TPL Profiles :: Kris Draper

 

 33 Kris DRAPER
Center / Toronto, Ontario

AGE :: 38
SIZE :: 5-10 / 178
ACQUIRED :: 1993 Trade with Winnipeg [One dollar]
CONTRACT :: Entering the second season of 3-year “35 and over” deal [2011] featuring a no-trade clause.
CAP HIT :: $1,583,333
DRAFT :: Selected by Winnipeg in the 1989 draft [3 / 62]
EXPERIENCE :: 2009-10 will be his 19th NHL season – and 16th with the Red Wings
LIKELY ROLE :: Fourth line center

ACCOMPLISHMENTS :: 1997 Stanley Cup Champion, 1998 Stanley Cup Champion, 2002 Stanley Cup Champion, 2008 Stanley Cup Champion, 2004 Selke Trophy Winner

DEFINING MOMENT :: Having his face re-arranged by Claude Lemieux

THREE REASONS TO LOVE HIM ::
1. Potentially the most beautiful skater in Red Wings history
2. An example of the value of a dollar
3. Locker-room prankster

ONE REASON TO HATE HIM :: A dookie was blasted into the Cup on his watch…which happened AFTER it was filled with Timbits (you’re welcome, Rob).

RANDOM FACT :: One of only a handful of players to play in the AHL and NHL prior to the OHL. 

STRENGTHS ::
1. Arguable Hall of Famer penalty killer
2. Award-winning defensive prowess
3. Annually one of the best faceoff men in the game
4. Ridiculous speed and precision
5. Captain-like leadership
6. Ability to lighten the mood in the room

WEAKNESSES ::
1. Not the offensive threat he was a few years ago
2. Quasi-reckless style of play can lead to injury
3. Inconsistent scorer

ONE-LINER :: “I got to have my face rearranged to start a rivalry” – Kris Draper

HE’S A FAVORITE OF :: The Flash, pie-lovers, anyone who’s glad someone finally called out Sidney Crosby on his leadership skills.

BIO :: Born in Toronto, Kris Draper was very involved with the Canadian National program – including two goes-around with the World Junior squad. He was drafted in the third round of the 1989 draft by the Winnipeg, but saw very little action with the Jets. In one of the more one-sided trades in NHL history, the Red Wings sent $1 to Winnipeg for the rights to Draper.

1,009 games, a Selke, five World Championship appearances with Team Canada, and four Stanley Cups later, Kris Draper finds himself in elite company – joining only Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman, and Nicklas Lidstrom – as one of the five players to play 1,000 games with the Red Wings.

Draper was named one of the team’s alternate captains in 2006-07, a role he seems born to fill. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more beloved teammate or anyone who bleeds more – well – red. Maybe his blood cells are red and white? …Damn!

FUTURE :: A handful of fans – and, yes, even a few short-sighted reporters – are beginning to question Kris Draper’s role on the team given the emergence of Darren Helm. While his speed may be declining, there’s no denying his abilities in the faceoff circle and the unquestioned leadership he adds to an already-veteran organization. He will be 40 when his current contract expires, and smart money would be on hearing Drapes call it a career, ending one of the more storied Red Wings careers ever.

RELEVANT STATS ::