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1981
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1981 NHL DRAFT PICK
Bobby Carpenter
Selected in first round
No. 3 overall by Washington Capitals

Born July 13, 1963
Position: Center
Height: 6-0   Weight: 185
BEFORE THE DRAFT
Last Team: St. John's Prep (Mass. High School) 
Birthplace: Beverly, Massachusetts (USA)
Hometown: Peabody, Massachusetts
PRE-DRAFT STATISTICS
Year TeamLeague GPG ATP PIM
1978-79 St. John's PrepMass. H.S. 2323 3154 --
1979-80 St. John's PrepMass. H.S. 2128 3765 --
1980-81 St. John's PrepMass. H.S. 1814 2438 --

PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
World Junior Championships:
1981 (sixth place)
Mass. High School State Championship: 1979 (St. John's Prep)
Mass. High School Player of Year: 1979-80, 1980-81 (St. John's)
Mass. High School All-State First Team: 1979-80, 1980-81 (SJP)
Mass. Catholic Conference All-Star First Team: 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81 (St. John's Prep)
Team USA World Junior Championships MVP: 1981
Mass. High School Tournament Points Leader: 1979 (SJP) (16)
Miscellaneous: Rated in The Hockey News draft preview issue as
No. 4 overall prospect for the 1981 NHL draft. ... Attended St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers, Mass., where coach was Joe Yannetti. ... Led Team USA with five goals, four assists and nine points as a 17-year-old high school senior in 1981 World Junior Championships. ... Considered the greatest U.S. high school hockey player in history, he was labeled the "Can't-Miss Kid" in a cover story on the Feb. 23, 1981, issue of Sports Illustrated. ... Attended Higgins Junior High School in Peabody, Mass., before entering St. John's. ... Signed letter of intent to play at Providence College during his senior year of high school, but changed his mind and decided to enter pro hockey after the Capitals offered to make him the first high school hockey player to go straight to NHL from a U.S. high school team. ... Was Windsor's 10th-round pick, No. 125 overall, in 1980 OMJHL priority selection.
NHL CAREER
Debut: October 7, 1981 (Washington at Buffalo)
Numbers:  10, 11 (Washington); 11 (N.Y. Rangers); 11 (Los Angeles); 11 (Boston); 19 (New Jersey)
Stanley Cup: 1995 (as player), 2000, 2003 (as assistant coach).
Playing Status: Retired August 16, 1999
CAREER NHL STATISTICS
YearsTeams GPG ATPPIM
1981-1999WAS, NYR, LA, BOS, NJ 1,178320 408728 919
CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS
YearsTeams GPG ATPPIM
1983-1999WAS, LA, BOS, NJ 14021 3859 136

NHL AWARDS AND HONORS
All-Star Game:
1985 (Washington)
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 1990 (Boston)
Washington Rookie of Year: 1981-82
Washington Records: Most points by a rookie (67 in 1981-82, shares record), most goals by a rookie (32 in 1981-82), most consecutive games played (422 from Oct. 7, 1981, until Nov. 22, 1986)
50-Goal Seasons: 1984-85 (Washington) (53)
NHL First-Goals Leader: 1984-85 (13)
Washington Goals Leader: 1984-85 (53)
Washington Playoffs Goals Leader: 1986 (5)
Washington Playoffs Assists Leader: 1985 (4)
Washington Playoffs Penalty-Minutes Leader: 1984 (25)
Coaching Career: Named New Jersey assistant coach on March 24, 2000, and remained in that position until Aug. 22, 2000. ... Named New Jersey assistant coach on July 11, 2002, and remained in that position into 2003-04 season.
Miscellaneous: Was first American player to be selected within the top five picks of an NHL draft and highest U.S.-born draft pick in history at the time he was selected (record since broken). ... Was represented by attorney Jack Herlihy when he signed his first NHL contract, which was a three-year deal plus an option year worth close to $500,000. He signed the contract on Aug 27, 1981, after deciding not to attend Providence College. ... Became first player to go directly from a U.S. high school team into the NHL when he made his debut on Oct. 7, 1981. ... Had goal and assist in his first NHL game. The goal beat Buffalo netminder Don Edwards at 3:06 of the second period, giving Washington a 2-1 lead in what would end as a 5-3 Capitals loss. The assist, on Washington's first goal of the 1981-82 season, came just 12 seconds into the first period as Carpenter set up Ryan Walter for a breakaway. ... Was NHL's youngest regular player in 1981-82 season. ... Set Washington single-season record (since broken) for shots on goal by a rookie with 262 in 1981-82. ... Scored four goals vs. St. Louis as a rookie on Feb. 25, 1982. ... Played on line with Mike Gartner for Washington in 1984-85. ... Became first American player to score 50 goals in an NHL season when he achieved feat in 1984-85. He broke Joe Mullen's previous American record of 41 goals when he scored his 42nd goal during Washington's Feb. 13, 1985, at Winnipeg. ... Set NHL single-season record (since broken) for goals by a U.S.-born player with 53 in 1984-85. ... Signed four-year, $1.3 million contract with Washington in summer of 1985. ... Missed part of 1986-87 season with the flu. ... Missed part of 1987-88 season with torn right rotator cuff, an injury suffered in January 1988. ... Played left wing for Los Angeles for parts of 1987-88 season. ... Missed parts of 1988-89 season with broken right thumb and wrist, an injury suffered during Los Angeles' Dec. 31, 1988, exhibition game vs. touring Riga Dynamo team from the Soviet Union, and with broken left thumb, an injury suffered during Boston's March 12, 1989, game at Buffalo. ... Traded by Los Angeles to Boston on Jan. 23, 1989, but did not play first game for Boston until Feb. 14, 1989, in Vancouver because he had been out with thumb and wrist injury. ... Missed remainder of 1989 playoffs with torn ligaments in right wrist, an injury suffered during Game 3 of Boston's Adams Division finals series vs. Montreal on April 21, 1989. ... Played left wing as well as center during his years in Boston. ... Missed start of 1990-91 season with left knee injury, suffered during a preseason game in October 1990. ... Missed remainder of 1990-91 regular season and start of 1991 playoffs with shattered left kneecap and damaged cartilage in left knee, an injury suffered when he missed a check on Sylvan Lefebvre and crashed into the boards during Boston's Dec. 8, 1990, game vs. Montreal. The injury required four hours of surgery on Dec. 11, 1990. ... Missed remainder of 1991 playoffs with injured left wrist and re-aggravation of kneecap injury, suffered during Game 2 of Boston's first-round series vs. Hartford on April 5, 1991. The re-aggravated kneecap required surgery on April 20, 1991. ... Missed part of 1991-92 season with strained calf, an injury suffered during Boston's March 19, 1992, game vs. St. Louis. ... Became unrestricted free agent after the 1991-92 season when Boston refused to offer him a new contract because team was uncertain about his knee. ...  Signed one-year, $500,000 contract with Washington as unrestricted free-agent on June 30, 1992. The deal included two option years, which Washington would have to exercise after the first season. Washington chose not to exercise this option, making Carpenter a free agent again after the 1992-93 season. ... Attended New Jersey's 1993 training camp on a tryout basis on Sept. 13, 1993. He earned a spot on roster and signed a two-year contract on Sept. 30, 1993. ... Played on line with Tom Chorske and Stephane Richer for New Jersey in 1995. ... Missed part of 1995 season with sprained ankle, an injury suffered during New Jersey's Feb. 11, 1995, game vs. Philadelphia. ... Missed remainder of 1995 regular season and start of 1995 playoffs with charley horse in right leg, an injury suffered when he crashed into a goal post during New Jersey's April 20, 1995, game at Florida. ... Missed start of 1995-96 season with laceration of left leg, an injury suffered during New Jersey's training camp on Sept. 28, 1995. ... Missed parts of 1995-96 season with re-aggravation of laceration on leg, an injury suffered during New Jersey's Oct. 14, 1995, game at Montreal and re-aggravated once again during New Jersey's Oct. 31, 1995. game at Edmonton, with the flu, contracted in December 1995, and with bruised arm, an injury suffered during New Jersey's March 1, 1996, game vs. N.Y. Islanders. ... Played his 1,000th NHL game for New Jersey on Oct. 19, 1996, at Hartford. ... Missed parts of 1996-97 season with flu, contracted in December 1996, with bruised shoulder, suffered during New Jersey's Dec. 20, 1996, game at Edmonton, with strained neck, suffered during New Jersey's Feb. 15, 1997, game at Montreal, and with the flu, contracted in April 1997. ... Played on line with Steve Thomas and Brian Rolston for New Jersey in 1997-98. ... Missed parts of 1997-98 season with bruised knee, an injury suffered during New Jersey's Nov. 20, 1997, game vs. N.Y. Islanders, with broken foot, uffered during New Jersey's Jan. 22, 1998, game vs. Pittsburgh, and with stiff neck, suffered during New Jersey's March 9, 1998, game at N.Y. Rangers. ... Missed parts of 1998-99 season with bruised elbow, suffered during New Jersey's Dec. 8, 1998, game vs. Philadelphia, with bruised right foot, suffered during New Jersey's Dec. 16, 1998, game vs. N.Y. Rangers, and with back spasms, an injury suffered during New Jersey's March 31, 1999, game vs. Anaheim.
Carpenter Exits Washington: Carpenter did not miss his first NHL game until 1986-87, when he was suspended by Washington following team's Nov. 22, 1986, game vs. Pittsburgh. That game, which ended a team-record streak of 422 consecutive games played, was his last with Washington for the season. The suspension led to considerable tension between Carpenter and Capitals general manager David Poile, who just under six weeks later unloaded Carpenter in a trade to Los Angeles. Poile made it clear, from the time he told Carpenter to leave the team, that the 23-year-old would be traded as soon as possible. The Capitals said Carpenter had agreed to this arrangement, although Carpenter said that he wanted to stay in Washington. Carpenter said Poile had been pressuring him to ask for a trade, which he didn't want. Poile was convinced that Carpenter's was not playing up to his potential and said Carpenter told him he did not think he could get any better in Washington under coach Bryan Murray. Poile said he was distressed that Carpenter could not be motivated to play at the top of his game and that he was more interested in complaining about the coaching. Poile, and Carpenter's agent, Bob Murray, agreed that the tension had grown so great that Carpenter would need to be traded.
NON-NHL CAREER
Post-Draft Teams: None
Canada Cup: 1984 (fourth place), 1987 (fifth place)
World Championships: 1987 (seventh place)
NON-NHL AWARDS AND HONORS
St. John's Prep Athletic Hall of Fame:
Inducted 1986
Coaching Career: Served as a U.S. national junior team assistant coach during summer of 1998. ... Named Albany (AHL) assistant coach on Aug. 16, 1999, and remained in that position until March 24, 2000. ... Named Albany (AHL) associate coach on Aug. 22, 2000, and remained in position until Aug. 3, 2001. ... Named Albany (AHL) head coach on Aug. 3, 2001, and remained in position until July 11, 2002.
Education: Attended University of Maryland and Salem State College during summer of 1981.
Miscellaneous: MVP of Team New England at 1981 U.S. National Sports Festival. ... Played on Washington team that competed in Sweden's 1981 DN Cup tournament. ... Ranked No. 89 on list of New England's all-time top 100 athletes by the Boston Globe in 1999.
Personal: Full name is Robert E. Carpenter Jr. ... Also known as Bob Carpenter during his NHL playing days. ... Son of Bob Carpenter Sr., a former sergeant in the Peabody, Mass., police department.
HOW HE GOT AWAY
TRADE/FREE AGENCY: Washington traded Carpenter and 1989 second-round pick (Jason Prosofsky) to N.Y. Rangers in exchange for Bob Crawford, Kelly Miller and Mike Ridley on January 1, 1987. Five years later, Washington got Crawford back when he signed with the Capitals as an unrestricted free agent on June 30, 1992. Just over a year later, Washington lost Carpenter a second time when he signed with New Jersey as an unrestricted free agent on September 30, 1993.

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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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