Long-Timers: Tony Amonte

In the 102-year history of the National Hockey League, 348 individuals have played 1,000 or more regular season games. 44 of them, or 12.6%, have played some part of their career with the Atlanta or Calgary Flames. We call these players Long-Timers.

Let’s take a look at Tony Amonte.

Originally from the Boston area, Amonte was a star player at the prestigous Thayer Academy and was a fourth round pick of the New York Rangers in the 1988 NHL Draft. He finished school, then went to Boston University for two seasons before going pro in 1991 with the Blueshirts.

Amonte had a great transition to the big leagues. He was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy in 1991-92 – losing out to Pavel Bure – and scored 35 and 33 goals in his first two seasons. He was traded midway through his third season to the Chicago Blackhawks, moving with Adam Oates in exchange for Stephane Matteau and Brian Noonan.

After a bumpy first season with Chicago, Amonte rattled off six extremely productive offensive seasons. During a six season span, he scored as follows: 31 goals, 41 goals, 31 goals, 44 goals, 43 goals and 35 goals. He was, in a word, consistent.

His offense slowed down later in his Chicago run and Amonte went looking for greener pastures in 2002, signing as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes. He didn’t finish his first season there, moved at the trade deadline to Philadelphia for a package consisting of Guillaume Lefebvre, a third round pick and a second round pick.

He joined the Flames at the very tail end of his career, signing just after the end of the 2004-05 lockout. He spent two seasons with the Flames, was a useful if unspectacular depth scorer, and then went off into the sunset. He retired in 2007 and was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.

Since retiring, he’s gone back to his old prep school and is currently their head hockey coach. He had a very distinguished career. He never won a Stanley Cup, but he won a World Cup and a silver medal at the Olympics.