David Legwand
{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image = David Legwand - Buffalo Sabres.jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Legwand with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
| league = NHL
| played_for = Nashville Predators
EHC Basel
Detroit Red Wings
Ottawa Senators
Buffalo Sabres
| position = Center
| shoots = Left
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 207
| ntl_team = USA
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|8|17}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| draft = 2nd overall
| draft_year = 1998
| draft_team = Nashville Predators
| career_start = 1999
| career_end = 2016
}}
David A. Legwand (born August 17, 1980) is an American former professional ice hockey forward who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the first player ever drafted by the Nashville Predators, with whom he spent 12 full seasons and set several franchise records. He finished the final three seasons of his career split between the Predators, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres.
Playing career
=Amateur=
Legwand attended Grosse Pointe North High School.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} As a youth, he played in the 1993 and 1994 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with the Detroit Little Caesars minor ice hockey team.{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=2019-02-09|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|url-status=dead}}
He played his junior career with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL. In the season before he was drafted, he scored 54 goals along with 51 assists, totaling 105 points. He also won the Red Tilson Award as the most outstanding player in the league.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
=Nashville Predators=
Prior to the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Nashville Predators general manager David Poile dealt their first- and second-round picks to the San Jose Sharks for the second and 85th pick. As a result, he was able to draft Legwand second overall behind Vincent Lecavalier.{{cite news |last1=Boclair |first1=David |title=Predators deal, draft Legwand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-predators-deal-d/123711703/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Daily News Journal |date=June 28, 1998|via=newspapers.com}} Poile had previously been in discussions with the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, and the New York Rangers before San Jose accepted their deal at the last minute.{{cite news |title=Preds--- |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-preds/123711890/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Daily News Journal |date=June 28, 1998|via=newspapers.com}} After suffering from mononucleosis during training camp, Legwand returned to the Plymouth Whalers for the 1998–99 OHL season. He missed further time during the season after the death of a family member and the World Juniors. He finished third on the team with 31 goals and 49 assists for 80 points through 55 games.{{cite news |last1=Glennon |first1=John |title=Last season was more productive for Legwand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-last-season-was-more-prod/123712083/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=April 18, 1999|via=newspapers.com}} Once the Whalers were eliminated from the OHL playoffs, he signed a three-year contract with the Predators worth $8.925 million{{cite news |title=Legwand signs, sees first action |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-legwand-signs-sees-first/123711975/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=April 18, 1999|via=newspapers.com}} and made his NHL debut against the New Jersey Devils.{{cite news |last1=Glennon |first1=John |title=A devilish ending |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-a-devilish-ending/123712009/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=April 18, 1999|via=newspapers.com}}
Prior to the start of the 1999–00 season, Legwand was encouraged to put on more weight after he experienced a small growth spurt. As such, he worked with the team's strength and conditioning coach and added between 5 and 10 pounds.{{cite news |title=Bigger is better |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-bigger-is-better/123713802/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=October 14, 1999|via=newspapers.com}} Despite improving physically, he failed to impress head coach Barry Trotz with his skills at the start of training camp.{{cite news |last1=Glennon |first1=John |title=Legwand finding motivation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-legwand-finding-motivatio/123712163/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=September 10, 1999|via=newspapers.com}} He still made the Predators opening night roster and tallied his first career NHL goal in a 4–2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Through the month of December, Legwand accumulated three goals and five assists for eight points through 10 games.{{cite news |title=Predators Report |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-predators-report/123713739/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=December 28, 1999|via=newspapers.com}} By the end of March, he had tallied 28 points and led all rookies with 13 goals through 67 games.{{cite news |title=Preds: Legwand deals with hockey, life on own |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-preds-legwand-deals-with/123712644/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=March 31, 2000|via=newspapers.com}}
Legwand returned to the Predators for his sophomore season but failed to make an immediate impact on the team. After causing several turnovers leading to goals during a late October game against the Vancouver Canucks, Legwand sat as a healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career.{{cite news |last1=Wyatt |first1=Jim |title=Legwan returns to Preds lineup |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-legwan-returns-to-preds-l/123711500/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=October 26, 2000|via=newspapers.com}} On December 23, 2000, during a game against the New York Rangers, Legwand became the first NHL player to score on a penalty shot in overtime.{{cite news |title=David waves the magic 'wand' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-david-waves-the-magic-wa/123711649/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=December 24, 2000|via=newspapers.com}} As the Predators failed to qualify for the 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs, Legwand competed for Team USA at the 2001 IIHF World Championship.{{cite news |last1=Glennon |first1=John |title=World Championships feature four more Preds |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-world-championships-featu/123712135/ |access-date=April 30, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=March 30, 2001|via=newspapers.com}}
During the NHL 2004–05 lockout season, Legwand played for the Swiss team EHC Basel.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
File:Legwand2011.jpg in May 2011.]] After several first round playoff exits, Legwand and the Predators advanced to the second round for the first time in franchise history and his career in 2011. The Predators were defeated by the Presidents' Trophy-winning and Stanley Cup runner-up Vancouver Canucks in six games.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
In early November 2005, Legwand suffered a knee injury. Prior to rejoining the Predators once his knee recovered, Legwand played two games in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Milwaukee Admirals. He made his AHL debut on February 23, 2006, while playing on a line with Scottie Upshall and Jordin Tootoo.{{cite news |title=Admiral debut |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-admiral-debut/123712518/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=February 25, 2006|via=newspapers.com}}
On March 5, 2014, in the final year of his contract with the Predators and out of playoff contention, Legwand was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Patrick Eaves, Calle Järnkrok, and a conditional 2014 draft pick, ending his 15-year career in Nashville. He left Nashville as the franchise's all-time leader in all offensive categories and games played, with 956 appearances.{{cite web |last1=Kujawa |first1=Kyle |title=Legwand acquired from Nashville |url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/legwand-acquired-from-nashville/c-708049 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=April 30, 2023 |date=March 5, 2014}}
=Later years=
On July 4, 2014, Legwand signed a two-year, $6 million free agent contract with the Ottawa Senators. The move came after the Senators traded star center Jason Spezza to the Dallas Stars.{{Cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=456431 | title = Senators sign F Legwand to two-year contract | publisher = The Sports Network | date = 2014-07-04 | access-date = 2014-07-04}} In his only season in Ottawa in 2014-15 season, Legwand added a veteran presence in helping return the Senators to the playoffs, however suffered a decline in production with 9 goals and 27 points in 80 games.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
On June 26, 2015, Legwand was traded to the Buffalo Sabres along with Senators teammate Robin Lehner in exchange for the New York Islanders' 1st-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.{{Cite web| url = http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=772320 | title = Sabres trade for Lehner, Legwand from Senators | publisher = Buffalo Sabres | date = 2014-06-26 | access-date = 2014-06-26}}
Legwand announced his retirement from professional hockey on December 22, 2016.{{cite web| url = http://www.nhlpa.com/news/david-legwand-retires-after-16-nhl-seasons | title = David Legwand retires after 16 NHL seasons | publisher = NHLPA | date = 2016-12-22 | access-date = 2016-12-22}}
Personal life
Legwand and his wife, Lindsey, have two children, with the firstborn being a son born on November 21, 2009.{{cite news |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/nhl/nashville-the-scene-of-the-legwand-hat-trick |title=Nashville: the scene of the 'Legwand hat trick' |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=2014-10-07 |access-date=2015-03-15}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=712927 |title=Returning to Detroit makes trade easier for Legwand |publisher=NHL |date=2014-05-04 |access-date=2015-03-15}}
In January 2015, Legwand, along with former NHL player Derian Hatcher, entered an agreement to purchase the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).{{cite web |url=http://www.theobserver.ca/2015/01/22/sarnia-sting-sold-to-darian-hatcher-and-david-legwand |title=Sarnia Sting sold to new owners |work=theobserver.ca |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=30 November 2016}} The transfer of ownership was approved by the OHL Board of Governors and completed on March 4, 2015.{{cite web |url=http://lastwordonsports.com/2015/03/04/legwand-hatcher-new-owners-sarnia-sting/ |title=Legwand and Hatcher, New Owners of Sarnia Sting |publisher=LastWordOnSports.com |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=11 April 2017}}
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" | ||||||||
| style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs | ||||||||
| style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM | ||||||||
| 1996–97
| NAHL | 44 | 21 | 41 | 62 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1997–98 | OHL | 59 | 54 | 51 | 105 | 56 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 24 | ||||||||
| 1998–99
| Plymouth Whalers | OHL | 55 | 31 | 49 | 80 | 65 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 8 | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1998–99 | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1999–00
| Nashville Predators | NHL | 71 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2000–01 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 81 | 13 | 28 | 41 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 2001–02
| Nashville Predators | NHL | 63 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2002–03 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 64 | 17 | 31 | 48 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 2003–04
| Nashville Predators | NHL | 82 | 18 | 29 | 47 | 46 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2004–05 | NLB | 3 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 19 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 20 | ||||||||
| 2005–06
| Nashville Predators | NHL | 44 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 34 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2005–06 | AHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 2006–07
| Nashville Predators | NHL | 78 | 27 | 36 | 63 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2007–08 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 65 | 15 | 29 | 44 | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
| 2008–09
| Nashville Predators | NHL | 73 | 20 | 22 | 42 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2009–10 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 82 | 11 | 27 | 38 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | ||||||||
| 2010–11
| Nashville Predators | NHL | 64 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 24 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 8 | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2011–12 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 78 | 19 | 34 | 53 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | ||||||||
| 2012–13
| Nashville Predators | NHL | 48 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2013–14 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 62 | 10 | 30 | 40 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 2013–14
| NHL | 21 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 31
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2014–15 | NHL | 80 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 32
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015–16
| NHL | 79 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 1,136 !! 228 !! 390 !! 618 !! 551 ! 55 !! 13 !! 15 !! 28 !! 46 |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |
| ALIGN="center"
| 1998 | WJC | 5th | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1999 | United States | WJC | 8th | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 31 |
| ALIGN="center"
| 1999 | WC | 6th | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2000 | United States | WC | 5th | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| ALIGN="center"
| 2001 | United States | WC | 4th | 9 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2005 | United States | WC | 6th | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" | Junior totals ! 13 ! 1 ! 3 ! 4 ! 33 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" | Senior totals ! 28 ! 3 ! 8 ! 11 ! 16 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{icehockeystats|legends=16818|tsn=david-legwand}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box | before = Franchise created | title = Nashville Predators first round draft pick | years = 1998 | after = Brian Finley}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legwand, David}}
Category:American men's ice hockey centers
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Buffalo Sabres players
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Ice hockey people from Detroit
Category:Milwaukee Admirals players
Category:Nashville Predators draft picks
Category:Nashville Predators players
Category:NHL first-round draft picks