Darcy Tucker

For the Australian footballer, see Darcy Tucker (footballer).

Darcy Tucker
Tucker with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008
Born (1975-03-15) March 15, 1975 (age 49)
Castor, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Left
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs
Colorado Avalanche
NHL draft 151st overall, 1993
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 1995–2010

Darcy Tucker (born March 15, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.[1] He played most of his National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. A sixth round draft choice, Tucker began his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens. Throughout his NHL career he also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche. Tucker was born in Castor, Alberta, but grew up in Endiang, Alberta. Tucker is of Métis descent.[2]

Playing career

Tucker is one of three players, along with Tyson Nash and Ryan Huska, that were a part of all three Kamloops Blazers Memorial Cup wins in 1992, 1994 and 1995.[3] In 1996, while playing for the Fredericton Canadiens of the American Hockey League (AHL), he won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL's top rookie.

Tucker was drafted in the sixth round, 151st overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning with Stéphane Richer and David Wilkie for Patrick Poulin, Igor Ulanov and Mick Vukota in 1998, where he played for three seasons before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2000 for Mike Johnson.

Tucker became notorious on Long Island during the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs after he lowbridged the New York Islanders' captain Michael Peca during Game 5 of the first round.[4] The check blew out Peca's MCL and ACL on his left knee, ending his playoff campaign and delaying his entry into the 2002–03 season. No penalty was assessed. In the 2006 off-season, the Leafs signed Peca to a one-year contract, making Tucker and Peca teammates.

On June 24, 2008, Tucker became an unrestricted free agent after the Maple Leafs bought-out the remainder of his contract, paying Tucker $1 million per year over six years.[5] On July 1, 2008, he signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche.[6]

On October 1, 2010, as a free agent just prior to the 2010–11 season, Tucker announced his retirement from professional hockey after 14 seasons in the NHL.[7] He remained around the game as a player agent.[8]

Personal

In 1998, Tucker married Shannon Corson, the sister of former NHL player Shayne Corson. Shayne and Tucker were teammates on the Maple Leafs for three seasons, and Tucker frequently helped him deal with his panic attacks.[9] Tucker and his wife have three children.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Tucker with the Avalanche in 2009.
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1991–92 Kamloops Blazers WHL 26 3 10 13 42 9 0 1 1 16
1992–93 Kamloops Blazers WHL 67 31 58 89 155 13 7 6 13 34
1993–94 Kamloops Blazers WHL 66 52 88 140 143 19 9 18 27 43
1994–95 Kamloops Blazers WHL 64 64 73 137 94 21 16 15 31 19
1995–96 Fredericton Canadiens AHL 74 29 64 93 174 7 7 3 10 14
1995–96 Montreal Canadiens NHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1996–97 Montreal Canadiens NHL 73 7 13 20 110 4 0 0 0 0
1997–98 Montreal Canadiens NHL 39 1 5 6 57 — — — — —
1997–98 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 35 6 8 14 89 — — — — —
1998–99 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 82 21 22 43 176 — — — — —
1999–00 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 50 14 20 34 108 — — — — —
1999–00 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 27 7 10 17 55 12 4 2 6 15
2000–01 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 16 21 37 141 11 0 2 2 6
2001–02 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 77 24 35 59 92 17 4 4 8 38
2002–03 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 77 10 26 36 119 6 0 3 3 6
2003–04 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 64 21 11 32 68 12 2 0 2 14
2005–06 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 74 28 33 61 100 — — — — —
2006–07 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 56 24 19 43 81 — — — — —
2007–08 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 74 18 16 34 100 — — — — —
2008–09 Colorado Avalanche NHL 63 8 8 16 67 — — — — —
2009–10 Colorado Avalanche NHL 71 10 14 24 47 6 0 0 0 2
NHL totals 947 215 261 476 1,410 68 10 11 21 81

International

Medal record
Representing  Canada
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1995 Canada
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
1995 Canada WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 0 4 4 0
Junior totals 7 0 4 4 0

Awards

Award Year
WHL
West First All-Star Team 1993–94, 1994–95
Memorial Cup All-Star Team 1993–94, 1994–95
Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy 1993–94
CHL First All-Star Team 1993–94
AHL
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award 1995–96 [10]

References

  1. ^ "Metis".
  2. ^ "National Hockey League embraces aboriginals - Indian Country Media Network". indiancountrymedianetwork.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  3. ^ "Tyson Nash". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 4, 2007.
  4. ^ Split reference:
  5. ^ "Maple Leafs: Darcy Tucker's salary finally off the books". The Toronto Star. June 18, 2014.
  6. ^ "Colorado signs Tucker". Slam Sports. July 1, 2008. Archived from the original on July 2, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  7. ^ "Darcy Tucker announces retirement". The Globe and Mail. October 1, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  8. ^ "Darcy Tucker is just one of the dads at the OHL combine".
  9. ^ Kennedy, Kostya (October 22, 2001). "Brotherly Love". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 29, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  10. ^ "Dudley Red Garrett Memorial Award". American Hockey League. May 15, 2014. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2014.