Joe Nieuwendyk

Nieuwendyk was born on September 10, 1966, in Oshawa, Ontario, and grew up in Whitby.{{cite news |last=Feschuk |first=Dave |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1086280--feschuk-so-many-to-thank-so-little-time-for-hall-of-famer-nieuwendyk |title=So many to thank, so little time for Hall of Famer Nieuwendyk |work=Toronto Star |date=November 13, 2011 |access-date=March 4, 2012}} He is the youngest of four children to Gordon and Joanne Nieuwendyk, who immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in 1958. Gordon owned a car repair shop in Whitby.{{cite magazine |last=Murphy |first=Austin |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066961/index.htm |title=This new Flame is fiery hot |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=January 25, 1988 |access-date=March 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010044559/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066961/index.htm |archive-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status=dead }} Joe grew up in a sporting family. His brother Gil was a box lacrosse player,{{cite news |url=http://whitbysportshalloffame.com/hall-of-fame?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=3&sobi2Id=51 |title=Nieuwendyk, Gil |publisher=Whitby Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=March 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221555/http://whitbysportshalloffame.com/hall-of-fame?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=3&sobi2Id=51 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }} while his uncle Ed Kea and cousin Jeff Beukeboom also played in the National Hockey League (NHL).{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/events/1998/nagano/athletes/573.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527171538/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/events/1998/nagano/athletes/573.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 27, 2009 |title=Athlete profile: Joe Nieuwendyk |publisher=CNN/SI |date=February 3, 1998 |access-date=March 4, 2012}} Growing up, his best friend was future NHL teammate Gary Roberts.{{cite web |last=Burnside |first=Scott |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/columns/story?id=1692609 |title=Lifelong friends come full circle |publisher=ESPN |date=December 24, 2003 |access-date=March 4, 2012}}

He played both hockey and lacrosse growing up and the latter considered his better sport. At one point, Nieuwendyk was considered the top junior lacrosse player in Canada.{{cite book |last=Podnieks |first=Andrew |title=Players: The ultimate A–Z guide of everyone who has ever played in the NHL |publisher=Doubleday Canada |year=2003 |location=Toronto |isbn=0-385-25999-9 |page=626}} He earned a spot with the Whitby Warriors junior A team at the age of 15,{{cite news |last=Brophy |first=Mike |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/globe-on-hockey/mike-brophy-nieuwendyk-was-special/article859429/ |title=Nieuwendyk was special |work=The Globe and Mail |date=December 7, 2006 |access-date=March 4, 2012}} and was named the most valuable player of the Minto Cup tournament in 1984 where he led the Warriors to the national championship.{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1507449111.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131172900/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1507449111.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |title=No ordinary Joe |work=Toronto Star |date=July 9, 2008 |access-date=March 4, 2012 }} The Ontario Lacrosse Association later named its junior A rookie of the year award after Nieuwendyk.{{cite web |last=Ward |first=Lauren |url=http://www.ilindoor.com/2008/11/02/what-joe-nieuwendyk-lost-for-love-of-the-game/ |title=What Joe Nieuwendyk lost for love of the game |publisher=ESPN Inside Lacrosse |date=November 2, 2008 |access-date=March 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407012523/http://www.ilindoor.com/2008/11/02/what-joe-nieuwendyk-lost-for-love-of-the-game/ |archive-date=April 7, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Nieuwendyk went undrafted by any Ontario Hockey League team, so he played a season of junior B for the Pickering Panthers in 1983–84. Eligible for the 1984 NHL Entry Draft but unselected, he chose to attend Cornell University where he played hockey and lacrosse for the Big Red. He was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) hockey rookie of the year in 1984–85 after scoring 39 points in 23 games.{{cite book |editor-last=Halls |editor-first=Pat |title=1995–96 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |year=1995 |pages=50–51}} At the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, the Calgary Flames selected him in the second round, 27th overall, with a pick obtained that day in a trade with the Minnesota North Stars for Kent Nilsson.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=undkAAAAIBAJ&pg=3345%2C3071891 |title=Rave notices accompany chosen Flame |work=Calgary Herald |date=June 16, 1985 |access-date=March 7, 2012 |page=E1}} The disappointment in Calgary over the trade of Nilsson resulted in some criticism of Nieuwendyk's selection, famously leading to a local newspaper to question the moves with the headline "Joe Who?"

Returning to Cornell for the 1985–86 season, Nieuwendyk chose to give up lacrosse in order to focus on hockey.{{cite web |last=Rosen |first=Dan |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=601349 |title=Lacrosse skills helped Nieuwendyk's goal scoring |publisher=National Hockey League |date=November 14, 2011 |access-date=March 7, 2012}} He was named an ECAC first team All-Star in 1985–86 and an NCAA All-American after scoring 42 points in 21 games. In his final season at Cornell, he was named the team's most valuable player and led the ECAC in scoring with 52 points. He was again named an ECAC All-Star and NCAA All-American, and a finalist for the 1987 Hobey Baker Award.

Nieuwendyk chose to forgo his senior year in favour of turning professional. In 81 games with Cornell, Nieuwendyk scored 73 goals and 151 points, both among the highest totals in the school's history. His number 25 jersey was retired by Cornell in 2010, shared with Ken Dryden's number 1 as the first such numbers retired by the hockey team, and believed the first in any sport in the school's varsity sports history.{{cite web |last=Zeise |first=Kevin |url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Feb10/hockeyRetire.html |title=Big Red to retire Dryden, Nieuwendyk's hockey number |publisher=Cornell University Chronicle Online |date=February 25, 2010 |access-date=March 7, 2012}} In 2011, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in ECAC history.{{cite web |url=http://cornellbigred.com/news/2011/6/28/MICE_0628112323.aspx |title=Joe Nieuwendyk Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame |publisher=Cornell University |date=June 28, 2011 |access-date=March 7, 2012}}

Once his junior season at Cornell ended, Nieuwendyk joined the national team for five games before turning professional with the Flames. He made his NHL debut on March 10, 1987, against the Washington Capitals and scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Pete Peeters. He appeared in nine regular season games in the 1986–87 NHL season, scoring five goals and one assist, and appeared in six playoff games. Playing his first full season in 1987–88, he captured the attention of the sports media by scoring 32 goals in his first 42 games to put him on a pace to surpass Mike Bossy's rookie record of 53 goals. He finished two goals short of Bossy's record, but led the team with 51 goals and was the second first-year player to score at least 50 goals in one season.{{cite book| last=Mummery |first=Bob |title=Countdown to the Stanley Cup: An Illustrated History of the Calgary Flames |year=1989 |publisher=Polestar Book Publishers |isbn=0-919591-48-5 |page=100}} 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.

Nieuwendyk again scored 51 goals in 1988–89 and marked the 100th of his career in his 144th career game. At the time, he was the third fastest player to reach the milestone, behind Bossy (129 games) and Maurice Richard (134 games), and was the third player in league history to score 50 goals in each of his first two seasons (Bossy and Wayne Gretzky). He led the league with 11 game-winning goals and set a Flames franchise record on January 11, 1989, when he scored five goals in one game against the Winnipeg Jets.{{cite news |title=1988–89 Calgary Flames road to the Cup |work=Calgary Herald |date=April 4, 1989 |page=D6}} He appeared in his second of three-consecutive All-Star Games. In the 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored 10 goals and four assists to help the Flames win their first- and only -Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. In the clinching game against the Montreal Canadiens, he set up Lanny McDonald's final NHL goal with a quick pass after receiving the puck from Håkan Loob.{{cite news |last=Duhatschek |first=Eric |title=Stanley Cup: Ours at last |work=Calgary Herald |date=May 26, 1989 |page=A1}}

A 45-goal season in 1989–90 was enough for Nieuwendyk to lead the team in goal scoring for the third consecutive season. He missed he first 11 games of the 1991–92 NHL season after suffering a knee injury during a summer evaluation camp for the 1991 Canada Cup.{{cite book |editor-last=Halls |editor-first=Pat |title=1992–93 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |year=1992 |page=36}} Nieuwendyk began the season as the 12th captain in the Flames franchise history.{{cite book |editor-last=Hanlon |editor-first=Peter |editor2-last=Kelso |editor2-first=Sean |title=2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |year=2007 |page=103}} He was limited to 22 goals and 56 points on the season, but scored his 200th career goal on December 3, 1991, against the Detroit Red Wings. His 230th career goal, scored against the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 13, 1992, established a Flames franchise record for career goals (since broken).

Nieuwendyk entered the 1995–96 season unhappy with his contract status. Unable to come to terms with the Flames, he had gone to arbitration, and was awarded a contract worth C$1.85 million, but insisted on renegotiating the deal into a long-term contract extension.{{cite news |last=Board |first=Mike |title=Flames still face renegotiating captain Nieuwendyk's contract |work=Calgary Flames |date=September 23, 1995 |page=E2}} He refused an offer of a three-year, $6 million contract from the Flames, and as the dispute dragged on, chose not to join the team when the season began.{{cite magazine |last=Swift |first=E. M. |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1007574/index.htm |title=No holiday on ice |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=December 18, 1995 |access-date=March 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302091331/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1007574/index.htm |archive-date=March 2, 2013 |url-status=dead }} He remained a holdout until December 19, 1995, when the Flames traded him to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Jarome Iginla and Corey Millen.{{cite news |last=Duhatschek |first=Eric |title=Nieuwendyk's a Star |work=Calgary Herald |date=December 20, 1995 |page=D1}}

File:Joe Nieuwendyk Dallas.jpg, warming up in San Jose in 1999|alt=Backside of a hockey player, looking up. He is in a black and green uniform with the name "NIEUWENDYK" above a large number 25 on the back.]]

The Stars immediately signed Nieuwendyk to a new deal worth US$11.3 million over five years.{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Kevin |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16373335.html?dids=16373335:16373335&FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717054251/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/16373335.html?dids=16373335:16373335&FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |title=Niewuendyk ready to star |work=USA Today |date=January 5, 1996 |access-date=May 1, 2012 |page=11C}} Bob Gainey, the team's general manager, hoped that the acquisition of Nieuwendyk would help the franchise, which had relocated from Minnesota three years previous, establish its place in Dallas.{{cite web |last=LeBrun |first=Pierre |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/halloffame11/story/_/id/7217433/2011-hockey-hall-fame-look-inductee-joe-nieuwendyk |title=Classy, clutch Nieuwendyk enters Hall |publisher=ESPN |date=November 11, 2011 |access-date=March 16, 2012}} He scored 14 goals and 32 points in 52 games with the Stars to finish the 1995–96 season.

He improved to 30 goals in 1996–97 despite missing the first month of the season with fractured rib cartilage.{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_text_direct-0=0EAF90BEB1241CD4&p_field_direct-0=document_id |title=Nieuwendyk's return excites Stars |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=November 6, 1996 |access-date=March 16, 2012 |page=6 Sports}} A 39-goal season followed, but he was again sidelined by injury after appearing in only one game of the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs. In the opening game of the Stars' first-round series against the San Jose Sharks, he suffered a torn ACL as a result of a check by Bryan Marchment. The injury required two knee surgeries to repair and six months to heal, which caused him to miss the beginning of the 1998–99 NHL season.{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/498818311.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131163742/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/498818311.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |title=Nieuwendyk shines for Stars |work=Kitchener Record |date=October 23, 1998 |access-date=March 16, 2012 |page=C1}}

He finished the regular season with 28 goals and 55 points in 67 games, and added 11 goals and 10 assists in the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs to help the Stars win the first Stanley Cup in their franchise history. Six of his playoff goals were game winners, and he was voted the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs.{{cite web |url=http://www.hhof.com/htmlInduct/ind11Nieuwendyk.shtml |title=Induction Showcase – Joe Nieuwendyk |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |access-date=March 16, 2012 |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305155911/http://www.hhof.com/htmlInduct/ind11Nieuwendyk.shtml |url-status=dead }} Injuries again limited him in 1999–2000. He missed ten games due to a bruised chest then suffered a separated shoulder a week after his return that kept him out of the lineup for several weeks.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=85dIAAAAIBAJ&pg=4940,2165923 |title=Stars' Nieuwendyk out |work=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina |date=January 21, 2000 |access-date=March 16, 2012 |page=2C }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He played only 47 regular season games, but added 23 more in the playoffs as the Stars reached the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals. They lost the series in six games to the New Jersey Devils, however.{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/playoffs/news/2000/06/10/stevens_connsmythe_ap/ |title=Stevens named Stanley Cup MVP |publisher=CNN/SI |date=June 11, 2000 |access-date=March 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224194452/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/playoffs/news/2000/06/10/stevens_connsmythe_ap/ |archive-date=December 24, 2013 }}

Nieuwendyk played in his 1,000th career game on January 20, 2002, against the Chicago Blackhawks.{{cite news |last=Caplan |first=Jeff |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-81946679.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327053440/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-81946679.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 27, 2016 |title=One thousand exploits for Niewuendyk |work=Knight Ridder Tribune |date=January 19, 2002 |access-date=May 2, 2012}} Two months later, on March 19, 2002, he was traded to the Devils, along with Jamie Langenbrunner, in exchange for Jason Arnott, Randy McKay and a first round selection in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

New Jersey, who had won the Stanley Cup in 2000 and reached the finals the following year, acquired Nieuwendyk for their playoff run in 2002.{{cite web |last=Rosen |first=Dan |url=http://devils.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=41727 |title=2001–02: Making a tradition |publisher=New Jersey Devils Hockey Club |access-date=March 17, 2012}} He scored 11 points in 14 regular season games for the Devils following the trade, but New Jersey was eliminated in the first round of the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes. He reached two offensive milestones in 2002–03. He scored his 500th career goal on January 17, 2003, against Carolina's Kevin Weekes.{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-233842.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414115743/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-233842.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |title=Nieuwendyk gets 500th goal in Devils' win |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 18, 2003 |access-date=May 1, 2012}} On February 23, he scored his 1,000th point in a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3FxIAAAAIBAJ&pg=3577,5658739 |title=Nieuwendyk hits 1,000 in victory over Penguins |work=The Vindicator |date=February 24, 2003 |access-date=March 17, 2012 |page=C6}} He and the Devils reached the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, but he suffered a hip injury in the sixth game of the Eastern Conference Final that prevented him from appearing in the championship series.{{cite news |last=Fey |first=Dave |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-102842178 |title=Nieuwendyk's absence hurts Devils |work=Washington Times|date=June 6, 2003}}{{dead link|date=July 2021}} The Devils defeated the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the final, capturing the franchise's third Stanley Cup. For him, it was his third title with his third different team.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nieuwendyk-belfour-gilmour-howe-enter-hall-of-fame-1.1054108 |title=Nieuwendyk, Belfour, Gilmour, Howe enter Hall of Fame |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=November 14, 2011 |access-date=March 17, 2012}}

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Nieuwendyk to a one-year contract for the 2003–04 season.{{cite news |last=Davidi |first=Shi |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/402315281.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131221555/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/402315281.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |title=Nieuwendyk signs with the Leafs |work=Hamilton Spectator |date=September 10, 2003 |access-date=March 18, 2012 |page=E03 }} He scored 22 goals for Toronto in a season marred by abdominal and back injuries that limited him to 64 games played. After scoring two goals in the decisive Game 7 opening round series victory against the Ottawa Senators, a groin injury that forced him out of the lineup for much of Toronto's second-round series loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. He signed another one-year deal for 2004–05, but the season was cancelled due to a labour dispute that was feared would mark the end of his 38-year-old career.{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Howard |title=Supreme sacrifice |work=Calgary Herald |date=January 18, 2005 |page=D10}}

When NHL play resumed in 2005–06, the Florida Panthers sought to bolster their lineup with veteran players.They signed both Nieuwendyk and Roberts, who had played together in Calgary and Toronto and wanted to finish their careers together, to two-year, $4.5 million contracts.{{cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Tim |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-111725205.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911081720/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-111725205.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |title=Panthers sign Nieuwendyk, Roberts |agency=Associated Press |date=August 1, 2005 |access-date=May 2, 2012}} He appeared in 65 games during the season, scoring 26 goals and 56 points. He appeared in 15 games in 2006–07 before chronic back pain forced him onto injured reserve. After missing 14 games, he announced his retirement on December 7, 2006.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/no-regrets-as-joe-nieuwendyk-retires-from-nhl-1.581049 |title=No regrets as Joe Nieuwendyk retires from NHL |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=December 7, 2006 |access-date=March 18, 2012}}

As a member of the Canadian national junior team at the 1986 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Nieuwendyk scored five goals in seven games to help Canada win a silver medal.{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/World_jrs/feature/?fid=3844 |title=1986 – Hamilton, Canada |publisher=The Sports Network |access-date=March 7, 2012}} His 12 points in the tournament tied him for third in scoring for Team Canada and fourth overall in the tournament.{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/feature/?fid=3844 |title=1986 – Hamilton, Canada |publisher=The Sports Network |access-date=March 19, 2012}} One year later, he joined the senior national team for the Calgary Cup, a four-team exhibition tournament that served as a preview event for the 1988 Winter Olympics. He scored a goal in each of the first two games, losses to the United States{{cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Ken |title=What a stunner! |work=Calgary Sun |date=December 28, 1986 |page=SS2}} and Czechoslovakia,{{cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Ken |title=Czech-book hockey |work=Calgary Sun |date=December 30, 1986 |page=34}} for the Canadian team that won the bronze medal.{{cite news |last=Duhatschek |first=Eric |title=No gold, but Canada shines |work=Calgary Herald |date=January 3, 1987 |page=E1}} He joined the senior team again for the 1990 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, but appeared in only one game after suffering a knee injury.{{cite news |last=Orr |first=Frank |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/471699681.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131235743/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/471699681.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |title=Knee injury fells Nieuwendyk |work=Toronto Star |date=April 18, 1990 |access-date=March 19, 2012 |page=E1 }} He was invited to Team Canada's summer camp for the 1991 Canada Cup tournament but suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss the entire tournament.

NHL players were first allowed to participate in the Olympic ice hockey tournament in 1998. Nieuwendyk was among the players named to join Canada's "dream team".{{cite book |last=Podnieks |first=Andrew |title=Canada's Olympic Hockey History 1920–2010 |year=2009 |url=https://archive.org/details/canadasolympicho0000podn |url-access=registration |publisher=Fenn Publishing |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-55168-323-2 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/canadasolympicho0000podn/page/174 174–175]}} He scored two goals and three assists in six games, but was one of several Canadian players stopped by Czech goaltender Dominik Hašek in a shootout loss in the semifinals. Canada then dropped a 3–2 decision to Finland to finish fourth.{{cite book |last=Podnieks |first=Andrew |title=Canada's Olympic Hockey History 1920–2010 |year=2009 |url=https://archive.org/details/canadasolympicho0000podn |url-access=registration |publisher=Fenn Publishing |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-55168-323-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/canadasolympicho0000podn/page/180 180]}} He played alongside Brendan Shanahan and Theoren Fleury on Canada's checking line at the 2002 Olympic tournament.{{cite web |last=Eliot |first=Darren |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/ice_hockey/news/2002/02/23/eliot_goldpreview/ |title=One for the ages |publisher=CNN/SI |date=February 23, 2002 |access-date=March 19, 2012 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108054752/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/ice_hockey/news/2002/02/23/eliot_goldpreview/ |url-status=dead }} He scored one goal and helped Canada win its first Olympic hockey gold medal in 50 years.{{cite book |last=Podnieks |first=Andrew |title=Canada's Olympic Hockey History 1920–2010 |year=2009 |url=https://archive.org/details/canadasolympicho0000podn |url-access=registration |publisher=Fenn Publishing |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-55168-323-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/canadasolympicho0000podn/page/193 193]}}

Cliff Fletcher, who drafted him into the NHL, described Nieuwendyk as being a "pre-eminent two-way guy who had 50-goal seasons", adding that "he had a great stick around the net, he had a great shot, he saw the ice well, he could skate, he had the size – he had everything you needed to have. History has indicated that wherever he went, the team was competitive. The more that was on the line in big games, the better Joe played." He was an offensive centre in Calgary and power play specialist, able to withstand the physical punishment required to stand in front of the net and battle defencemen for the puck. He led the NHL in power play goals in 1987–88 with 31 and finished in the top ten on four other occasions.{{cite web |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/n/nieuwjo01.html |title=Joe Nieuwendyk Statistics |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=March 20, 2012}} Wayne Gretzky, who also played box lacrosse in his youth, argued that the skills Nieuwendyk learned dodging opposing players in that sport aided his development as a hockey player. Nieuwendyk was regarded as a top faceoff man, a skill that Team Canada relied on during the Olympics. He was a checking-line centre at the 2002 Olympics, relied on for his defensive and faceoff abilities.

Nieuwendyk was regarded as a leader throughout his career. He was the captain of the Flames for four seasons, and his teammates in Dallas praised him as a player who would help guide the younger players as they began their careers.{{cite news |last=Heika |first=Mike |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_text_direct-0=12891285472FD030&p_field_direct-0=document_id |title=A leader above all else |work=Dallas Morning News |date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=March 20, 2012}} His presence was considered an important factor in New Jersey's 2003 Stanley Cup championship. Devils' general manager Lou Lamoriello praised his impact both on and off the ice: "Certainly (the tangibles were) the quality player he was even at that time, how good he was defensively as well as always finding a way to get big goals. It was also about how good he was on faceoffs. And the intangibles, which are really more tangible than anything, are what he brought in the locker room from leadership and unselfishness. It was obvious that when he didn't play he was still so active in his support. He's genuine in every sense of the word. He was a true team player."{{cite web |last=Rosen |first=Dan |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=599887&print=true |title=Nieuwendyk's career ensured everyone knew his name |publisher=National Hockey League |date=November 11, 2011 |access-date=March 20, 2012}} He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011, and his uniform number 25 was honoured by the Calgary Flames on March 7, 2014, as he was named to the organization's "Forever a Flame" program.{{cite news |last=Cruickshank |first=Scott |title=Nieuwendyk 'very grateful' |work=Calgary Herald |date=March 8, 2014 |page=D1}}

Remaining in hockey following the end of his playing career, Nieuwendyk joined the Florida Panthers' front office as a consultant to general manager Jacques Martin in 2007.{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/story.html?id=23a40979-fb40-47d4-899b-26d157b87760 |title=Nieuwendyk joins Leafs' front office |publisher=Canada.com |date=July 8, 2008 |access-date=March 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912205222/http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/story.html?id=23a40979-fb40-47d4-899b-26d157b87760 |archive-date=September 12, 2014 |url-status=dead }} He left the Panthers after one year to join the Maple Leafs as special assistant to general manager Cliff Fletcher in 2008.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/leafs-hire-nieuwendyk-for-front-office-post-1.739263 |title=Leafs hire Nieuwendyk for front office post |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=July 8, 2008 |access-date=December 19, 2020}} He served as assistant general manager for the silver medal-winning Canadian national team at the 2009 World Championships, and on June 1, 2009, was named general manager of the Dallas Stars.{{cite news |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=280497 |title=Nieuwendyk named Dallas Stars' new general manager |publisher=The Sports Network |date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=March 17, 2012}} His ability to make moves was at times limited by the financial difficulty of team owner Tom Hicks.{{cite news |last=Cowlishaw |first=Tim |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-stars/headlines/20110705-cowlishaw-joe-nieuwendyk-shows-stars-fans-there_s-no-need-to-wait.ece |title=Joe Nieuwendyk shows Stars fans there's no need to wait |work=Dallas Morning News |date=July 5, 2011 |access-date=March 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903183123/http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-stars/headlines/20110705-cowlishaw-joe-nieuwendyk-shows-stars-fans-there_s-no-need-to-wait.ece |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }} Among his decisions in his first two seasons as general manager was to allow popular former captain Mike Modano to leave the organization after 22 years with the franchise in 2010. He stated that such moves were difficult, as he played with Modano and considered him a friend.{{cite web |last=Durrett |first=Richard |url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/nhl/news/story?id=5339262 |title=Modano's 22-year run with Stars ends |publisher=ESPN |date=June 29, 2010 |access-date=March 21, 2012}} He was released as Stars' general manager at the conclusion of the 2012–13 NHL season as team owner Tom Gaglardi stated that the team wanted to "take this organization in a different direction".{{cite news |last=Maki |first=Allan |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/dallas-stars-fire-gm-joe-nieuwendyk/article11595713/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630102904/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/dallas-stars-fire-gm-joe-nieuwendyk/article11595713/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |title=Dallas Stars fire GM Joe Nieuwendyk |work=The Globe and Mail |date=April 28, 2013 |access-date=April 28, 2013 }} On September 3, 2014, the Carolina Hurricanes announced they had hired him as a pro scout and advisor. He resigned from his position with Carolina on April 30, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ron-francis-out-as-hurricanes-president-of-hockey-operations/c-298351836|title = Francis' contract terminated by Hurricanes}}

Nieuwendyk and his wife Tina have two daughters and one son.{{cite web |url= http://stars.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=39375 |title=Joe Nieuwendyk – General Manager |publisher=Dallas Stars Hockey Club |access-date=March 17, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120525190944/http://stars.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=39375 |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Jackson Nieuwendyk is presently playing in Penticton, British Columbia with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League.{{ cite web| url=http://pentictonvees.ca/stats/player/6893/50/jackson-nieuwendyk| title=Penticton Vees}} He is committed to play in the NCAA with Canisius College in the Buffalo, New York area for the 2023–2024 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey season.

In 1995, while a member of the Flames, Nieuwendyk won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy given annually to the player "who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community". He was honoured by the league for his contributions to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and was a spokesman and honorary chairman of the Foothills Hospital Foundation.{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SilverwareTrophyWinner.jsp?tro=KCT&year=1994-95 |title=1994–95 King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |access-date=March 17, 2012}} He remained active with the SPCA after his trade to Dallas,{{cite news |last=Heika |first=Mike |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_text_direct-0=0EDABEBCC713CC4F&p_field_direct-0=document_id |title=Star treatment |work=Dallas Morning News |date=November 23, 2000 |access-date=March 17, 2012}} and following the September 11 attacks, organized a charity softball game that raised $115,000 for charitable groups in the aftermath of the attack.{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_text_direct-0=0EF7FCCD5F81824A&p_field_direct-0=document_id |title=Stars stirred by ground zero |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=October 29, 2001 |access-date=March 17, 2012}} While a member of the Maple Leafs during the lockout, he participated in a charity hockey game organized by cancer survivor and former NHL player Keith Acton that raised $30,000 for cancer and leukemia charities in southern Ontario.{{cite news |last=Hornsby |first=Lance |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2005/01/31/915602.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714014633/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2005/01/31/915602.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |title=It's the only game in town |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=January 31, 2005 |access-date=March 17, 2012 }}

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{{succession box | before = John Cullen| title = ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year| years = 1984–85| after = John Messuri}}

{{succession box | before = Scott Fusco| title = ECAC Hockey Player of the Year| years = 1986–87| after = Pete Lappin}}

{{succession box | before = Luc Robitaille | title = Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy | years = 1988 | after = Brian Leetch}}

{{succession box | before = Adam Graves | title = Winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy | years = 1995 | after = Kris King}}

{{succession box | before = Steve Yzerman | title = Winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy | years = 1999 | after = Scott Stevens}}

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{{succession box | before = Rotating captains | title = Calgary Flames captain | years = 1991–95 | after = Theoren Fleury}}

{{succession box | before = Les Jackson
Brett Hull | title = General manager of the Dallas Stars | years = 2009–13 | after = Jim Nill}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nieuwendyk, Joe}}

Category:1966 births

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