Paul Postma
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1989)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image_size = 230px
| image = 2024-10-26 Eisbären Berlin gegen Düsseldorfer EG (Deutsche Eishockey-Liga 2024-25) by Sandro Halank–027.jpg
| caption = Postma with Düsseldorfer EG in October 2024
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|2|22}}
| birth_place = Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 195
| position = Defence
| shoots = Right
| league = DEL
| team = Düsseldorfer EG
| former_teams = Atlanta Thrashers
Winnipeg Jets
Boston Bruins
Ak Bars Kazan
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
HC Lugano
EC KAC
| draft = 205th overall
| draft_year = 2007
| draft_team = Atlanta Thrashers
| career_start = 2009
}}
Paul Edward Postma (born February 22, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for Düsseldorfer EG of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He was drafted 205th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. During his major junior career with the Swift Current Broncos and Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Postma won the WHL Plus-Minus Award and was a WHL East First Team All-Star in 2009.
Playing career
Postma has played major junior in the WHL for the Swift Current Broncos and Calgary Hitmen. After a 24-point season in 2006–07, he was drafted in the 7th round, 205th overall, by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. The next season, he was traded to the Calgary Hitmen, where he recorded 14 goals and 42 points. In 2008–09, Postma emerged with a 23-goal, 84-point campaign, first among league defencemen, setting team records for single-season goals (surpassed Kenton Smith's 19 goals in 1998–99){{Cite web|title=Postma claims spot in Hitmen history|url=https://calgaryherald.com/story_print.html?id=1268896&sponsor=|accessdate=2009-03-26|publisher=Calgary Herald|archive-date=2020-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531155557/https://calgaryherald.com/story_print.html?id=1268896&sponsor=%2F|url-status=dead}} and points (tied with Matt Kinch) by a defenceman.{{Cite web|title=A look at the 2008-09 WHL Award Finalists |url=http://www.whl.ca/a-look-at-the-2008-09-whl-awards-finalists-p127972 |accessdate=2008-03-26 |date=2008-03-26 |publisher=Western Hockey League |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329082729/http://www.whl.ca/a-look-at-the-2008-09-whl-awards-finalists-p127972 |archivedate=March 29, 2009 }}
File:Paul Postma - Winnipeg Jets.jpg in 2013.]]
He earned WHL East First Team All-Star honours, along with teammates Brandon Kozun and Brett Sonne and a nomination for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the league's top defenceman, opposite Jonathon Blum of the Vancouver Giants.{{Cite web|title=WHL Announces 2008-09 Conference All-Stars and Award Finalists |url=http://www.whl.ca/whl-announces-2008-09-conference-all-star-teams-and-award-finalists-p127905 |accessdate=2009-03-22 |publisher=Western Hockey League |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326084542/http://www.whl.ca/whl-announces-2008-09-conference-all-star-teams-and-award-finalists-p127905 |archivedate=March 26, 2009 }} With a league-high +67 plus-minus rating, he won the WHL Plus-Minus Award. During the second round of the subsequent 2009 playoffs, Postma was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Thrashers.{{Cite web|title=Postma inks contract with Thrashers|url=http://www.canada.com/Postma+inks+contract+with+Thrashers/1487648/story.html|accessdate=2009-04-12|date=2009-04-11|publisher=CanWest News Services}} He finished the 2009 playoffs with 13 points in 18 games, as the Hitmen were defeated in the finals by the Kelowna Rockets.
While playing for the Winnipeg Jets, Postma scored his first NHL goal on February 1, 2013, against Anders Lindbäck of the Tampa Bay Lightning.{{cite web| url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2012020103 | title = Winnipeg - Tampa Bay Boxscore | publisher = National Hockey League | date = 2013-02-01 | accessdate = 2013-02-01}} In 2013–14, Postma missed most of the season due to injury, including a blood clot that had him sidelined for 47 games. Postma played a total of 42 games for the Jets during the 2014–15 season, but was sidelined in March, due to a lower-body injury.{{cite web|url=http://jets.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8474074|title=Byfuglien returns to practice for Jets, but Postma out with lower-body injury|publisher=nhl.com|date=March 16, 2015}}
On July 10, 2015, Postma signed a two-year, $1,775,000 contract extension with the Jets.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=774485|title=Jets agree to terms with Postma on two-year contract|publisher=nhl.com|date=July 10, 2015}}
After spending his first eight professional seasons with the Thrashers/Jets franchise, Postma left as a free agent in agreeing to terms with the Boston Bruins on a one-year, $775,000 contract on July 1, 2017.{{cite web| url = http://www.csnne.com/boston-bruins/bruins-sign-depth-players-kenny-agostino-paul-postma-one-year-one-way-deals | title = Bruins sign depth players Kenny Agostino, Paul Postma to one-year, one-way deals | publisher = CSNNE | date = 2017-07-01 | accessdate = 2017-07-01}} He split the 2017–18 season between Boston and AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.
As a free agent from the Bruins, Postma opted to halt his North American career, agreeing to a one-year contract with Russian champions, Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), on August 15, 2018.{{cite web| url = https://www.ak-bars.ru/news/16010.html | title = Ak Bars agree contract with Paul Postma | publisher = Ak Bars Kazan | language = Russian | date = 2018-08-15 | accessdate = 2018-08-15}} In the 2018–19 season, Postma regained his scoring touch in the KHL, posting 8 goals and 28 points through 57 regular season games.
On May 1, 2019, Postma left Ak Bars as a free agent to sign a one-year contract with Russian outfit, Metallurg Magnitogorsk.{{cite web| url = https://www.metallurg.ru/press/club-news/448000/ | title = Paul Postma signs with Metallurg | publisher = Metallurg Magnitogorsk | date = 2019-05-01 | accessdate = 2019-05-01 | language = Russian}} He made just 10 appearances with Magnitogorsk to open the 2019–20 season before opting to leave the KHL on October 6, 2019. Moving to continue his career in Switzerland, after a successful tryout, Postma joined HC Lugano of the National League (NL) on a one-year deal on November 6, 2019.
On December 8, 2020, Postma belatedly joined Austrian club, EC KAC of the ICEHL, as a free agent on an initial one-year contract.{{cite web| url = https://www.kac.at/de/news/spieler/ec-kac-verstaerkt-sich-mit-paul-postma | title = EC KAC strengthens with Paul Postma signing | publisher = EC KAC | date = December 8, 2020 | accessdate = December 8, 2020 | language = German}}
Personal life
Postma attended Gateway Christian School and Notre Dame High School in Red Deer, Alberta. He is the son of John and Janet Postma and has three sisters, Alissa, Jamie-Lea and Sharlene. Alissa is married to former NHL defenceman Noah Welch,{{cite web |last1=Atchue |first1=A.J. |title=Postma has dedicated himself to both ends of ice |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/postma-has-dedicated-himself-to-both-ends-of-ice/c-557110 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=May 30, 2018 |date=March 24, 2011 |quote=his older sister, Alissa, will marry his current teammate and roommate, defenseman Noah Welch.}}{{cite web |last1=Shinzawa |first1=Fluto |title=Olympics will be just fine without the NHL |url=http://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/article_popover.aspx?guid=bc8d9bb5-9af4-4206-83ef-f9c6863ecfb0 |website=edition.pagesuite.com |accessdate=May 30, 2018 |quote=Not only does Welch have his Brighton and Cambridge connections, he is married to Alissa Postma, sister of Bruin Paul Postma.}} and Sharlene is married to former NHL forward Rhett Rakhshani.
Paul married Brooke Sutter, daughter of Brent Sutter, during the summer of 2023.
Records
- Calgary Hitmen team record; single-season points by a defenceman - 84 in 2008–09 (tied with Matt Kinch - 2000–01)
Career statistics
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 2004–05 | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2005–06 | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | 58 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006–07 | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | 70 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 42 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2007–08 | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 66 | 14 | 28 | 42 | 30 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 4 |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2008–09 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 70 | 23 | 61 | 84 | 28 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 10 |
| 2009–10 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 63 | 15 | 14 | 29 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2010–11 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 69 | 12 | 33 | 45 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2011–12 | St. John's IceCaps | AHL | 56 | 13 | 31 | 44 | 32 | 15 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 14 |
| 2011–12 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2012–13 | St. John's IceCaps | AHL | 27 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 34 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2013–14 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | St. John's IceCaps | AHL | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2014–15 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 42 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 26 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2015–16 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 65 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2017–18 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 13 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2018–19 | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 57 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | Metallurg Magnitogorsk | KHL | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2019–20 | HC Lugano | NL | 20 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | EC KAC | ICEHL | 20 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2021–22 | EC KAC | ICEHL | 35 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 26 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 6 |
| 2022–23 | EC KAC | ICEHL | 45 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 27 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2023–24 | EC KAC | ICEHL | 44 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
| 2024–25 | Düsseldorfer EG | DEL | 39 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3"|AHL totals!!239!!50!!104!!154!!102!!26!!1!!14!!15!!14 | ||||||||||||
| style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals!!205!!10!!25!!35!!49!!—!!—!!—!!—!!— |
Awards and honours
| class=wikitable style="text-align:left;"
! Award ! Year ! |
| colspan="3"|WHL |
|---|
| East First All-Star Team
| 2009 |
| WHL Plus-Minus Award
| 2009 | |
| CHL Second All-Star Team
| 2009 | |
| colspan="3"|AHL |
| All-Star Game
| |
| First All-Star Team
| 2012 | {{cite web| url = http://theahl.com/stats/player.php?lang_code=en&id=3225 | title = Paul Postma's AHL player profile | publisher = American Hockey League | date = 2013-04-15 | accessdate = 2013-04-15}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{icehockeystats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Postma, Paul}}
Category:Canadian people of Dutch descent
Category:Ak Bars Kazan players
Category:Atlanta Thrashers draft picks
Category:Atlanta Thrashers players
Category:Boston Bruins players
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Category:Calgary Hitmen players
Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen
Category:Chicago Wolves players
Category:Düsseldorfer EG players
Category:Manitoba Moose players
Category:Metallurg Magnitogorsk players
Category:Providence Bruins players
Category:Ice hockey people from Red Deer, Alberta
Category:St. John's IceCaps players
Category:Swift Current Broncos players