| Michael Peca | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Peca in 2016 | |||
| Born | (1974-03-26)March 26, 1974 (age 51) Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Vancouver Canucks Buffalo Sabres New York Islanders Edmonton Oilers Toronto Maple Leafs Columbus Blue Jackets | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 40th overall,1992 Vancouver Canucks | ||
| Playing career | 1993–2009 | ||
Medal record | |||
Michael Anthony Peca (born March 26, 1974) is a Canadian former professionalice hockeyforward who played in theNational Hockey League (NHL) for theVancouver Canucks,Buffalo Sabres,New York Islanders,Edmonton Oilers,Toronto Maple Leafs, and theColumbus Blue Jackets. Peca served as the Washington Capitals player development coach and is currently an assistant coach for theNew York Rangers.
Peca began his junior career with theSudbury Wolves of theOntario Hockey League (OHL) after they selected him in the first round of the 1990player draft. He was traded to theOttawa 67's where he blossomed into one of the league's top offensive players. He was drafted in the second round, 40th overall, by theVancouver Canucks in the1992 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Canucks in the1993–94 season, playing four games before cracking the lineup as a regular in thelockout-shortened1994–95 season. He was then traded to theBuffalo Sabres during the1995 NHL Entry Draft as part of a package that sentAlexander Mogilny from Buffalo to Vancouver.
Peca twice won theFrank J. Selke Trophy for being the best defensive forward, in1996–97 and2001–02. Hecaptained the Buffalo Sabres to theStanley Cup Finals in 1999. His nickname was "Captain Crunch" because of his penchant for delivering bone-crushing open ice hits.[1] During the1997–98 season Peca was suspended three games by the NHL for an illegal hit on Vancouver Canucks defensemanMattias Öhlund on March 26, 1998.[2]
For the2000–01 season, Peca and the Buffalo Sabres could not agree on a contract. Peca went without a contract the entire season. Peca was later traded to theNew York Islanders in exchange forTim Connolly andTaylor Pyatt, where he led the Islanders to their first playoff berth in seven years. Peca was hip-checked byToronto Maple Leafs'Darcy Tucker during the2002 Stanley Cup playoffs in game five of the first round.[3] The check blew out Peca'sMCL andACL on his left knee, ending his season and delaying his entry into the2002–03 season. No penalty was assessed, but the NHL madeclipping illegal as a result of the incident.
Peca was acquired by theEdmonton Oilers in a trade with the Islanders in exchange forMike York. He was part of theCinderella Edmonton Oiler team that made a run to theStanley Cup Finals. Peca had six goals and five assists in the2006 playoffs.
On July 18, 2006, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they had signed Peca as afree agent to a one-year, $2.5 million contract for the2006–07 season, making Tucker and Peca teammates. During a game against theChicago Blackhawks on December 22, 2006, Peca collided with Chicago defencemanJim Vandermeer with 5:17 left in the first period. Vandermeer was assessed a minor penalty and a game misconduct for the hit. Peca sustained a fractured tibia at the base of his right knee and suffered significant ligament damage, and missed the remainder of the2006–07 season.
On August 21, 2007, Peca signed a one-year contract with theColumbus Blue Jackets. On October 11, 2008, he received an indefinite suspension (later reduced to a five-game suspension) after grabbing refereeGreg Kimmerly's arm in Columbus' first game of the2008–09 season.[4][5]
On January 19, 2010, through theNational Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), Peca announced his retirement from professional hockey.[6]
Peca was first selected to representCanada at the1994 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, capturing the gold medal. He captained thesenior Canadian team at the2001 World Championships in Germany before he was selected as a member of the gold medal-winning Canadian ice hockey team at the2002 Winter Olympics inSalt Lake City.
Beginning in the 2012–13 season, Peca was named head coach of theBuffalo Jr. Sabres of theOntario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), where he coached through the 2013–14 season. After the 2012–13 season, he was named OJHL Coach of the Year. In his two years coaching, he had 66 wins in 108 regular season games. Michael Peca served as head coach of the Bantam Major Jr. Sabres in addition to his duties as general manager and director of hockey operations for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres.[7]
On February 10, 2021, Peca was hired by theWashington Capitals to be a player development coach working with the "taxi squad" players for the 2020–21 season.[8] In 2021, he was hired by the Buffalo Sabres as an assistant coach with theirAmerican Hockey League affiliate, theRochester Americans.[9]
Peca was announced as an assistant coach with the Rangers on June 20, 2023, joining under new head coachPeter Laviolette.
Michael Peca's hometown isToronto, Ontario, but he moved toOttawa to attendCanterbury High School. Peca and his wife, Kristin Herzog, now live inGetzville, New York, with their two children.[10][11]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1990–91 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 62 | 14 | 27 | 41 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | ||
| 1991–92 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 39 | 16 | 34 | 50 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Ottawa 67's | OHL | 27 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 32 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 6 | ||
| 1992–93 | Ottawa 67's | OHL | 55 | 38 | 64 | 102 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Hamilton Canucks | AHL | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Ottawa 67's | OHL | 55 | 50 | 63 | 113 | 101 | 17 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 30 | ||
| 1993–94 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 35 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 33 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 1995–96 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 68 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 79 | 20 | 29 | 49 | 80 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 1997–98 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 61 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 57 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | ||
| 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 82 | 27 | 29 | 56 | 81 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 18 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 73 | 20 | 21 | 41 | 67 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2001–02 | New York Islanders | NHL | 80 | 25 | 35 | 60 | 62 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2002–03 | New York Islanders | NHL | 66 | 13 | 29 | 42 | 43 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2003–04 | New York Islanders | NHL | 76 | 11 | 29 | 40 | 71 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2005–06 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 71 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 56 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 20 | ||
| 2006–07 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 35 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 65 | 8 | 26 | 34 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 71 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 58 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 864 | 176 | 289 | 465 | 798 | 97 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 80 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Canada | WJC |  | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | |
| 2001 | Canada | WC | 5th | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2002 | Canada | OG | | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||||
| Senior totals | 9 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | ||||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| NHL | ||
| Frank J. Selke Trophy | 1997,2002 | |
Media related toMichael Peca at Wikimedia Commons| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | New York Islanders captain 2001–04 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Buffalo Sabres captain 1997–2000 | Succeeded by |
| Awards | ||
| Preceded by | Winner of theFrank J. Selke Trophy 1997 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theFrank J. Selke Trophy 2002 | Succeeded by |
Note: While Peca was injured during (part of) the 1997–98 season,Donald Audette served as captain.
Additionally, Peca sat out the2000–01 NHL season, in a contract dispute (later asking for a trade). The Sabres captaincy remained vacant, until after Peca was traded.
