Joe Nieuwendyk

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Nieuwendyk's career began when the Calgary Flames selected him in the second round, 27th overall, at the 1985 NHL entry draft. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1988 after becoming only the second first-year player to score 50 goals. He was a four-time All-Star, won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 1995 for his leadership and humanitarian work, and was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 1999 as the most valuable player of the postseason. He played 1,257 games in his career, scoring 564 goals and 1,126 points. Chronic back pain forced Nieuwendyk's retirement as a player in 2006.

In Their Own Story

Nieuwendyk was born on September 10, 1966, in Oshawa, Ontario, and grew up in Whitby. He is the youngest of four children to Gordon and Joanne Nieuwendyk, who immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in 1958. An accomplished box lacrosse player, Nieuwendyk led the Whitby Warriors to the 1984 Minto Cup national junior championship before focusing exclusively on hockey. He played university hockey with the Cornell Big Red where he was a two-time All-American. Growing up, his best friend was future NHL teammate Gary Roberts.

Reader's Guide

Nieuwendyk's NHL career spanned 20 seasons. He made his NHL debut on March 10, 1987, against the Washington Capitals and scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Pete Peeters. In 1987–88, he scored 51 goals and was the second first-year player to score at least 50 goals in one season. He played in his first NHL All-Star Game, was named to the All-Rookie Team and was voted the winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. He again scored 51 goals in 1988–89 and helped the Flames win their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. In the clinching game against the Montreal Canadiens, he set up Lanny McDonald's final NHL goal. He was traded to the Dallas Stars on December 19, 1995, in exchange for Jarome Iginla and Corey Millen. With the Stars, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1999 as most valuable player of the playoffs, helping the Stars win the first Stanley Cup in their franchise history. On March 19, 2002, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils, along with Jamie Langenbrunner, in exchange for Jason Arnott, Randy McKay and a first round selection in the 2002 NHL entry draft. He won his third Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2003. After retiring, he began a new career in management, acting first as a consultant to the general manager with the Panthers before moving onto the Maple Leafs where he was an assistant to the general manager. He was the general manager of the Dallas Stars between 2009 and 2013. He most recently worked as a pro scout and advisor for the Carolina Hurricanes, until resigning his contract on April 30, 2018.

Did You Know?

• Nieuwendyk is one of only 11 players in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup with three or more different teams (Calgary 1989, Dallas 1999, New Jersey 2003).
• He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1988 after becoming only the second first-year player to score 50 goals.
• He was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 1999 as the most valuable player of the postseason.
• An accomplished box lacrosse player, he led the Whitby Warriors to the 1984 Minto Cup national junior championship.
• His uncle Ed Kea and cousin Jeff Beukeboom also played in the NHL.