... Missed remainder of 1989 World
Championships with broken jaw, suffered in game vs. Sweden in
May 1989. ... Named to Team USA for 1996 World Cup of Hockey, but was unable
to play because he was recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. ... Played on N.Y. Rangers' off-season
charity softball team. ... Was active in charitable causes during playing
days, including work with anti-child abuse program. ... Formed
John Vanbiesbrouck Foundation in 1997. The foundation assists children with
Attention Deficit Disorder, a disease which affected Vanbiesbrouck's oldest
son. ... Became a born-again Christian during his NHL playing days, following
the 1993 suicide of his oldest brother, Frank Vanbiesbrouck. ... Sault Ste.
Marie (OHL) retired Vanbiesbrouck's No. 1 sweater.
Beezer's Racial Slur:
Vanbiesbrouck hurt his potential for a continued career in hockey in March 2003 when his use of a
racial slur against one of his own players led to his resignation as coach and
general manager of the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Vanbiesbrouck was
utterly disgraced by the incident, which prompted a $50,000 fine against the
Greyhounds, the largest financial punishment in OHL history. In addition,
Vanbiesbrouck was banned from coaching or working as a general manager in the
league. The controversy stemmed from Sault Ste. Marie's March 7, 2003, game
vs. Guelph. Following the 6-1 loss to the Storm, Vanbiesbrouck held meetings
with Mike Amodeo and Jeff Doyle during which he repeatedly referred to captain
Trevor Daley as a "nigger." The players reported Vanbiesbrouck's language to
Daley and the league, and Daley was advised by his agent, Bobby Orr, to leave
the team and not play for Vanbiesbrouck. The OHL launched an investigation,
and although he admitted to inappropriate behavior, Vanbiesbrouck did not
admit to the racial slur for the first 48 hours after having said it and even
coached Sault Ste. Marie's regular season finale on March 9, 2003. Three days
after the incident, on March 10, 2003, Vanbiesbrouck, facing an OHL
punishment, resigned his job as coach and general manager and also said he
would sell his 25 percent share of the team. Vanbiesbrouck apologized for
the language, claiming that he wasn't thinking clearly when he meant to
simply say Daley's name. He said he had "snapped," took full responsibility
for the slur and sadly admitted that he had picked up his racist attitude
during his childhood in Detroit.
Personal: Nicknamed "Beezer" and "The Beezer." ...
Younger brother of former minor-leaguer Julian Vanbiesbrouck. |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| TRADE/EXPANSION DRAFT: N.Y. Rangers traded
Vanbiesbrouck to Vancouver in exchange for future considerations (Doug Lidster)
on June 20, 1993. Lidster was sent to Vancouver on June 25, 1993, to complete
the trade. The deal was made for
future considerations, rather than straight up, because both teams were
waiting to see whom they would lose in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. N.Y.
Rangers were expecting to lose Vanbiesbrouck, because they would be forced to
leave him unprotected, so they sent him to
Vancouver for some minimal trade value. The move was a benefit to the Canucks
as well, because it let Vancouver protect other goalies in the expansion
draft. |
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SNAPSHOT '81 | | Total Selected: |
211 | | Forwards: |
119 | | Defense: |
67 | | Goaltenders: |
25 | | Major Junior: |
122 | | Tier II/Jr. B: |
10/4 | | College Players: |
21 | | High School: |
18 |
| Canadian: |
139 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
3 | | USA Citizens: |
37 | | U.S.-Born: |
36 |
| European: |
32 |
| Reached NHL: |
114 |
| Stanley Cup: |
17 | | Hall of Fame: |
2 |
| All-Star Game: |
14 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
7 |
| Olympians: |
30 |
| Picks Traded: |
38 |
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