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| 1979 NHL DRAFT PICK |
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Neal Broten
Selected in
second round
No. 42 overall by Minnesota North Stars
Born
November 29, 1959
 | Position:
Center
Height: 5-9 Weight: 160
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| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Minnesota (WCHA)
Birthplace: Roseau, Minnesota (USA)
Hometown:
Roseau, Minnesota |
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| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1977-78 |
Roseau | Minn. H.S. |
-- | 43 |
77 | 120 |
-- | | 1978-79 |
Minnesota | WCHA |
40 | 21 |
50 | 71 |
18 |
|
PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
NCAA Championship: 1979 (Minnesota)
World Junior Championships: 1979 (sixth place)
Minnesota Pond Award (Rookie of Year): 1978-79
Miscellaneous: Scored
game-winning goal and had assist in Minnesota's 4-3 win over North Dakota in
1979 NCAA championship game. ... Was considered top high school player in
Minnesota during his senior year at Roseau High School. ... Played on line
with brother Aaron at both Roseau High School and University of Minnesota
(1980-81 season only). ...
Was regarded by coach Herb Brooks as best freshman in University of Minnesota
hockey history. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: March 31, 1981 (St. Louis at
Minnesota)
Numbers: 7 (Minnesota/Dallas) (number retired); 9
(New Jersey);
10 (Los Angeles)
Stanley Cup: 1995.
Playing Status: Retired September 1997 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS | | Years |
Teams | GP |
G | A |
TP | PIM | | 1981-1997 |
Minn./Dallas, N.J., L.A. | 1,099 |
289 | 634 |
923 | 569 |
|
| CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS | | Years |
Teams | GP |
G | A |
TP | PIM | | 1981-1997 |
Minn./Dallas, N.J., L.A. | 135 |
35 | 63 |
98 | 77 |
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NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
Lester Patrick Trophy (Contribution to U.S. Hockey): 1979-80 (as member of
1980 U.S. Olympic team), 1997-98
All-Star Game: 1983, 1986 (Minnesota)
Hockey News Comeback Player of Year: 1985-86 (Min.) (tri-winner)
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 1981, 1991 (Minnesota)
Minnesota Masterton Cup (MVP): 1983-84, 1985-86
Minnesota Home
Three-Stars Leader: 1981-82, 1983-84
Minnesota WCTN-TV Trophy
(Rookie of Year): 1981-82
Minnesota Stargazers Club Award (Most
Popular): 1981-82 (tie), 1982-83, 1983-84, 1985-86, 1988-89
Minnesota WCCO-Radio Trophy (Points Leader): 1982-83 (77, tie), 1983-84 (89), 1985-86 (105)
Minnesota Emery Edge Trophy (+/- Leader): 1982-83 (plus-24)
Dallas Captain: Jan. 31, 1995, until Feb. 27, 1995
Minnesota/Dallas Records: Most seasons (16), most assists in a season (76 in 1985-86), most
points by a rookie (98 in 1981-82), most goals by a rookie (38 in 1981-82),
most assists by a rookie (60 in 1981-82), most assists by a center in one
season (76 in 1985-86), most consecutive playoff games with at least one point
(8 in 1991, shares record)
100-Point Seasons: 1985-86 (Minnesota) (105)
Minnesota Assists Leader: 1983-84 (61), 1985-86 (76), 1989-90 (62),
1990-91 (56)
Minnesota Playoffs Assists Leader: 1992 (5)
Miscellaneous: Signed first NHL contract with Minnesota after
completing his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota in March 1981.
... Scored goal in his first NHL game. ... Missed part of 1981-82 season with
fractured ankle, an injury suffered during Minnesota's Dec. 26, 1981, game vs.
St. Louis. ... Played on line with Dino Ciccarelli and Tom McCarthy for
Minnesota in 1981-82. ... Set NHL single-season records (since broken) for points (97),
goals (38) and assists (60) by a U.S.-born player in 1981-82. ... Set
Minnesota record (since broken) for consecutive games with at least one goal
(7 in 1981-82). ... Set NHL single-season records (since broken) for points (105) and assists (76)
by a U.S.-born player in 1985-86. ... Played on line with Scott Bjugstad and
Dino Ciccarelli for
Minnesota in 1985-86. ... Became first U.S.-born player in NHL history
to score 100 points in a single season, a feat he achieved during Minnesota's
March 26, 1986, game at Toronto. ... Missed parts of 1986-87 season with
dislocated shoulder, an injury suffered during Minnesota's Oct. 30, 1986, game
vs. Detroit. ... Missed remainder of 1986-87 season with torn shoulder
ligaments, an injury suffered in March 1987. ... Became Minnesota career
assists leader during North Stars' Oct. 22, 1987, game at Quebec. ... Missed
part of 1987-88 season with separated shoulder, an injury suffered during
Minnesota's Nov. 13, 1987, game at Buffalo. He missed only three games and
returned to the lineup for the next three months, but the injury required
season-ending reconstructive surgery on Feb. 17, 1988. ... Missed part of
1988-89 season with sprained shoulder, an injury suffered during Minnesota's
Feb. 11, 1989, game vs. Detroit. ... Became Minnesota career points leader
during North Stars' March 22, 1990, game at Detroit. ... Was Minnesota's
nominee for 1989-90 Masterton Trophy. ... Missed part of 1990-91 season with
strained groin, an injury suffered during Minnesota's practice on Dec. 18,
1990. ... Was Minnesota's nominee for 1990-91 King Clancy Trophy. ... Missed
entire 1991 training camp and start of 1991-92 season due to contract dispute with Minnesota. ... Became
Minnesota career leader in games played when he played in his 761st game on
March 25, 1991, vs. St. Louis, breaking the previous record held by Curt
Giles. ... Was Minnesota's nominee for 1992-93 Masterton Trophy. ... Was
on Minnesota team that relocated to Dallas on June 9, 1993. ... Missed part of
1993-94 season with pulled hip muscle, an injury suffered during Dallas' Oct.
9, 1993, game vs. Winnipeg. ... Had assist in first game with New Jersey, on
March 2, 1995, at Boston. ... Played 1,000th NHL game for New Jersey vs.
Florida on April 28, 1995. ... Missed parts of 1995-96 season with bruised
knee, an injury suffered during New Jersey's Nov. 11, 1995, game vs.
Philadelphia, and with sprained left ankle, an injury suffered during New
Jersey's Feb. 16, 1996, game at Buffalo. ... Played on lines with Dave
Andreychuk and John MacLean, with MacLean and Stephane Richer, and with
MacLean and Valeri Zelepukin for New Jersey in 1995-96 ... Missed part of
1996-97 season with strained groin, an injury suffered during Dallas' March
19, 1997, game vs. Phoenix. ... Released by Dallas as an unrestricted free
agent on Aug. 25, 1997, although he did not officially retire at that time
despite a reported rumor that he had done so. He was unable to catch on with
another team, however, and forced to retire the following month. ... His final
player agent was former Minnesota North Stars general manager Lou Nanne. ... Retired with Minnesota/Dallas franchise records (since broken)
for career games (992), career points (867), career goals (342), career
assists (593), career shorthanded goals (24),
career playoff games (115) and career playoff assists (51). ... Dallas retired Broten's No. 7 on Feb. 7, 1998.
... Named Minnesota Wild grass-roots advisor prior to team's inaugural 2000-01
season, helping build awareness in the Twin Cities community. He remained in
that position through 2002-03 season, making appearances on team's behalf.
Broten's Holdout:
Broten became an unrestricted free agent following the 1990-91 season and
immediately found himself in a contract dispute with Minnesota, the team with
which he hoped to remain. The North
Stars offered Broten a four-year, $2.6 million deal, which came up short of
Broten and agent Ron Simon's contract demands. To protest the offer, Broten
signed a one-year "tryout" contract with the German team Berlin SC Preussen on
Aug. 8, 1991. The contract paid him $50,000 for seven weeks of hockey, while
giving him the right to return to the North Stars or join the 1992 U.S.
Olympic team any time before Sept. 28, 1991. Berlin was in position to make
the special offer to Broten because he could fill Dave Silk's roster spot
while Silk was back in the United States with his pregnant wife. The German
contract put extra pressure on Minnesota general manager Bob Clarke to get a
deal done. Clarke had been offering $400,000 per season over four years, plus
an additional $1 million paid out at $100,000 per year for the 10 years after
the contract expired. The North Stars also offered to donate $10,000 per year
to a college fund for Broten's daughters as long as he remained with the
franchise. Clarke initially refused to change his offer, fearing it would set
off a chain of players leaving for Europe as a similar negotiating tactic. The
situation remained in a stalemate through the month of September, but Broten
finally accepted a revised $3.4 million deal from the North Stars on Oct. 5,
1991. The new contract paid $350,000 per season over four years and $200,000
per year for the 10 years after the contract expired. As part of the deal,
Broten agreed to make public appearances for the franchise during the first 10
years after his retirement. Clarke also gave Broten a verbal agreement that he
would never be traded to a Canadian team, although Clarke refused to make an
overall no-trade clause one of the written contract terms Broten demanded. |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams: Team USA; Minnesota (WCHA);
Berlin (Germany); Phoenix (IHL)
Olympics: 1980
(gold medal)
Canada Cup: 1981 (fourth), 1984 (fourth)
World Championships: 1990
(fifth place)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
United States Hockey Hall of
Fame: Inducted in 2000 as individual and again in 2003 as member of 1980
U.S. Olympic hockey team
U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1983
as member of 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.
Hobey
Baker Award: 1980-81 (Minnesota) (first winner)
Sports Illustrated Sportsman
of Year: 1980 (as member of 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team)
USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement
Award: 1996
NCAA All-America
West First Team: 1980-81 (Minnesota)
WCHA All-Star First Team: 1980-81 (Minnesota)
Miscellaneous: Was 16th
and final member of
1980 USA "Miracle on Ice" team to be drafted by an NHL team. ... Was youngest
member of 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. ... Named College Hockey
Player of the Year by Hockey Magazine for 1980-81. ... Was on Minnesota
team that joined Montreal to compete in the 1990 NHL Friendship Tour in Soviet
Union. ... Came out of retirement to play two games for Team USA in 1998 World
Championships qualifying tournament at the age of 39, helping USA retain its
position in the World Championships' Pool A. ... Owned horses with his wife
during his playing days. ... Active in charitable causes during his playing
days in Minnesota, including work with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. ... Moved
to River Falls, Wisconsin, and managed the Sally Broten Horse Company with his
wife after retirement. The company raises and trains reining horses. ... Played in
Heroes of Hockey game at NHL All-Star Weekend in 2001. ... Named to all-time
USA Hockey All-Star First Team in April 1997. ... Named USA Hockey Player of
Decade for the period from 1976 to 1986. ... Named one of WCHA's all-time Top
50 players by conference on March 7, 2002. ... Named the 21st most important
sports figure in Minnesota history by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune in
1999. ... Named one of the 50 greatest players in University of Minnesota
hockey history as part of "Legends on Ice" tribute in 2001.
Personal: Full name is Neal LaMoy Broten.
... Older brother of former NHL players Aaron Broten and Paul Broten. ...
Husband of former rodeo competitor Sally Broten. |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| TRADE: Dallas traded Broten to New Jersey in
exchange for Corey Millen on February 27, 1995. Two years later, Dallas got
Broten back, claiming him on waivers from Los Angeles on January 28, 1997. |
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|
SNAPSHOT '79 | | Total Selected: |
126 | | Forwards: |
74 | | Defense: |
41 | | Goaltenders: |
11 | | Major Junior: |
97 | | College Players: |
15 |
| Canadian: |
109 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
1 | | USA Citizens: |
10 | | U.S.-Born: |
10 |
| European: |
6 |
| Reached NHL: |
103 |
| Won Stanley Cup: |
23 | | Hall of Fame: |
3 |
| All-Star Game: |
23 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
10 |
| Olympians: |
15 |
| Picks Traded: |
17 |
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