David Legwand

David Legwand
230px Legwand with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
Born	(1980-08-17) August 17, 1980 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position	Center
Shot	Left
Played for	Nashville Predators EHC Basel Detroit Red Wings Ottawa Senators Buffalo Sabres
National team	United States
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 1998 Nashville Predators
Playing career	1999–2016

David A. Legwand (born August 17, 1980) is an American former professional ice hockey forward who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the first player ever drafted by the Nashville Predators, with whom he spent 12 full seasons and set several franchise records. He finished the final three seasons of his career split between the Predators, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres.

Playing career

Amateur

Legwand attended Grosse Pointe North High School. As a youth, he played in the 1993 and 1994 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with the Detroit Little Caesars minor ice hockey team.

He played his junior career with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL. In the season before he was drafted, he scored 54 goals along with 51 assists, totaling 105 points. He also won the Red Tilson Award as the most outstanding player in the league.

Nashville Predators

Legwand in 2009.

Legwand was drafted 2nd overall by the Nashville Predators in 1998 NHL Entry Draft, behind Vincent Lecavalier. He was briefly called up late in the team's inaugural season, making his debut in the final game of the season, and spent most of his NHL career with the Predators. He currently holds many franchise records for the Predators, including most games played and assists.

During the NHL 2004–05 lockout season, Legwand played for the Swiss team EHC Basel.

Legwand became the first NHL player to score on a penalty shot in overtime on December 23, 2000 against the New York Rangers.

File:Legwand2011.jpg

Legwand in 2011.

After several first round playoff exits, Legwand and the Predators advanced to the second round for the first time in franchise history and his career in 2011. The Predators were defeated by the eventual Western Conference Champions Vancouver Canucks in six games.

On March 5, 2014, in the final year of his contract with the Predators and out of playoff contention, Legwand was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Patrick Eaves, Calle Järnkrok, and a conditional 2014 draft pick, ending his 15-year career in Nashville. He left Nashville as the franchise's all-time leader in all offensive categories and games played, with 956 appearances. As a result of the trade Legwand gained the uncommon distinction of playing 83 games in the normally 82 game NHL season.

Later years

On July 4, 2014, Legwand signed a two-year, $6 million free agent contract with the Ottawa Senators. The move came after the Senators traded star center Jason Spezza to the Dallas Stars. In his only season in Ottawa in 2014-15 season, Legwand added a veteran presence in helping return the Senators to the playoffs, however suffered a decline in production with 9 goals and 27 points in 80 games.

On June 26, 2015, Legwand was traded to the Buffalo Sabres along with Senators teammate Robin Lehner in exchange for the New York Islanders' 1st-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Legwand announced his retirement from professional hockey on December 22, 2016.

Personal life

Legwand and his wife, Lindsey, have two children, with the firstborn being a son born on November 21, 2009.

In January 2015, Legwand, along with former NHL player Derian Hatcher, entered an agreement to purchase the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The transfer of ownership was approved by the OHL Board of Governors and completed on March 4, 2015.

Records and milestones

• Nashville Predators record for most games played (956)
• Nashville Predators record for most points (566)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996–97	Detroit Ambassadors	NAHL		44	21	41	62	58		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Plymouth Whalers	OHL		59	54	51	105	56		15	8	12	20	24
1998–99	Plymouth Whalers	OHL		55	31	49	80	65		11	3	8	11	8
1998–99	Nashville Predators	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Nashville Predators	NHL		71	13	15	28	30		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Nashville Predators	NHL		81	13	28	41	38		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Nashville Predators	NHL		63	11	19	30	54		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Nashville Predators	NHL		64	17	31	48	34		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Nashville Predators	NHL		82	18	29	47	46		6	1	0	1	8
2004–05	EHC Basel	NLB		3	6	2	8	2		19	16	23	39	20
2005–06	Nashville Predators	NHL		44	7	19	26	34		5	0	1	1	8
2005–06	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL		3	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Nashville Predators	NHL		78	27	36	63	44		5	0	3	3	2
2007–08	Nashville Predators	NHL		65	15	29	44	38		3	1	0	1	2
2008–09	Nashville Predators	NHL		73	20	22	42	32		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Nashville Predators	NHL		82	11	27	38	24		6	2	5	7	8
2010–11	Nashville Predators	NHL		64	17	24	41	24		12	6	3	9	8
2011–12	Nashville Predators	NHL		78	19	34	53	26		10	3	3	6	10
2012–13	Nashville Predators	NHL		48	12	13	25	20		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Nashville Predators	NHL		62	10	30	40	30		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		21	4	7	11	31		5	0	0	0	0
2014–15	Ottawa Senators	NHL		80	9	18	27	32		3	0	0	0	0
2015–16	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		79	5	9	14	14		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1,136	228	390	618	551		55	13	15	28	46

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998	United States	WJC	5th		7	0	0	0	2
1999	United States	WJC	8th		6	1	3	4	31
1999	United States	WC	6th		6	0	2	2	4
2000	United States	WC	5th		6	1	1	2	4
2001	United States	WC	4th		9	2	4	6	4
2005	United States	WC	6th		7	0	1	1	4
Junior totals					13	1	3	4	33
Senior totals					28	3	8	11	16

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Legends of Hockey, or TSN.ca

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Franchise created	Nashville Predators first round draft pick 1998	Succeeded by Brian Finley