Look up devil or Devil in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

The Devil is a figure in some religions, particularly Abrahamic ones.

Devil may also refer to:

In music:

• Devil (Babes in Toyland album)
• Devil (Die Ärzte album), a reissue of the 1984 Die Ärzte album Debil
• Devils (Xmal Deutschland album)
• Devils (The 69 Eyes album)
• "Devil" (Stereophonics song)
• "Devil" (Gothminster song)
• "DDevil", a song by System of a Down from their self-titled album

In literature:

• The Devil (novel), a novel by Leo Tolstoy
• The Possessed (novel) or The Devils, a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky

In other uses:

• DevIL, an open source image library
• Devil (Dungeons & Dragons)
• Devil (film), a 2010 film produced by M. Night Shyamalan
• The Devil (Tarot card)
• New Jersey Devils, an NHL team
• Devil, a fictional wolf companion of the Phantom

See also[link]

• Tasmanian Devil, a carnivorous marsupial
• Devil's coach horse beetle

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Alexander Siomin Александр Сёмин
Born	(1984-03-03) 3 March 1984 (age 28) Krasnoyarsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Washington Capitals Traktor Chelyabinsk (Rus-2) Lada Togliatti (RSL) Khimik Moscow Oblast (RSL)
National team	Russia
NHL Draft	13th overall, 2002 Washington Capitals
Playing career	2001–present

Alexander Valerevich Siomin (Russian: Александр Валерьевич Сёмин, Russian pronunciation: [ɐlʲɪˈksandr sʲɵˈmʲin]; born March 3, 1984) is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently a under contract with the Washington Capitals until June 30, 2012 when he becomes a Free Agent in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career[link]

Early career[link]

Semin was trained in the Traktor Chelyabinsk hockey school and made his professional debut in Russia's second-tier Russian Major League in 2001–02. After scoring 21 goals and eight assists with Chelyabinsk that season, the Washington Capitals selected Semin with their second pick, 13th overall (they selected Steve Eminger with their first pick, 12th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Remaining in Russia for the subsequent season, he joined Lada Togliatti of the first-tier Russian Superleague (RSL) in 2002–03 and scored 10 goals and seven assists in 47 games.

Semin made his NHL debut in the 2003–04 season, scoring 10 goals and 12 assists in 52 games. However, he missed his team's flight to Pittsburgh when the Capitals closed out their season against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Semin then reported to Maine to play for the American Hockey League's Portland Pirates, where he collected 15 points in four regular season and seven playoff games.

Military duty controversy[link]

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Semin returned to Russia and played 50 games for Lada Togliatti, scoring 19 goals, assisting on 11 goals, and compiling a plus/minus rating of +15. The Capitals suspended him for that whole season for not reporting to their then-AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, preferring the club's younger players to play the locked-out season with their farm team.^[1] (Alexander Ovechkin, meanwhile, the Capitals' 2004 first-round pick, remained with his Russian club, Dynamo Moscow, because the Capitals felt that he would have been ready to play in the NHL.^[2])

Due to confusion about Semin's obligations to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which requires all Russian men to serve two years, Semin was not allowed to return to the Capitals when NHL resumed the following season in 2005–06. Russian Armed Forces allow conscripted soldiers who are hockey players to play for professional teams in Russia during their period of service, but they are not allowed to play for teams based in other countries. Other young Russian players, such as Nikolai Zherdev and Alexander Ovechkin, however, were allowed to return to their NHL clubs following the lockout, circumventing any additional military duty they had to serve in Russia.^[3]

While Semin's 2004–05 season with Lada was considered his first year of military service, it was arranged for Semin to continue with Lada for his second year of service in 2005–06. Lada is located in the military district into which Semin was drafted, and they were the only team with whom Semin could fulfill his military obligation.^[4] He was signed to a tax-free $2 million contract, along with a car and a condo.^[1] News about Lada's struggling financial situation early in the season initially offered the Capitals some hope that Semin would join the team afterall. It was reported that the Russian team was expected to cut its payroll in half, while Semin was Lada's highest paid player.^[1]

On October 26, 2005, Capitals general manager George McPhee announced that the Capitals had filed a complaint against Semin and his agent Mark Gandler. McPhee stated, "We have done everything we could to avoid this step, but we felt we had no choice but to now seek a legal remedy. This filing seeks to compel Alexander Semin's agent and the Russian hockey team Lada Togliatti to return Alex to the Washington Capitals ... We look forward to the resolution of this process so that we can welcome Alex back to the Capitals this season."^[5] Likewise, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "This is a situation where a valid, legally-binding contract is not being honored, and that's not right."^[6] U.S. District Court Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr. issued a temporary restraining order on November 4, 2005, ordering Gandler and his International Sports Advisors Company to stop representing Semin in contracts with teams other than the Capitals. Due to Lada Togliatti's financial challenges, Lada released Semin, but he instead signed with Russian squad Mytischi Khimik on November 22.

On December 5, 2005, Kennedy denied the Capitals request for preliminary injunctions against Semin and Gandler. Alexander Berkovich, Semin's lawyer, stated that Semin intended to play for Khimik for the remainder of the 2005–06 season, and that Semin's military obligations would be fulfilled by fall 2006.^[7] He completed the campaign with nine points in 15 games with Lada and 10 points in 26 games with Khimik.

Return to the NHL[link]

Semin with the Capitals in the 2011 playoffs.

With Semin's military obligations fulfilled, he agreed to a two-year contract with the Capitals on April 11, 2006, resolving the conflict between the two parties.^[8] Playing in his first game for the Capitals in two years, Semin scored the team's first goal of the 2006–07 season against the New York Rangers on October 5, 2006. In his next game against the Carolina Hurricanes, he recorded a hat trick. On March 18, 2007, Semin tallied the second natural hat-trick of his career against the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring three goals on three successive shots in a span of 7:04 in the second period. Late in the season, Capitals coach Glen Hanlon started Alexander Ovechkin and Semin together on the powerplay and occasionally on the team's first scoring line. Ovechkin and Semin finished as the team's top two scorers and Semin soon became known as "The Other Alex".^[9] He completed the season with 38 goals (13th in league scoring)^[10] and 73 points in 77 games, missing five games to an injury early in the season. Semin was one of three 30-goal scorers for the Capitals for the season, along with Ovechkin and captain Chris Clark.

After a successful NHL comeback in 2006–07, Semin's struggled in comparison during the 2007–08 season, scoring 42 points while being sidelined for 19 games. Along with Ovechkin and second-year forward Nicklas Backstrom, Semin helped form a highly offensive core with the Capitals in 2008–09. On March 3, 2009, Semin's 25th birthday, he scored his 100th career goal, against the Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward. Semin spent much of the first couple months of the season as the league's top point-scorer, but tailed off as he began to experience injury troubles. Regardless, he finished with a career-high 79 points in just 62 games, third in Capitals scoring behind Ovechkin and Backstrom. In the 2009 playoffs, Semin added 14 points in 14 games, including a three-point effort (two goals and an assist) on April 20, 2009, leading the Capitals to a crucial playoff win against the New York Rangers in Game 3 of the opening round.

Midway through the 2009–10 NHL season, Semin signed a one-year, $6 million contract extension with the Capitals.^[11]

Semin played for Team Russia in the 2010 Winter Olympics.^[12]

In Washington's 2010 quarter-final match-up against the Montreal Canadiens, Semin received large amounts of criticism due to his poor play, as he did not score any goals despite firing 44 shots on Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak, and finished the series with just 2 assists in 7 games as Montreal upset Washington 4-3 in the series, with the Capitals blowing a 3-1 lead. Semin was identified as one of the key players, along with Capitals defenseman Mike Green, who did not play well under the pressure.^[13][14]

Semin signed another one-year extension with the Washington Capitals on January 27, 2011, worth $6.7 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2012.^[15]

On April 5, 2012, Semin became the 5th all time leading goal scorer of the Capitals with his 197th goal.

Career statistics[link]

Awards[link]

• Named the NHL's First Star of the Month for October 2008.

International play[link]

Medal record
Alexander Semin
Ice hockey
Competitor for Russia
World Championships
Gold	2012 Helsinki
Silver	2010 Germany
Gold	2008 Quebec City
Bronze	2005 Vienna

International statistics[link]

Year	Team	Event	Place		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002	Russia	WJC18	2 !		8	8	7	15	16
2004	Russia	WJC	5th		6	2	2	4	10
Junior int'l totals					14	10	9	19	26
2003	Russia	WC	5th		6	0	0	0	0
2005	Russia	WC	3 !		6	3	0	3	8
2006	Russia	WC	5th		7	3	3	6	8
2008	Russia	WC	1 !		9	6	7	13	8
2010	Russia	Oly	6th		4	0	2	2	4
2010	Russia	WC	2 !		8	1	4	5	12
2012	Russia	WC	1 !		3	2	3	5	0
Senior int'l totals					43	15	19	34	40

Notes and references[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Alexander Semin's NHL player profile
• Entry at RussianPropects.com
• Alexander Semin at TSN.ca
• Alexander Semin's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Alexander Semin – player profile and career stats at European Hockey.Net

Ilya Kovalchuk
Born	(1983-04-15) April 15, 1983 (age 29) Tver, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb)
Position	Winger
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	New Jersey Devils Spartak Moscow (Rus-2) Ak Bars Kazan (RSL) Khimik Moscow Oblast (RSL) Atlanta Thrashers
National team	Russia
NHL Draft	1st overall, 2001 Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career	1999–present

Ilya Valerevich Kovalchuk (Russian: Илья́ Вале́рьевич Ковальчу́к; born April 15, 1983) is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger who is an alternate captain of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, he began his NHL career in 2001–02 with Atlanta and was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as league rookie-of-the-year. He is a three-time NHL All-Star and won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's leading goal-scorer in 2004 in a three-way tie with Jarome Iginla and Rick Nash. After eight seasons with the Thrashers, he was traded to the Devils in February 2010, and later signed a 15-year, $100 million contract during the off-season.

Internationally, Kovalchuk has played for Russia in the IIHF World U18 Championship, World Junior Championship, World Championship, World Cup and Winter Olympics, highlighted by back-to-back gold medals in the 2008 and 2009 World Championship.

Playing career[link]

Early career[link]

Kovalchuk played for Russian Super League club HC Spartak Moscow for two seasons before entering the NHL. Drafted by the Thrashers first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, he became the first Russian to be drafted first overall in the NHL's history.^[1] In club-level competition, Kovalchuk wore the number 17 as a tribute to Valeri Kharlamov, a Soviet superstar in the 1970s.^[2]

Atlanta Thrashers[link]

Kovalchuk with the Thrashers during the 2005–06 NHL season.

Entering his NHL rookie season in 2001–02, Kovalchuk scored 29 goals and 51 points despite missing 17 games with a season-ending shoulder injury. He finished second in voting to teammate Dany Heatley for the Calder Trophy as league rookie of the year.^[1] Both were named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. After improving to 38 goals and 67 points in his second season, Kovalchuk scored 41 goals in 2003–04, making him a co-winner of the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy after tying for the league lead in goals with Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames and Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets.^[1] He also added 46 assists for 87 points, tying him with Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche for second in the league that season, behind Martin St. Louis. Kovalchuk also participated in his first NHL All-Star Game in 2004.

Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Kovalchuk returned to Russia, playing for both Ak Bars Kazan and Khimik Moscow Oblast of the Russian Superleague. After the lockout, Kovalchuk returned to the Thrashers and scored 52 goals, tying him with rookie Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals for third in the league in scoring (behind Jonathan Cheechoo of the San Jose Sharks (56), and Jaromír Jágr of the New York Rangers (54)). He also tied his career-high of 46 assists for a career-high 98 points, leading the Thrashers in team scoring for the second consecutive season, while finishing eighth overall in league scoring. He also became the first Thrashers player to score 50 goals in a season.

In the 2006–07 NHL season, Kovalchuk's point production dropped for the first time in his career. He finished with 42 goals and 34 assists for 76 points. During a game against the Nashville Predators during the season on January 11, 2006, Predators coach Barry Trotz accused Kovalchuk with "always [playing] with an illegal stick." Trotz had asked the referees to check Kovalchuk's stick following a Thrashers goal, but claimed that Kovalchuk was able to switch his stick before the referees could check.^[3] Despite his drop in production on the season, Kovalchuk and the Thrashers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Kovalchuk scored one goal and one assist in his NHL playoffs debut as the team lost in the opening round to the New York Rangers in four games.

In 2007–08, Kovalchuk scored two consecutive hat tricks in a loss to the Ottawa Senators and a win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 1 and 3, 2007, respectively. Later that season, on January 23, 2008, Kovalchuk was suspended for one game by the NHL for a hit from behind on New York Rangers defenseman Michal Rozsíval in a game a day prior.^[4] He finished with his second 52-goal season in three years, along with 35 assists for 87 points.

With the departure of Bobby Holik to the New Jersey Devils in the 2008 off-season, the Thrashers' captaincy remained vacant for the first half of the 2008–09 season. Kovalchuk served as one of five alternate captains to start the season until the alternates collectively requested to general manager Don Waddell and coach John Anderson for Kovalchuk to take over the captaincy.^[5] Soon thereafter, on January 11, 2009, Kovalchuk was named Holik's successor and the sixth team captain in Thrashers' history during the team's Casino Night charity event.^[5] The announcement came amidst speculation that the Thrashers were looking to trade Kovalchuk with his contract set to expire at the end of the following season.^[5] Kovalchuk completed his first season as team captain with 43 goals for his fifth consecutive 40-goal season and 91 points.

Near the beginning of the 2009–10 season, Kovalchuk scored the 300th and 301st goal of his NHL career in a 4–2 win during the St. Louis Blues' home opener on October 8, 2009.^[6] He was leading the league in goals several weeks into the season when he suffered a broken foot after blocking shot in a game against the San Jose Sharks on October 24.^[7]

New Jersey Devils[link]

In the final year of his contract, Kovalchuk and the Thrashers could not come to an agreement on an extension. Thrashers general manager Don Waddell reportedly offered 12-year, $101 million and seven-year, $70 million contracts, both of which Kovalchuk turned down.^[8] Rather than potentially losing him to unrestricted free agency in the off-season, Kovalchuk was traded on February 4, 2010, to the New Jersey Devils. Atlanta received defenceman Johnny Oduya, rookie forward Niclas Bergfors and junior prospect Patrice Cormier, and a first round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Kovalchuk and defenceman Anssi Salmela; the teams also traded second round selections in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.^[9] Kovalchuk recorded two assists the following day in his Devils' debut, a 4–3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 5.^[10] Kovalchuk eventually ended the season with 41 goals along with 44 assists, for 85 points split between Atlanta and New Jersey. On February 10, 2011, Kovalchuk scored the game winning goal in a game over the Toronto Maple Leafs to give Jacques Lemaire the 600th win of his coaching career.^[11]

Ilya Kovalchuk recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick – a goal, an assist, and a fight – on February 4, 2012, the two year anniversary of his trade to the Devils, against the Philadelphia Flyers. This was the first such hat trick ever recorded by Kovalchuk and second in the Devils' franchise, following Adam Henrique the month before. Kovalchuk assisted on two goals by teammate Kurtis Foster, scored a short-handed goal, then fought Brayden Schenn after a scrum formed when Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo performed a slew-foot on Devils captain Zach Parise.^[12]

Kovalchuk recorded his first scoring hat trick as a member of the New Jersey Devils on February 14, 2012, during a 4–1 victory in Buffalo against the Sabres.^[13]

On March 8, Kovalchuk's 13th career hat trick and 2nd hat trick as a New Jersey Devil was recorded. The Devils won 5–1 against the New York Islanders, with Ilya being the first star of the night.

On March 20, Kovalchuk became the 87th player in NHL history to score 400 goals. It was the lone goal of a 1–0 victory over the Ottawa Senators. He was given third star of the night.

Kovalchuk ended the 2011–12 season with seven game-deciding shootout goals, and eleven shootout goals in total, setting a new record in both categories. The league first introduced shootouts in 2005.^[14]

Contract controversy

Kovalchuk became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010. On July 19, after receiving offers from other teams most notably the Los Angeles Kings, Kovalchuk agreed to a 17-year, $102 million deal to remain with the Devils. The length of the deal broke the record for the longest contract in NHL history.^[15] However, the contract was rejected by the NHL the next day, on the grounds that it circumvented the league's salary cap. Arbitrator Richard Bloch heard the union's appeal, and nullified the deal.^[16]

Another contract was submitted to the NHL. During the early morning hours of September 4, 2010, the league approved the contract along with a new agreement with the NHLPA. The contract is a 15-year, $100 million deal.^[17]

Consequently, the NHL penalized the Devils for trying to circumvent the NHL Salary Cap with Kovalchuk's original contract. As a result, the Devils surrendered $3 million, a third round draft choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and one future first round draft choice within the next four seasons.

International play[link]

Medal record
Ilya Kovalchuk
Competitor for  Russia
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Bronze	2002 Salt Lake City
World Championships
Silver	2010 Germany
Gold	2009 Switzerland
Gold	2008 Canada
Bronze	2007 Russia
Bronze	2005 Austria
IIHF World U18 Championships
Gold	2001 Finland
Silver	2000 Switzerland

Kovalchuk won his first medals with Russia in a major international event at the IIHF World U18 Championships, earning silver and gold medals in 2000 and 2001, respectively. He also competed for Russia at the World Junior Championships in 2001, but finished seventh.

The following year, Kovalchuk made his senior international debut with Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, during his rookie NHL season with the Atlanta Thrashers. He recorded three points in six games to help Russia to a bronze medal finish. He then made his World Championships debut in 2003, but failed to medal.

Kovalchuk made his second straight Winter Olympics appearance in 2006 in Turin. He had a four-goal game on February 19 in a 9–2 win over Latvia, but returned to Atlanta without a medal, losing in the bronze medal game.

In 2008 Kovalchuk played in the IIHF World Championship, held in Quebec City, Canada. He scored his only two goals of the tournament in the gold medal game against Team Canada – once to force the game into overtime, then the game-winner to give Russia the championship. The following year, he led Russia to a second straight gold medal over Canada in the 2009 IIHF World Championship and was named the tournament MVP.

In May 2010, Kovalchuk played for Russia in the 74th IIHF WC in Germany, finishing second.

Played for Russia in:

• 2002 Winter Olympics (bronze)
• 2003 World Championships
• 2004 World Cup of Hockey
• 2005 World Championships (bronze)
• 2006 Winter Olympics
• 2007 World Championships (bronze)
• 2008 World Championships (gold)
• 2009 World Championships (gold)
• 2010 Winter Olympics
• 2010 World Championships (silver)

Awards and achievements[link]

• 2002 NHL YoungStars Game – (MVP)
• NHL All-Rookie Team – 2002
• NHL All-Star Game – 2004, 2008, 2009
• NHL Second All-Star Team – 2004
• 2003-04 NHL Season – Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy – (42*) (tied with 2 others)
• 2003-04 NHL Season – Kharlamov Trophy (Top Russian Player in the NHL)
• 2011–12 NHL Season – NHL Leader in Shootout Goals (11)
• (IIHF) 2008 World Championship – Gold Medal
• (IIHF) 2009 World Championship – Gold Medal
• (IIHF) 2009 World Championship – (MVP)^[18]
• 2014 Winter Olympics ambassador for Russia^[19]

Records[link]

• 2011–12 NHL Season – NHL Record for most Shootout Goals in a single-season (11)
• 2011–12 NHL Season – NHL Record for most Game-deciding shootout Goals in a single-season (7)
• Atlanta Thrashers franchise single season goal total, 52 (2005–06, 2007–08)

Career statistics[link]

Regular season and playoffs[link]

International[link]

Year	Event	Place		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2000	WJC-U18	2 !		6	2	3	5	6
2001	WJC	7th		7	4	2	6	37
2001	WJC-U18	1 !		6	11	4	15	26
2002	Oly	3 !		6	1	2	3	14
2003	WC	5th		7	4	0	4	6
2004	WC	10th		6	3	1	4	6
2004	WCH	5th		4	1	0	1	4
2005	WC	3 !		9	3	3	6	4
2006	Oly	4th		8	4	1	5	31
2007	WC	3 !		9	2	5	7	10
2008	WC	1 !		8	2	6	8	52
2009	WC	1 !		9	5	9	14	4
2010	Oly	6th		4	1	2	3	0
2010	WC	2 !		9	2	10	12	2
2011	WC	4th		9	3	5	8	6
Junior int'l totals				19	17	9	26	69
Senior int'l totals				88	31	44	75	139

All-Star Games[link]

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• Ilya Kovalchuk's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Ilya Kovalchuk – player profile and career stats at European Hockey.Net
• Ilya Kovalchuk's NHL player profile

Jeff Skinner
Skinner with the Hurricanes in 2011.
Born	(1992-05-16) May 16, 1992 (age 20) Markham, ON, CAN
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Left Wing/Center
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Carolina Hurricanes
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	7th overall, 2010 Carolina Hurricanes
Playing career	2010–present

Medal record
Competitor for Canada
Ice hockey
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
Gold	2009 Slovakia

Jeffrey Skinner (born May 16, 1992) is a Canadian ice hockey player for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft,^[1] Skinner was the youngest player in the NHL during the 2010–11 season and is the youngest player ever to play in the NHL All Star Game.

Early life[link]

Skinner was born to lawyers Andrew Skinner and Elisabeth Campin. He is the second-youngest of six siblings,^[2] with four sisters, Jennifer (a former Harvard Crimson forward), Andrea (a former Cornell Big Red forward and lawyer at Bay Street law firm Aird & Berlis), Erica (current Carleton Ravens defence^[3]) and Jillian (a high school student). He has one brother, Benjamin, who was in the Kitchener Rangers system, but now plays for the Golden Hawks at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo.

Skinner attended William Armstrong Public School and then Markham District High School. Involved in both ice hockey and figure skating growing up, he won a bronze medal in the juvenile division at the 2004 Canadian Junior National Figure Skating Championships.^[4] Soon after, he made the decision to focus solely on hockey. Skinner played his minor hockey with the Toronto Jr. Canadians and Toronto Young Nationals of the GTHL and the Markham Waxers of the OMHA. He grew up cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Playing career[link]

Junior[link]

Skinner as a Kitchener Ranger in September 2010

Skinner was drafted 20th overall in the 2008 OHL Draft by the Kitchener Rangers from the Toronto Young Nationals, where he played on the wing with future Boston Bruins centre Tyler Seguin. After leading the Rangers in goal scoring in his rookie season, Skinner participated in the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, scoring 6 goals for 6 points, while winning the gold medal with Team Canada. In his second OHL season, Skinner scored 50 goals and led all CHL draft-eligible forwards in goal scoring. He became the first Ranger in 23 years to reach the 50-goal milestone.^[5]

Despite leading the league in goals at the time, Central Scouting ranked Skinner as the 47th best North American skater during their midterm rankings, and only 34th during the final rankings. This contrasted ratings from other organizations such as ISS and TSN's Bob McKenzie who had him much higher. During the 2010 NHL Draft, he was taken 7th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Professional[link]

During his first NHL training camp, he signed a three-year, entry level contract with the Hurricanes on September 21, 2010, worth $2.7 million.^[2] On October 7, Skinner made his NHL debut with the opening roster in the Hurricanes 4-3 win against the Minnesota Wild during the NHL Premiere Series in Helsinki, Finland. In sixteen minutes of ice time, he had two shots.^[6] The following day, Skinner recorded his first career NHL point with an assist on Tuomo Ruutu's goal. He also scored the game winning shootout goal to become the 3rd youngest player in NHL history to score a shootout goal. On October 20, Skinner scored his first NHL career goal against Jonathan Bernier of the Los Angeles Kings in his fifth game of the season.

Midway through the campaign, Skinner was named to the 2011 All-Star Game roster as an injury replacement for Sidney Crosby, making him the first member of the 2010 draft class to be named to the All-Star Game, and the first 18-year old NHL All-Star since Steve Yzerman. He was later named January 2011's NHL Rookie of the Month.

At the NHL Awards on June 22, 2011 in Las Vegas Nevada, Skinner was awarded the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, beating out fellow rookies Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks and Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders.

Career statistics[link]

Achievements and awards[link]

• Named to play in the (2011 All-Star Game), youngest All-Star selection ever in the four major North American sports (baseball, basketball, American football, ice hockey) (18 years, 259 days)
• Calder Trophy winner as best NHL rookie during the 2010-11 season.
• Named Sporting News Rookie of The Year
• Named The Hockey News Rookie of the Year

References[link]

External links[link]

• Jeff Skinner's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database