| Dan Hamhuis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Hamhuis with theVancouver Canucks in October 2015 | |||
| Born | (1982-12-13)December 13, 1982 (age 42) Smithers,British Columbia, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Nashville Predators Vancouver Canucks Dallas Stars | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 12th overall,2001 Nashville Predators | ||
| Playing career | 2002–2020 | ||
Daniel Hamhuis (born December 13, 1982) is a Canadian former professionalice hockeydefenceman who played in theNational Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in 2001 by theNashville Predators.
Hamhuis playedmajor junior hockey with thePrince George Cougars of theWestern Hockey League (WHL) and was selected 12th overall by theNashville Predators in the2001 NHL Entry Draft. Thefollowing year, he was awarded theBill Hunter Memorial Trophy andFour Broncos Memorial Trophy as the league's best defenceman and player of the year, respectively; he would also be named thetop defenceman in theCanadian Hockey League (CHL), the governing body of major junior hockey in Canada. After a final season in the WHL, Hamhuis made his professional debut with theMilwaukee Admirals of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL), a minor league affiliate of the Predators. He made his NHL debut the next year for Nashville. After five seasons with the club, Hamhuis became anunrestricted free agent and signed a six-year contract with the Canucks. In his first year with the club, he helped Vancouver to the2011 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to theBoston Bruins.
Hamhuis has played in several international tournaments at both thejunior andsenior levels for Canada. At the2001 and2002World Junior Championships, he won a bronze and silver medal, respectively. He also appeared in four straightWorld Championships, winning a gold at the2007 tournament and silver at both the2008 and2009 tournaments. On January 7, 2014, he was named to the2014 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team, winning a gold medal at the2014 Winter Olympics.
Hamuis suffered a broken tibia during his junior draft-eligible season, limiting his exposure to WHL scouts.[1][2] Consequently, he went unselected in theWHL Bantam Draft.[1]He later admitted to not even being aware of the junior draft until a couple months later.[2] ThePrince George Cougars later put Hamhuis on their protected list and he went on to make his junior debut in1998–99. He recorded a goal and four points over 56 games while being named both Prince George's rookie and scholastic player of the year.[3] Thefollowing season, he improved to 10 goals and 33 points in 70 games. He helped Prince George advance to the Conference Finals, scoring two goals and five points in a junior career-high of 13 post-season games. He was also named the Cougars' scholastic player for the year for the second year in a row.[3]
Hamhuis' third WHL season in2000–01 saw him increase his offensive production to 13 goals and 59 points over 62 games, eighth in scoring among league defencemen.[4] He received WHL West First All-Star Team honours[5] and was named Prince George's most dedicated player.[3] Playing in his NHL draft-eligible season, he participated in the 2001CHL Top Prospects Game, where he served ascaptain for his team.[2][4] Hamhuis was ranked by theNHL Central Scouting Bureau as the second-best North American prospect overall (behindJason Spezza) and the top defenceman.[2][4][6] He went on to be selected with the 12th overall pick in the2001 NHL Entry Draft by theNashville Predators. He was the second defenceman to be selected after theMontreal Canadiens tookMike Komisarek seventh overall.[4] Scouting reports listed him as a physical offensive defenceman with excellent skating, passing and open-ice hitting abilities, as well as a good hockey sense.[2][4] Having identified his shot as a weaker aspect of his game, he worked on improving it during his junior years.[2] His coach in Prince George likened his playing style toScott Niedermayer.[2]
Following his draft, Hamhuis attended his first NHL training camp, but was returned to the WHL as an early cut on September 19, 2001.[5] Playing in his fourth season of junior, he recorded career-highs of 50 assists and 60 points in 59 games. At the end of the campaign, he was awarded theBill Hunter Memorial Trophy andFour Broncos Memorial Trophy as the league's best defenceman and player of the year, respectively.[5] It marked the first time a player had won both awards sinceBarry Beck in1977.[7][8][9] Hamhuis additionally received theCHL Defenceman of the Year Award and was named to the WHL West and CHL First All-Star Teams.[5] He was also named Prince George's most valuable player.[3] Hamhuis left Prince George as the club's all-time leader in assists with 123 (he was later surpassed byBlake Robson on January 28, 2003).[10][11]
On July 7, 2002, Hamhuis was signed by the Predators.[5] He was a late cut from Nashville's roster for the2002–03 season and was assigned within the club'ssystem to theMilwaukee Admirals of theAHL on October 3.[5] He received a three-game suspension early in the season for an infraction during a game against theUtah Grizzlies.[12] He went on to record six goals and 27 points over 68 games in his professional rookie campaign with the Admirals.
Hamhuis transitioned to the NHL the following season by making the Predators' line-up out of training camp. He scored his first NHL goal on October 16, 2003, agame winner on thepowerplay againstSt. Louis Blues goaltenderChris Osgood; Nashville won the game 4–1.[13] Late in the campaign, he recorded a five-point night (one goal and four assists) in a 9–4 win against thePittsburgh Penguins on March 4, 2004.[14] He finished the season with seven goals and 26 points over 82 games with Predators in2003–04. He ranked tied for third in point-scoring and second in average ice time among the NHL's rookie defencemen.[15][16] Hamhuis was also chosen to the 2004NHL YoungStars Game, representing theWestern Conference in a 7–3 win.[17][18] Hamhuis helped the Predators make theplayoffs for the first time in franchise history in his rookie season and added two assists in the club's first-round elimination to theDetroit Red Wings.
Due to the season-longNHL lock-out, Hamhuis returned to the AHL in2004–05. Notching 13 goals and 51 points in 76 games, he was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team.[5] He was also chosen to participate in the 2005AHL All-Star Game for the Canadian team.[19] With the NHL set to resume in2005–06, the Predators re-signed Hamhuis to a one-year contract on August 16, 2005.[5] Returning to Nashville, he went on to record a career-high seven goals, 31 assists and 38 points in 82 games. He led all Predators players in ice time and ranked second inplus-minus with a +11 rating.[20]
Following his break-out season, the Predators and Hamhuis agreed to a four-year, $8 million contract on September 21, 2006.[20] He earned $1.5 million in his first year of the deal, gradually increasing to $2.5 million in his fourth.[20] His offensive production dipped to a career-low 20 points in the season following the signing. In2007–08, he recorded four goals and 27 points over 80 games. Hamhuis scored his firstStanley Cup playoff goal in game four of the opening round against theDetroit Red Wings, a 3–2 win.[21] However, Nashville lost the next two games and were eliminated. Hamhuis continued scoring at the same pace in the following two seasons, recording 26 and 24 points in2008–09 and2009–10, respectively.
Hamhuis' role with the Predators was diminished in his final few seasons in Nashville with the emergence of younger defencemenShea Weber andRyan Suter as the club's top two defencemen.[22] With Weber and Suter providing most of the offence from the blueline, Hamhuis was used primarily as a shutdown defenceman, matching up against opposing team's top forward units and leading the club in shorthanded ice time, while seeing limited powerplay time.[22]
As it became apparent that Hamhuis would not be re-signed by the Predators following the2009–10 season, his negotiating rights were traded to thePhiladelphia Flyers, along with a 2011 conditional draft pick, forRyan Parent on June 19, 2010.[23] Hamhuis and the Predators had been negotiating for most of the season, as well as in the summer, but Nashville was not willing to meet his asking price.[24] After failing to agree to a contract with Philadelphia as well, his rights were traded once again to thePittsburgh Penguins for a 2011 third-round pick on June 25;[25] negotiations with the club were also unsuccessful.
On July 1, 2010, Hamhuis became anunrestricted free agent and signed a six-year, $27 million contract with theVancouver Canucks.[26] Growing up inSmithers, British Columbia, he was specifically interested in signing with the Canucks during his pending free agency, which factored into his decision to sign with neither Philadelphia nor Pittsburgh.[26] The Canucks had reportedly tried to acquire Hamhuis previously at the 2009–10 trade deadline, with Nashville asking for prospectCody Hodgson and a first-round draft pick in exchange.[27] Several days prior to his free agency, the Canucks traded for defencemanKeith Ballard from theFlorida Panthers, which initially led Hamhuis to believe the Canucks would be no longer interested in him.[28] However, on July 1, the Canucks were one of ten teams to offer him a contract and he signed with the club despite more lucrative deals of up to $5 million in salary and terms of seven years.[26][27] Five games into the2010–11 season, he suffered a bruised foot while blocking a shot during a contest against theCarolina Hurricanes on October 17, 2010.[29] The injury caused him to miss eight games.[30] After returning to the line-up, he scored his first goal as a Canuck – an empty-netter in the final minute of a 5–3 win against theToronto Maple Leafs on November 13.[31] Later in the season, Hamhuis suffered aconcussion during a game against theAnaheim Ducks on February 9, 2011. After making a pass from behind his net, he received a bodycheck from opposing forward, Ducks captainRyan Getzlaf, causing him to hit his head on the boards. He lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before being helped to the Canucks' dressing room. While no penalty was called on the play, Hamhuis' teammates described the hit as a dirty play on Getzlaf's part after the game. Conversely, Canucks head coachAlain Vigneault told media it was a "good hit by a big player" and that Hamhuis "was watching his pass and should have been trying to protect himself."[32] Speaking publicly of the injury for the first time 10 days later, Hamhuis said he did not deem the hit "dirty", but "unnecessary", given the "puck was...off [his] stick" and he was in a "vulnerable position".[33] After returning to the line-up, he registered his first two-goal NHL game, including the overtime-winner, in a 4–3 win against thePhoenix Coyotes.[34] Finishing the season with six goals and 17 assists for 23 points in 64 games, he helped the Canucks to the best record in the NHL, earning them the franchise's first everPresidents' Trophy. He ranked third on the team in plus-minus (+29) and average ice time per game (22 minutes and 40 seconds).[35] Entering the2011 playoffs, the Canucks eliminated the defending Stanley Cup championChicago Blackhawks in seven games, Nashville Predators in six games andSan Jose Sharks in five games en route to theStanley Cup Finals. On June 1, 2011, during Game 1 of the series against theBoston Bruins, Hamhuis suffered asports hernia, as well as groin and lower abdomen injuries, resulting from a hip check he delivered to opposing forwardMilan Lucic; he was sidelined for the remainder of the Final, which the Canucks would lose in seven games, one win short from winning the Stanley Cup and letting go of a 3–2 series lead in the process.[36] Prior to his injury, Hamhuis played a significant role in the team's playoff run, forming a shutdown defensive pairing with ruggedenforcerKevin Bieksa.[37] The two led Vancouver in average ice time per game throughout the playoffs.[38] It was revealed following the Canucks' Game 7 defeat to the Bruins that Hamhuis required off-season surgery.[36]
Playing in his second season with Vancouver, the Hamhuis recorded four goals and a career-high 33 assists for 37 points during the2011–12 season, one short of his personal best from2005–06 while playing for the Predators. He also led the Canucks in plus-minus with a +29 rating.[39] His efforts helped Vancouver to a second consecutive Presidents' Trophy. Individually, he ranked 10th inNorris Trophy balloting with two second-place votes.[40] In the2012 playoffs, Hamhuis was held goalless and recorded three assists over all five games as the Canucks were upset by the eighth-seeded and eventual Stanley Cup championLos Angeles Kings in the first round in five games.
Hamhuis recorded four goals and 20 assists for 24 points in 47 games in thelockout-shortened2012–13 season as the Canucks finished third in the West before ultimately getting upset in a four-game sweep in the opening round of the2013 playoffs against the sixth-seeded San Jose Sharks. In all four games played, Hamhuis recorded two points (a goal and an assist).
On October 6, 2013, Hamhuis recorded his 200th NHL assist in a 5–4 OT win over theCalgary Flames on aDale Weise goal. He would maintain his durability as the season went on and ultimately ended the2013–14 season five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 79 games as the Canucks as a team failed to qualify for theplayoffs for the first time since2008 and first time with Hamhuis as a member of the team.
On November 20, 2014, he tore his groin during a game against the Anaheim Ducks, resulting in him missing 22 games.[41] Hamhuis ended the2014–15 season with a goal and 22 assists for 23 points in 59 games. Despite an injury-depleted season for Hamhuis individually, the Canucks as a team rebounded nicely as they returned to theplayoffs although they would lose in the first round in six games to the Calgary Flames. Hamhuis was goalless and recorded one assist for one point in all six games during the 2015 playoff series against Calgary.
On December 9, 2015, during a match against theNew York Rangers, his face was struck by aDan Boyle slapshot, breaking his jaw and resulting in him missing 21 games.[42] He ended the2015–16 season, another injury-marred season, with three goals and 10 assists for 13 points in 58 games as the Canucks struggled heavily as a team, missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
On July 1, 2016, after not being resigned by the Canucks, Hamhuis signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with theDallas Stars.[43]
In 159 games with the Stars, Hamhuis recorded 40 total points.
On July 25, 2018, Hamhuis, as a free agent, signed a two-year, $2.5 million contract to return to theNashville Predators, the team that originally drafted him in 2001.[44]
In 57 games during the2018-19 NHL season, Hamhuis recorded five assists. He had no points in six games of Nashville's first-roundplayoff series against his former team, the Dallas Stars who defeated the Predators to move on to Round 2.
On August 13, 2020, Hamhuis announced his retirement from the NHL after 16 seasons.[45]
Hamhuis played for theCanadian national junior team at the2001 and2002 World Junior Championships. He won a bronze medal with Canada in his first year at the tournament inMoscow, Russia, contributing an assist in seven games. The following year inPardubice, Czech Republic, he recorded three points in six games, tying with forCarlo Colaiacovo for the team lead in scoring among defencemen.[46] He was sidelined during the tournament with an injured shoulder, sustained after being hit from behind into the boards in a game against Russia.[47] He returned to help Canada to a silver medal, losing in the gold medal game to Russia 5–4.[48]
Four years later, Hamhuis was named to theCanadian men's team for the2006 World Championships inRiga, Latvia – his first of four consecutive tournament appearances. Making his senior international debut, he led all Canadian defencemen with five points in nine games.[49] Canada was shut out in the bronze medal game byFinland 5–0.[50]
Thefollowing year, he was a late addition to Canada's roster on April 22, 2007, following the Predators' first-roundplayoff elimination. He was named to the team along with Predators teammateShea Weber.[51] Hamhuis went on to win his first international gold medal in a 4–2 final win againstFinland in Moscow.[52] He notched three points in nine games.
In2008, Hamhuis and Canada made their second consecutive appearance in the gold medal game, but failed to defend their title in a 5–4 overtime loss to Russia. He ranked second behindBrent Burns on the team in average ice time with 17:47 minutes per game.[53]
Canada faced Russia once again the following year in2009, losing 2–1. Hamhuis scored four points in nine games while ranking second in average ice time among Canadian players, behind Nashville teammateShea Weber.[54]
Later that summer, Hamhuis was invited to Team Canada's 46-player orientation camp, held inCalgary for the2010 Winter Olympics.[55] He participated in the three-day camp in August 2009, but was not selected to the Olympic squad.
Following the Canucks' first-round elimination in the 2012 playoffs, Hamhuis was invited by Team Canada tothat year's World Championships. With his third child on the way, however, he declined.[56]
On January 7, 2014 Hamhuis was named to the Canadian Olympic team for the2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.[57] Team Canada won the gold medal beating Sweden 3-0.
Hamhuis was born and raised inSmithers, British Columbia,[28] to parents Marty and Ida.[1] He has two sisters, Erin and Cindy.[1] His father and sisters also play hockey; Marty playedsenior hockey, while Erin and Cindy played in a local women's league.[58] Hamhuis grew up in aChristian home with his family and has continued to profess this faith.[1] Since joining the Canucks in 2010, he organizedchapel services for his teammates to optionally attend.[59]
Beginning to play organized hockey at the age of four, Hamhuis was competing against other players as old as eight years, as his hometown was not big enough to fill teams for younger age groups.[58] He went to provincials four seasons in a row and won the title with his club, the Smithers Storm, in overtime during his last year of minor hockey.[58] Future Predators teammateCody Franson was a stick boy for Hamhuis' team, while another Nashville blueliner,Shea Weber, did the same for a competing team at provincial tournaments.[58] Hamhuis grew up cheering for theEdmonton Oilers andVancouver Canucks.[1]
Hamhuis left home at the age of 15 to start playingjunior with thePrince George Cougars.[58] During his time there, he met his wife, Sarah.[28] They have three daughters together.[28]
Hamhuis is an owner of the Prince George Cougars franchise; he is part of the ownership group that also comprises fellow NHL playerEric Brewer and a team of local investors. The group's bid to purchase the team was approved by theWHL Board of Governors on April 30, 2014.[60][61]
During his tenure with the Canucks, Hamhuis was also heavily involved with the team's community initiatives. Most significantly, he served as a spokesperson for the Canucks Autism Network, a non-profit organization that provides sports and recreation programs for individuals and families living withautism inBritish Columbia.[62]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1998–99 | Prince George Cougars | WHL | 56 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 45 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Prince George Cougars | WHL | 70 | 10 | 23 | 33 | 140 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 35 | ||
| 2000–01 | Prince George Cougars | WHL | 62 | 13 | 46 | 59 | 125 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 15 | ||
| 2001–02 | Prince George Cougars | WHL | 59 | 10 | 50 | 60 | 135 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 16 | ||
| 2002–03 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 68 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 81 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2003–04 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 80 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 57 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2004–05 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 76 | 13 | 38 | 51 | 85 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | ||
| 2005–06 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 82 | 7 | 31 | 38 | 70 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 81 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 66 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 80 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 66 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2008–09 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 82 | 3 | 23 | 26 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 78 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 49 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 64 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 34 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 2011–12 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 82 | 4 | 33 | 37 | 46 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2012–13 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 47 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 2013–14 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 79 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 59 | 1 | 22 | 23 | 44 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | ||
| 2015–16 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 58 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 79 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 80 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 57 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 60 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1,148 | 59 | 297 | 356 | 684 | 68 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 54 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Canada | WJC |  | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
| 2002 | Canada | WJC |  | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |
| 2006 | Canada | WC | 4th | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | |
| 2007 | Canada | WC |  | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2008 | Canada | WC | | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |
| 2009 | Canada | WC | | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 | |
| 2013 | Canada | WC | 5th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2014 | Canada | OG | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | Canada | WC | | 10 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 8 | |
| Junior totals | 13 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 16 | ||||
| Senior totals | 52 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 44 | ||||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Prince George Cougars Rookie of the Year | 1999 | |
| Prince George Cougars All-Scholastic Player | 1999,2000 | |
| Prince George Cougars Most Dedicated Player | 2001 | |
| Prince George Cougars Most Valuable Player | 2002 | |
| WHL West First All-Star Team | 2001 | [63] |
| Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy(WHL Defenceman of the Year) | 2002 | |
| Four Broncos Memorial Trophy(WHL Player of the Year) | 2002 | |
| WHL West First All-Star Team | 2002 | |
| CHL Defenceman of the Year | 2002 | |
| CHL First All-Star Team | 2002 |
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| AHL Second All-Star Team | 2005 |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Nashville Predators first round draft pick 2001 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theCHLDefenceman of the Year 2002 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theWHLBill Hunter Memorial Trophy 2002 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of the WHLFour Broncos Memorial Trophy 2002 | Succeeded by |
