Adrian Aucoin

Adrian Mark Aucoin (born July 3, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played over 1,100 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). Aucoin was born in Ottawa, Ontario, but grew up in Gloucester, Ontario.

Playing career As a youth, Aucoin played in the 1987 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Gloucester.

Aucoin was drafted 117th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1992 NHL entry draft, making his NHL debut in 1994–95, playing one game with Vancouver. With the Canucks, Aucoin established himself as a significant offensive threat, specifically on the power play. However, it was not until his fourth full season with the team that this became evident, as he rose from three goals in 1997–98 to 23 the next season, 18 of which came on the power-play, tying Denis Potvin for the NHL single-season record (broken by Sheldon Souray's 19 powerplay goals in 2006–07). In addition to leading all league defencemen in goals and power-play goals in the 1998–99 season, Aucoin also led all defencemen in shorthanded goals (2) and game-winning goals (3).

However, after one-and-a-half seasons, Aucoin's offensive production dropped to the point where he had only 3 goals through 47 games in 2000–01. On February 7, 2001, Aucoin (along with a second-round pick for the 2001 NHL entry draft) was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for goaltender Dan Cloutier. He only played 26 regular-season games for the Lightning before being traded in the off-season with Alexander Kharitonov to the New York Islanders in exchange for Mathieu Biron and a second-round pick in the 2002 NHL entry draft.

With the Islanders, Aucoin put up the most consistent offensive numbers of his career, including a career-high 33 assists and 44 points in 2003–04, resulting in him being chosen to play in the 2004 NHL All-Star Game for the Eastern Conference. He shared a victory in the hardest shot competition with Sheldon Souray of the Montreal Canadiens with a 102.2 mph blast and scored the first goal of the game in a 6–4 win over the Western Conference.

In 2004–05, he played for Modo Hockey in the Swedish Elitserien during the NHL lockout. After NHL play resumed, on August 2, 2005, Aucoin signed a four-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, eventually being named team captain. However, the first two seasons of his contract were hampered by injuries, After three seasons with the Coyotes, Aucoin left as a free agent to sign a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1, 2012. During the lockout shortened 2012–13 season, Aucoin served as an alternate captain with the Blue Jackets. In 36 games, he totalled four assists, but added a needed veteran presence at the Blueline. In the summer of 2013, he became an unrestricted free agent. On November 19, 2013, Aucoin announced his retirement from professional hockey.

International play

Personal life Aucoin's son Kyle was drafted in the sixth round, 156th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1989–90 Nepean Raiders CJHL 54 2 14 16 95 4 0 1 1 — 1990–91 Nepean Raiders CJHL 56 17 33 50 125 17 8 17 25 14 1991–92 Boston University HE 33 2 10 12 62 — — — — — 1992–93 Canadian National Team Intl 42 8 10 18 71 — — — — — 1993–94 Canadian National Team Intl 63 5 12 17 82 — — — — — 1993–94 Hamilton Canucks AHL 13 1 2 3 19 4 0 2 2 6 1994–95 Syracuse Crunch AHL 71 13 18 31 52 — — — — — 1994–95 Vancouver Canucks NHL 1 1 0 1 0 4 1 0 1 0 1995–96 Syracuse Crunch AHL 29 5 13 18 47 — — — — — 1995–96 Vancouver Canucks NHL 49 4 14 18 34 6 0 0 0 2 1996–97 Vancouver Canucks NHL 70 5 16 21 63 — — — — — 1997–98 Vancouver Canucks NHL 35 3 3 6 21 — — — — — 1998–99 Vancouver Canucks NHL 82 23 11 34 77 — — — — — 1999–00 Vancouver Canucks NHL 57 10 14 24 30 — — — — — 2000–01 Vancouver Canucks NHL 47 3 13 16 20 — — — — — 2000–01 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 26 1 11 12 25 — — — — — 2001–02 New York Islanders NHL 81 12 22 34 62 7 2 5 7 4 2002–03 New York Islanders NHL 73 8 27 35 70 5 1 2 3 4 2003–04 New York Islanders NHL 81 13 31 44 54 5 0 0 0 6 2004–05 Modo SEL 14 2 4 6 32 6 1 0 1 16 2005–06 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 33 1 5 6 38 — — — — — 2006–07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 59 4 12 16 50 — — — — — 2007–08 Calgary Flames NHL 76 10 25 35 37 7 0 3 3 4 2008–09 Calgary Flames NHL 81 10 24 34 46 6 2 1 3 2 2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 82 8 20 28 56 7 0 2 2 10 2010–11 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 75 3 19 22 52 4 0 0 0 2 2011–12 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 64 2 7 9 42 11 0 2 2 10 2012–13 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 36 0 4 4 16 — — — — — NHL totals 1,108 121 278 399 793 62 6 15 21 44

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1993 Canada WJC 7 0 1 1 8 1994 Canada OG 4 0 0 0 2 2000 Canada WC 4th 9 3 3 6 14 Junior totals 7 0 1 1 8 Senior totals 13 3 3 6 16

Awards Bob Nystrom Award: 2004 Babe Pratt Trophy (Vancouver Canucks' best defenceman): 1999 Selected to one NHL All-Star Game: 2004

Transactions June 20, 1992 – Drafted 117th overall in the 1992 NHL entry draft by the Vancouver Canucks February 7, 2001 – Traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 2nd round draft pick (2001 NHL entry draft) for Dan Cloutier June 22, 2001 – Traded to the New York Islanders with Alexander Kharitonov for Mathieu Biron and a 2nd round draft pick (2002 NHL entry draft) August 2, 2005 – Signed a four-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks July 1, 2009 – Signed with the Phoenix Coyotes July 1, 2012 – Signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets