|
View: Previous | Next
|
| 1984 NHL DRAFT PICK |
 |
Kevin Hatcher
Selected in first round
No.
17 overall by Washington Capitals
Born
September 9, 1966
 | Position:
Defense
Height: 6-3 Weight: 185
|
|
| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
North Bay (OHL)
Birthplace:
Detroit, Michigan (USA)
Hometown: Sterling Heights, Michigan |
 |
 |
|
| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1982-83 |
Compuware | Mich. AAA |
75 | 30 |
45 | 75 |
120 | | 1983-84 |
North Bay | OHL |
67 | 10 |
39 | 49 |
61 |
|
PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
World Junior Championships:
1984 (sixth place)
Miscellaneous: Ranked by NHL Central Scouting Bureau as No. 16 overall
prospect for the 1984 NHL draft. ... Rated in The Hockey News draft
preview issue as No. 7 defense prospect for the 1984 NHL draft. ... Was
North Bay's first-round pick, No. 10 overall, in 1983 OHL priority
selection. ... Teammate of future NHL players Al Iafrate and Shawn Chambers
with Detroit Compuware in 1982-83. ... Also trained as a boxer while growing up in Michigan. He
trained at Kronk's Gym during the same years the gym was being used by
former welterweight boxing champion Thomas "The Hit Man" Hearns. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: April 6, 1985 (Washington at Pittsburgh)
Numbers: 29, 4 (Washington); 4
(Dallas); 4 (Pittsburgh); 4 (NYR);
4 (Carolina)
Stanley Cup: Never won.
Playing Status:
Retired 2001 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS | | Years |
Teams | GP |
G | A |
TP | PIM | | 1985-2001 |
Washington, Dallas,
Pitt., NYR, Carolina | 1,157 |
227 | 450 |
677 | 1,392 |
|
| CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1985-2001 |
Washington, Dallas,
Pittsburgh, Carolina | 118 |
22 | 37 |
59 | 252 |
|
NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
All-Star Game: 1990, 1991, 1992 (Wash.), 1996 (Dallas), 1997 (Pitt.)
Washington Captain: Feb. 13, 1993, until Sept. 29, 1994
Dallas Memorial Cup (Best Defenseman): 1995
Washington Records: Most career goals by defenseman (149), most
goals by a defenseman in one season (34 in 1992-93), most shots in one
season by a defenseman (329 in 1992-93), most game-winning goals by a
defenseman in one season (6 in 1992-93), most goals by a defenseman in one
game (3 on Jan. 13, 1993, at N.Y. Rangers, shares record), most career
game-winning goals by a defenseman (24), most career shorthanded goals by a
defenseman (5, shares record), most points by defenseman in one playoff year
(12 in 1988, shares record), youngest player to appear in a playoff game (18
years, 7 months)
Dallas Records: Most goals in one game by a
defenseman (3 at Edmonton on Jan. 24, 1996, shares record)
Washington Points Leader: 1990-91 (74)
Washington Goals
Leader: 1990-91 (24, tie)
Washington Assists
Leader: 1990-91 (50, tie)
Washington Playoffs Penalty-Minutes
Leader: 1994 (37)
Dallas Playoffs Points
Leader: 1995 (3, tie)
Dallas Playoffs Goals Leader: 1995 (2,
tie)
Pittsburgh Playoffs Penalty-Minutes
Leader: 1998 (12)
Miscellaneous: Scored first NHL goal in his second NHL game, on April 7,
1985. The goal, scored while the Capitals were shorthanded, beat Pittsburgh
goalie Brian Ford. ... Was youngest regular member of Capitals in 1985-86 at
age 19. ... Paired on defense with Rod Langway for Washington in 1986-87.
... Missed start of 1987-88 season with torn cartilage in left knee, an
injury suffered during Washington's 1987 training camp. The injury required
arthroscopic surgery, and Hatcher did not make his 1987-88 regular-season
debut until Washington's Oct. 30, 1987, game at Winnipeg. ... Led Washington
defensemen with 14 goals in 1987-88. ... Missed part of 1988-89 season with
pulled groin, an injury suffered during Washington's Jan. 20, 1989, game vs.
New Jersey. He did not return to action until Washington's Jan. 28, 1989,
game at St. Louis. ... Missed part of 1988-89 season with two broken
metatarsal bones in left foot, an injury suffered when he was hit by Mike
Bullard's slap shot during the first period of Washington's Feb. 5, 1989,
game vs. Philadelphia. Although he kept his skate on and finished the game,
Hatcher complained of severe pain and later learned that the foot was
broken. He did not return to action until Washington's March 17, 1989, game
vs. Montreal. ... Led Washington with plus-19 rating in 1988-89. ... Led
Washington defensemen with 13 goals in 1988-89. ... Led Washington
defensemen with 54 points, 13 goals and 41 assists in 1989-90. ... Missed
remainder of 1990 playoffs with sprained left knee, an injury suffered
during Game 5 of Washington's second-round series at N.Y. Rangers on April
27, 1990. ... Missed part of 1990-91 season with right knee injury, suffered
during Washington's Nov. 10, 1990, game at Buffalo. ... Tied for Washington
lead with nine power-play goals in 1990-91. ... Set Washington single-season
records (since broken) for goals by a defenseman (24) and shots by a
defenseman (267) in 1990-91. ... Became Washington's career leader in goals
by a defenseman when he passed Scott Stevens with his 99th goal during
Washington's March 22, 1992, game vs. Edmonton. ... Tied for Washington
defensemen lead with 17 goals in 1991-92. ... Became first defenseman in
Washington history to score a hat trick when he achieved feat during
Capitals' Jan. 13, 1993, game at N.Y. Rangers. ... Suspended by NHL
for one game during 1992-93 season (automatic suspension) for receiving a
high sticking major and game misconduct during Washington's Jan. 31, 1993,
game vs. Pittsburgh. It was his second stick-related game misconduct of the
season and came on the heels of a spearing major and game misconduct during
Washington's Jan. 29, 1993, game vs. Quebec. ... Scored 34 goals for Washington in 1992-93, helping Capitals
(along with Al Iafrate and Sylvain Cote) become first team in NHL history to
have three defensemen with at least 20 goals. ... Became fourth-highest
goal-scoring defenseman (behind Paul Coffey, Bobby Orr and Doug Wilson) in a
single season with his 34 goals in 1992-93. ... Missed part of 1993-94
season with broken right hand, an injury suffered during the first period of
Washington's Dec. 23, 1993, game vs. N.Y. Rangers. He finished the game
despite knowing the hand was fractured, but the team decided it was unwise
for him to continue playing with the injury, and he did not return to action
until Washington's Jan. 17, 1994, game at Montreal. ... Missed part of
1993-94 season with the flu, an illness contracted in March 1994. ... Missed
part of 1993-94 season with pulled thigh, an injury suffered during
Washington's April 9, 1994, game vs. Ottawa. ... Missed Washington's entire
1994 training camp because he was a Group II unrestricted free agent and was
holding out for a better contract offer. While he was staying away from the
Capitals, Hatcher worked out and played preseason games with Detroit (IHL)
and even threatened to sign with the minor league team for the 1994-95
season. Washington had been offering Hatcher $2.6 million per season, but
Hatcher and agent Ron Salcer insisted on at least $3.5 million. Just before
the start of the 1994-95 lockout, Hatcher demanded to be traded, and the
Capitals responded by stripping him of the captaincy and awarding it to Dale
Hunter. The stalemate ended immediately after the 1994-95 lockout and two
days before the start
of the 1995 season when Washington traded Hatcher to Dallas. ... Left
Washington in 1995 with franchise record (since broken) for most career
power-play goals by a defenseman (50). ... Joined his younger brother Derian
with Dallas in 1995, marking the first time the two had ever been teammates
in their careers. ... Led Dallas defensemen in points (29), assists
(19) and goals (10) in 1995. ... Missed part of 1995-96 season with slight
shoulder separation, an injury suffered in Dallas' Oct. 17, 1995, game vs.
Washington. He did not return to
action until Dallas' Oct. 26, 1995, game vs. Anaheim. ... Suspended by NHL for four games and
fined $1,000 during 1995-96 season for slashing Claude Lemieux and breaking
his left pinkie finger in Dallas' Dec. 3, 1995, game at Colorado. The
suspension was announced on Dec. 4, 1995, and Hatcher did not return to
action until Dallas' Dec. 13, 1995, game vs. Calgary. ... Led Dallas
defensemen in points (41), goals (15) and assists (26) in 1995-96. ...
Missed part of 1996-97 season with neck stiffness resulting from an injury
that he suffered during Pittsburgh's Feb. 5, 1997, game at Montreal. He did
not return to action until Pittsburgh's Feb. 15, 1997, game at Philadelphia.
... Led Pittsburgh defensemen in points (54), goals (15) and assists (39) in
1996-97. ... Missed part of 1997-98 season with bruised ankle, an injury
suffered during Pittsburgh's Nov. 8, 1997, game vs. Buffalo. He did not
return to action until Pittsburgh's Nov. 24, 1997, game vs. Buffalo. He
scored two goals in the second period of that game. ... Scored his 200th
career NHL goal for Pittsburgh on Jan. 29, 1998, at Boston. ... Missed part of 1997-98
season with the flu, an illness contracted in April 1998. ... Led Pittsburgh
defensemen in points (48), goals (19) and assists (29) in 1997-98. ...
Played his 1,000th career NHL game for Pittsburgh on Jan. 18, 1999, at
Anaheim. ... Missed part of 1998-99 season with broken foot, an injury
suffered during Pittsburgh's practice on March 4, 1999. He did not return to
action until Pittsburgh's April 5, 1999, game at Buffalo. ... Led Pittsburgh
defensemen in points (38) and goals (11) in 1998-99. ... Signed one-year,
$1.5 million contract, which had bonus clauses worth up to $1 million, with Carolina as a
Group III unrestricted free agent on July 31, 2000. ... Missed part of
2000-01 season with bruised left hand, an injury suffered during Carolina's Oct.
18, 2000, game at Pittsburgh. He did not return to action until Carolina's
Nov. 8, 2000, game
at Toronto. ... Missed part of 2000-01 season with broken bone in left hand, an injury suffered
during Carolina's Nov. 18, 2000, game at New Jersey. He did not return to action until
Carolina's Dec. 13, 2000, game at Minnesota. ... Missed part of 2000-01 season with knee injury,
suffered during Carolina's Jan. 9, 2001, game vs. Florida. He did not return to
action until Carolina's Jan. 31, 2001, game vs. Toronto. ... Became a Group
III unrestricted free agent after the 2000-01 season and was unable to catch
on with another team for the 2001-02 season. He therefore opted to retire at
age 35.
Hatcher's Holdout: Hatcher missed
Washington's entire training camp in 1990 because of a contract dispute.
Although he was still under contract to the Capitals, Hatcher and new agent,
Ron Salcer, demanded that his contract be renegotiated, or he would not show
up for the start of training camp on Sept. 8, 1990, in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Hatcher was upset with the team in the wake of Scott Stevens' signing with
St. Louis. Because Stevens had signed a huge contract, Hatcher and other NHL
defensemen began demanding salaries in line with what Stevens was making. In
Hatcher's case, this was a major issue, since he was being asked to fill
Stevens' skates in Washington. At the time of the dispute, Hatcher had two
years and an option year remaining on a contract that had paid him $185,000
in 1989-90 and was due to pay $200,000 in 1990-91. Although his contract
would have allowed him to earn an additional $200,000 in bonuses, Hatcher
did not accept Caps general manager David Poile's argument that two prior
renegotiations had been enough. Poile said he would not even think about
talking to Salcer until Hatcher joined the team in Lake Placid, and then he
would only renegotiate if Hatcher was willing to extend the deal by a year. Washington
owner Abe Pollin backed up Poile, saying Hatcher had no right to stay away
from camp while he was under contract. The Caps reportedly were offering
Hatcher a new, four-year deal for $400,000 per season, while Hatcher was
demanding at least $600,000 per season in any four-year contract. Finally,
on the day of Washington's Oct. 5, 1990, season-opener vs. Pittsburgh,
Salcer and Poile agreed on a new contract. Negotiations had re-opened on
Sept. 30, 1990, when Caps president Dick Patrick reached out to Salcer,
promising that the Caps would work with him if Hatcher returned. Hatcher
brought his wife to Washington and rejoined the team for an Oct. 2 practice,
although Salcer continued to threaten that he would send Hatcher home if the
Caps did not give him a new deal by the opening game. Salcer and the
Capitals front office fought over the issue of Hatcher's value. The Caps
insisted Hatcher was a top-20, but not a top-10 NHL defenseman. Salcer and
Hatcher argued that Hatcher was in the top 10 and should be paid much more
than $200,000 per season. With the season about to open, no deal had been
reached, but Hatcher personally decided that missing the opener wasn't worth
it, particularly since he was already under contract. He let Salcer go back
to Los Angeles with the knowledge that both sides were still talking. He
also said he would play the entire 1990-91 season without further dispute of
his contract. The situation was resolved a few weeks later, when Hatcher
agreed to a new three-year, $2.1 million contract, plus a club option year
for $1.325 million. The contract paid $600,000 for the 1990-91 season. |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams:
North Bay (OHL)
Olympics: 1998 (5-8 place)
World Cup of Hockey: 1996
(first place)
Canada Cup: 1987 (fifth place), 1991 (second place)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
OHL All-Star Second Team: 1984-85 (North Bay)
OHL All-Star Game:
1985 (North Bay)
Miscellaneous: Never played in minor leagues
other than one preseason game he played for Detroit (IHL) in
1994 while holding out for a larger contract offer from Washington. ... Led all OHL defensemen with 26 goals for North Bay in
1984-85. ... Worked at Washington's off-season hockey school during
off-seasons of his early playing days. ... Was on Washington team that held 1989 training camp in
Sweden before joining Calgary for 1989 NHL Friendship Tour in Soviet Union.
The Capitals faced four Soviet teams on the tour. ... Enjoyed racing
hydroplanes during off-seasons of his playing days. ... Returned to his home
in Marine City, Mich., after his retirement and founded Let's Play Racing, a
hydroplane racing team, with his brother Derian. In addition to his
ownership of the racing-boat team, Hatcher competed as a driver, appearing
in major races on the hydroplane circuit.
Personal: Full
name is Kevin John Hatcher. ... Younger
brother of former minor-leaguer Mark Hatcher. ... Older brother of NHL player Derian Hatcher. |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| TRADE:
Washington traded Hatcher to Dallas in exchange for Mark Tinordi and Rick
Mrozik on January 18, 1995. |
|
|
Help support the rebuilding of HDC! |
HockeyDraftCentral.com is in the middle of rebuilding. You are
looking at a page that is not yet updated but is still part of the old site.
Find out how you can help make this an even better site by bidding on eBay
auctions.
• Learn More
|
|
SNAPSHOT '84 | | Total Selected: |
250 | | Forwards: |
142 | | Defense: |
88 | | Goaltenders: |
20 | | Major Junior: |
110 | | Tier II/Jr. B: |
16/9 | | College Players: |
23 | | High School: |
47 | | Midget: |
4 | | U.S. Junior B: |
1 |
| Canadian: |
145 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
2 | | USA Citizens: |
62 | | U.S.-Born: |
63 |
| European: |
41 |
| Reached NHL: |
102 |
| Stanley Cup: |
20 | | Hall of Fame: |
1 |
| All-Star Game: |
18 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
7 |
| Olympians: |
31 |
|
|
