Drew Stafford

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Drew Stafford Sabres 2012-02-19.JPG

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Stafford with the Buffalo Sabres in 2012

| position = Right Wing

| shoots = Right

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 202

| played_for = Buffalo Sabres
Winnipeg Jets
Boston Bruins
New Jersey Devils

| league = NHL

| ntl_team = USA

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|10|30}}

| birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| draft = 13th overall

| draft_year = 2004

| draft_team = Buffalo Sabres

| career_start = 2006

| career_end = 2019

}}

Drew Stafford (born October 30, 1985) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger. Stafford was drafted in the first round, 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and has played for the Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, and the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Early life

Stafford was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but grew up in Faribault, Minnesota. As a teenager, he played AAA hockey with the Milwaukee Jr Admirals. His father, Gordie, played professional hockey in the International Hockey League (IHL) and is the director of girls hockey at Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Faribault, where Drew also played high school hockey.{{cite web|url=http://ssmhockey.org/staff/|access-date=February 10, 2013|title=Shattuck St. Mary's Hockey Staff|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313092733/http://ssmhockey.org/staff/|archive-date=March 13, 2013}} Stafford's uncle, Barrie Stafford, was the head equipment manager for the Edmonton Oilers for 28 years before retiring in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=636052|title=Oilers Long-Time Equipment Manager Barrie Stafford Honored by Hockey Legends|access-date=February 10, 2013}}

Playing career

=Amateur=

Stafford played for the St. Albert Bantam AA Flyers in St. Albert, Alberta, in 1999–2000. During the season, he finished third in League scoring with 26 goals and 47 points in 30 games while leading his team to a provincial berth. At the conclusion of the season, Stafford was selected to participate in Hockey Alberta's elite development program as a member of the Northwest Sharks in the 2000 Pioneer Chrysler Alberta Cup.

Stafford played at Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota, for two years and played on the US national team at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships. He then played for three seasons at the University of North Dakota and on the US national team at the 2004 and 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Following his freshman season, Stafford was drafted 13th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. After two more seasons, he signed a professional contract with the Sabres in 2006, foregoing his senior season at the University of North Dakota. Stafford finished his three-year collegiate career with 118 points (48 goals and 70 assists).

=Professional=

File:Leopold and Stafford.jpg in 2011]]

==Buffalo Sabres==

Stafford began his professional career with Buffalo's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. With nine points in the first 11 games of the season, he caught the attention of Sabres management, and was called up to Buffalo in early November to replace injured winger Maxim Afinogenov. In his NHL debut on November 5 against the New York Rangers, Stafford assisted on a game-winning overtime goal by Daniel Brière, earning his first NHL point. On November 11, he scored his first goal in the NHL on the Philadelphia Flyers' Antero Niittymäki. He won NHL Rookie of the Month honors for March 2007 despite the fact that Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche had his record-breaking rookie scoring streak in the same month. Stafford scored his first game-winning goal on February 27 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Stafford became a regular in the Sabres' lineup during the 2007–08 season, scoring his first career hat-trick against the Atlanta Thrashers on January 18, 2008. More than a year later, he went on to score his second hat-trick in a 10–2 rout of the Edmonton Oilers on January 27, 2009. A little less than a year after that, he celebrated his third hat-trick on December 15, 2010, against the Boston Bruins. He added his fourth, also against Boston, on January 1, 2011, his fifth on February 8, 2011 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and his sixth on February 13, 2011, against the New York Islanders. On June 3, 2011, Stafford signed a four-year, $16 million contract extension with the Sabres.{{cite web|url=http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/03/buffalo-sabres-sign-drew-stafford-to-four-year-16m-contract-extension/|title=Buffalo Sabres sign Drew Stafford to four-year, $16M contract extension|author=James O'Brien|publisher=NBC Sports|access-date=February 10, 2013|date=2011-06-04}}

==Winnipeg Jets==

In his ninth season with the Sabres in 2014–15, on February 11, 2015, Stafford was traded alongside Tyler Myers, Brendan Lemieux, Joel Armia and a 2015 first-round draft pick (Jack Roslovic) to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian and the rights to goaltending prospect Jason Kasdorf.{{cite web|title=Kane, Bogosian dealt to Sabres in eight-player blockbuster deal|url=https://www.tsn.ca/kane-bogosian-dealt-to-sabres-in-eight-player-blockbuster-deal-1.205003|publisher=TSN|date=February 11, 2015|access-date=February 11, 2015}} On February 14, 2015, in just his second game on the Jets, Stafford scored a goal in regulation, as well as the shootout winner, in a 5–4 shootout victory over the Detroit Red Wings.{{cite news |title=Drew Stafford's shootout goal in 4th round sends Jets to 5-4 win over Detroit Red Wings |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/drew-stafford-s-shootout-goal-in-4th-round-sends-jets-to-5-4-win-over-detroit-red-wings-1.1763477 |access-date=May 16, 2020 |publisher=Times Colonist |date=February 14, 2015}} On February 6, 2016, during a game against the Colorado Avalanche, Stafford hit Nick Holden in the face with a high stick, earning him a one game suspension.{{cite web |title=NHL suspends Drew Stafford 1 game for high-sticking |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-jets-drew-stafford-suspended-high-sticking-1.3439250 |website=cbc.ca |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=May 15, 2020 |date=February 8, 2016}} On the eve of free-agency Stafford re-signed to a two-year contract to remain in Winnipeg on June 30, 2015.{{cite web |title=Jets re-sign Drew Stafford to two-year contract |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/jets-re-sign-drew-stafford-to-two-year-contract/ |website=sportsnet.ca |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=May 16, 2020 |date=June 30, 2015}}

==Boston Bruins==

On March 1, 2017, Stafford was traded from Winnipeg to the Boston Bruins for a conditional 6th round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite web| url = http://jets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=773043 | title = Jets agree to terms with Drew Stafford | publisher = Winnipeg Jets | date = 2015-06-30 | access-date = 2015-06-30}}{{cite web|title=Jets Trade Stafford to Bruins for pick|url=https://www.tsn.ca/jets-trade-stafford-to-bruins-for-pick-1.684877|publisher=TSN|date=March 1, 2017|access-date=March 1, 2017}} On March 4, Stafford played in his first Bruins game, racking up his first scoring point as a Bruin by assisting on Ryan Spooner's game-winning goal against the New Jersey Devils for a 3-2 home ice win at TD Garden.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-devils-boston-bruins-game-recap/c-287389842 |title=Bruins win another under Bruce Cassidy |last=Kalman |first=Matt |date=March 5, 2017 |website= Boston Bruins |publisher= National Hockey League |access-date=March 12, 2017 }} Stafford scored his first Bruins goal on March 8, Boston's third goal en route to a 6-1 home ice defeat of the visiting Detroit Red Wings.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-det/2017/03/08/2016020982 | title = Bruins crush Red wings 6-1 | publisher = National Hockey League | date = 2017-03-08 | access-date = 2017-03-08}}

==New Jersey Devils==

On August 25, 2017, Stafford signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the New Jersey Devils.{{cite web|title=Devils sign RW Drew Stafford to a one-year contract|url=https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/devils-sign-rw-drew-stafford-to-a-one-year-contract/c-290766572|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=August 28, 2017|date=August 25, 2017}} In 59 games with the club, Stafford recorded eight goals and 15 points in 59 games.

On September 7, 2018, Stafford signed a professional tryout agreement to attend the Devils' training camp.{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Chris |title=Devils bring back Drew Stafford on tryout |url=https://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2018/09/devils_bring_back_drew_stafford_on_tryout_what_it.html |website=The Star-Ledger |access-date=September 7, 2018}} On October 5, the Devils signed Stafford to a one-year, $810,000 contract.{{cite web|title=New Jersey Devils on Twitter: "The #NJDevils have agreed to terms with RW Drew Stafford on a one-year, one-way contract worth $810,000. Stafford had been with New Jersey since the start of training camp on a PTO|url=https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1048169124206133248|publisher=Twitter|access-date=October 5, 2018|date=October 5, 2018}}{{Primary source inline|date=November 2019}}

On January 4, 2019, Stafford scored the game-winning shootout goal in his 800th regular season NHL game.{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=John |title=Kinkaid stops 21 shots, Devils beat Coyotes 3-2 in shootout |url=https://www.apnews.com/43984d9f394d41099177b735b7ff9f86 |website=AP News |access-date=January 5, 2019|date=2019-01-05 }}

On September 4, 2019, it was announced that Stafford would attend the Minnesota Wild's training camp on a professional tryout.{{Cite web |author=TSN ca Staff |date=2019-09-04 |title=Stafford to attend Wild training camp on PTO - TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/forward-drew-stafford-will-attend-minnesota-wild-training-camp-on-professional-try-out-1.1360551 |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=TSN |language=en}}

Personal life

Stafford was born in Milwaukee, when his father, Gord Stafford, played professional hockey with the Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League and the Wichita Wind of the Central Hockey League during the 1980s.{{cite web | url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=34896 | title=Gord Stafford | publisher=Elite Prospects | access-date=27 August 2014}} Stafford formed a band called Red Seal Peach while at the University of North Dakota with goaltender Jordan Parise.{{cite web|url=http://letsgosabres.outlastmedia.net/pressbox/fullstory.php?newsid=10099|title=Multi-talented: Getting to know the real Drew Stafford|author=Stephen Sickles|publisher=Let's Go Sabres|access-date=February 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722125445/http://letsgosabres.outlastmedia.net/pressbox/fullstory.php?newsid=10099|archive-date=July 22, 2012}} Stafford appears in the Every Time I Die video for "Decayin with the Boys," playing jenga at a party in full hockey uniform.{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVmlf6koQXA | title = Decavin with the Boys | via = YouTube | date = 2013-05-06 | access-date = 2014-06-17}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2001–02

| Shattuck–Saint Mary's

| HSMN

| 45

| 35

| 53

| 88

| 30

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2002–03

| Shattuck–Saint Mary's

| HSMN

| 64

| 49

| 67

| 116

| 48

| —

2003–04

| University of North Dakota

| WCHA

| 36

| 11

| 21

| 32

| 30

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2004–05

| University of North Dakota

| WCHA

| 40

| 13

| 22

| 35

| 34

| —

2005–06

| University of North Dakota

| WCHA

| 41

| 24

| 23

| 47

| 63

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2006–07

| Rochester Americans

| AHL

| 34

| 22

| 44

| 30

| —

2006–07

| Buffalo Sabres

| NHL

| 41

| 13

| 14

| 27

| 33

| 10

| 2

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2007–08

| Buffalo Sabres

| NHL

| 64

| 16

| 22

| 38

| 51

| —

2008–09

| Buffalo Sabres

| NHL

| 79

| 20

| 25

| 45

| 29

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2009–10

| Buffalo Sabres

| NHL

| 71

| 14

| 20

| 34

| 35

| 3

| 0

2010–11

| Buffalo Sabres

| NHL

| 62

| 31

| 21

| 52

| 34

| 7

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2011–12

| Buffalo Sabres

| NHL

| 80

| 20

| 30

| 50

| 46

| —

2012–13

| Buffalo Sabres

| NHL

| 46

| 6

| 12

| 18

| 21

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2013–14

| Buffalo Sabres

| NHL

| 70

| 16

| 18

| 34

| 39

| —

2014–15

| Buffalo Sabres

| NHL

| 50

| 9

| 15

| 24

| 39

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014–15

| Winnipeg Jets

| NHL

| 26

| 9

| 10

| 19

| 8

| 4

| 1

| 2

| 0

2015–16

| Winnipeg Jets

| NHL

| 78

| 21

| 17

| 38

| 28

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2016–17

| Winnipeg Jets

| NHL

| 40

| 4

| 9

| 13

| 12

| —

2016–17

| Boston Bruins

| NHL

| 18

| 4

| 8

| 12

| 6

| 2

| 0

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2017–18

| New Jersey Devils

| NHL

| 59

| 8

| 7

| 15

| 10

| 2

| 0

| 10

2018–19

| New Jersey Devils

| NHL

| 57

| 5

| 8

| 13

| 18

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 841

! 196

! 232

! 428

! 415

! 32

! 6

! 5

! 11

! 18

=International=

{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2002

| United States

| U18

| 5th

| 5

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 14

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2003

| United States

| WJC18

| 4th

| 6

| 3

| 2

| 5

| 8

2004

| United States

| WJC

| {{gold1}}

| 6

| 0

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2005

| United States

| WJC

| 4th

| 7

| 5

| 4

| 9

| 14

2006

| United States

| WC

| 7th

| 7

| 0

| 1

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2008

| United States

| WC

| 6th

| 7

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 6

2009

| United States

| WC

| 4th

| 9

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 6

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Junior totals

! 24

! 9

! 10

! 19

! 38

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Senior totals

! 23

! 3

! 5

! 8

! 12

Awards and honors

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | College

All-WCHA Third Team

| 2006

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | AHL

All-Star Classic

| 2007

References

External links

{{icehockeystats}}

{{succession box | before = Thomas Vanek | title = Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick | years = 2004 | after = Marek Zagrapan}}

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:American men's ice hockey right wingers

Category:Boston Bruins players

Category:Buffalo Sabres draft picks

Category:Buffalo Sabres players

Category:Ice hockey players from Minnesota

Category:Ice hockey players from Wisconsin

Category:NHL first-round draft picks

Category:New Jersey Devils players

Category:North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey players

Category:Sportspeople from Faribault, Minnesota

Category:Rochester Americans players

Category:Sportspeople from Milwaukee

Category:Winnipeg Jets players