Kevin Bieksa

Kevin Francesco Bieksa (born June 16, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and television personality. As a defenceman, Bieksa started and played most of his career with the Vancouver Canucks and later played for the Anaheim Ducks. After a three-year career in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) with the Burlington Cougars, Bieksa was awarded a scholarship to Bowling Green State University. He was a one-time All-CCHA honourable mention during his four-year tenure with the Falcons of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). He graduated from the university with a bachelor's degree (B.A.) in finance, and was a two-time CCHA All-Academic honourable mention in 2003 and 2004. Bieksa now co-hosts Hockey Night in Canada.

Bieksa represented his country in the 2014 World Championship. He was selected as team captain and named one of three top players for Canada in the tournament. Bieksa represented Canada for the second time in his career at the 2018 Spengler Cup.

Selected 151st overall by the Canucks in the 2001 NHL entry draft he joined their minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL), upon graduating. He earned AHL All-Rookie Team honours in his first and only full season with the Moose, before joining the Canucks as a regular member in 2005–06.

He was known as a physical and aggressive two-way defenceman.

In 2000–01, Bieksa joined the Bowling Green Falcons of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). After a 13-point regular season in 35 games as a freshman, he helped the Falcons become the lowest-seeded team in League history (ninth) to advance to the CCHA semifinals.

In the 2001 off-season, Bieksa was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks with the 151st pick in the 2001 NHL entry draft. He returned to Bowling Green to complete his four-year college career after being drafted, recording 15 points in 2001–02. Bieksa was named an alternate captain prior to his third season and subsequently improved to a college career-high eight goals and 25 points in 2002–03. Bieksa was chosen by Falcons fans as the recipient of the W. G. Grinder's Grinder Award and was a co-recipient of the team's Jim Ruehl Award as the best defensive player with Jordan Sigalet. He earned an honourable mention to the All-CCHA Team and received the Falcons' Howard Brown Award as the coaches' selection for best player. During his tryout, he was involved in an off-ice incident with teammate Fedor Fedorov. According to then-Canucks general manager Brian Burke, several Moose players had gone out together when Bieksa accidentally spilled Fedorov's beer. Bieksa apologized and offered to buy him another beer, but Fedorov challenged him to a fight outside of the establishment which Bieksa won with one punch. When he heard about the incident, Burke said, he wanted to sign Bieksa the next day.

Bieksa went on to appear in four games with the Moose to close out the 2003–04 season, notching two assists. He remained with the Moose in 2004–05 and scored his first professional goal on the powerplay in a 3–2 shootout victory against the Cleveland Barons on November 11, 2004. Bieksa finished his first full professional season with 12 goals and 39 points in 80 games. He was chosen as the AHL Rookie of the Month for March after recording two goals, 11 points and a +11 rating in 13 games and was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team after his first full professional season. His 39 points broke Kirill Koltsov's team mark of 32 for points by a defenceman, set the previous season. Canucks assistant general manager Steve Tambellini lauded Bieksa for his quick adjustment and development from college hockey to the AHL.

Bieksa entered the Canucks' 2005–06 training camp as a projected competitor to be the team's sixth defenceman. However, three days into prospects camp, and missed the first month and a half of the 2005–06 season. He made his return to the line-up on November 11 against the Rochester Americans.

Professional (2005–2018) Vancouver Canucks (2005–2015) With 16 points through 20 games with the Moose, Bieksa was called up by the Canucks and played his first NHL game on December 19, 2005, against the Los Angeles Kings. He was called for a roughing penalty ten seconds into his first shift and played 10 minutes and 45 seconds total in a 4–3 shootout loss to the Kings. The following month, he notched his first NHL point, an assist to Markus Näslund, in a 3–2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 5, 2006. He remained with the Canucks until near the end of the season, as he was reassigned to the Moose on April 8 to make room for the return of Ed Jovanovski from injury. Bieksa finished the season with six assists in 39 games for the Canucks, averaging 16 minutes of ice-time per game. Early in the 2006–07 season, he scored his first NHL goal on October 13, against Vesa Toskala in a loss to the San Jose Sharks. Bieksa rapidly developed into one of the Canucks' top blueliners and finished the season leading all team defencemen with 30 assists, 42 points and 134 penalty minutes, while also tallying a career-high 12 goals. Paired with stay-at-home defenceman Willie Mitchell, he was also regularly given a shutdown role against opposing teams' top forwards. In Bieksa's first NHL playoff game he had just over 55 mins of ice time in a quadruple Overtime victory against the Dallas Stars. Later in the series Bieksa suffered three stomach oblique muscle tears in Game 6 sidelining him for five games, before the Canucks were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion, the Anaheim Ducks, in the second round in five games.

The Canucks acknowledged Bieksa's break-out sophomore season by re-signing him to a three-year, $11.25 million contract extension, on July 9, 2007.

A relative unknown in his first couple of seasons in the NHL,

A month into the 2007–08 season, Bieksa suffered a severe calf laceration in a game against the Nashville Predators on November 1, 2007. After battling with forward Vernon Fiddler against the boards, Fiddler's skate slashed Bieksa across the back of his right calf. Bieksa was helped to the bench, leaving a trail of blood behind him on the ice. He ended up missing 47 games. Before returning to the line-up, he was assigned to the Moose for a one-game conditioning stint. Bieksa managed 12 points in 34 games.

He continued rehabilitating his calf in the 2008 off-season, after the Canucks failed to qualify for the 2008 playoffs, admitting that his leg had not fully recovered upon his early return. He returned to the line-up after missing seven games. Despite missing ten games in total, Bieksa established an impressive career-high 32 assists along with 11 goals for 43 points, first among team defencemen.

Without a no-trade clause in his contract with the Canucks and seen as an emerging offensive defencemen throughout the NHL, Bieksa was routinely the subject of trade rumours. In the 2009 off-season, one such trade rumour was central in a feud between general managers Mike Gillis of Vancouver and Brian Burke of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The documentary was immediately pulled from airing again and the Maple Leafs received a warning from the League. It was revealed six days later that Bieksa sustained severed tendons in his ankle. He was sidelined for three-and-a-half months, missing 27 games. Playing the sixth-seeded Los Angeles Kings in the opening round of the 2010 playoffs, Bieksa scored his first career playoff goal in the series' sixth and deciding game. His goal against Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick tied the score at 2–2 in the third period, en route to a 4–2 Canucks win. Bieksa finished the playoffs with three goals and eight points in all 12 games to lead team defencemen in scoring.

Following the defensive acquisitions of Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis in free agency in the 2010 off-season, Bieksa was once again involved in trade rumours. Despite being several million dollars over the salary cap, general manager Mike Gillis asserted after signing Hamhuis that the Canucks were "keeping Bieksa." During the 2010–11 season, Bieksa's offensive production decreased, but he was lauded by the media and head coach Alain Vigneault for improving his defensive game. He had been criticized at times in the past for making risk/reward plays that resulted in scoring chances for the opposing team, but his play improved to become more responsible in the defensive zone. On February 15, 2011, he suffered a 2nd fractured bone in his foot. Playing in a game against the Minnesota Wild, Bieksa sustained the injury while blocking a shot. While he finished the game and initial x-rays came back negative, a subsequent CT-scan revealed the fracture. He became the sixth Canucks defenceman injured at the time. After missing 15 games, he returned to the line-up on March 23, in a Canucks 2–1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. his season-ending +32 plus-minus established a personal best and ranked second in the NHL, one point behind Boston Bruins defenceman and captain Zdeno Chára. Complementing his strong defensive play, he recorded six goals and 16 assists for 22 points in 66 games. With the Canucks winning the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in franchise history, the team entered the 2011 playoffs as the first seed in the West. On April 19, during game four in the first round of the playoffs against the eighth-seeded and defending Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, in which the Canucks lost 7–2, Bieksa drew controversy after picking a fight with Blackhawks' forward Viktor Stålberg out of frustration after a trio of hits Stålberg laid on Bieksa himself along with teammates Maxim Lapierre and Keith Ballard, respectively. Bieksa did not receive an instigator penalty despite being the instigator of the altercation and Stålberg's face getting bloodied. Had he received one, it would've been a one game suspension since the instigation of the fight happened with less than five minutes in the game. Despite this, Bieksa did not receive a suspension by the NHL. After game four ended, Bieksa told reporters that the motivation behind him and the Canucks was to finish the game hard and finish it physical" and stated "That's been our game plan all along, so that's what we did." After eventually helping Vancouver advance past the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in seven games along with the Nashville Predators six games in the first two rounds to advance to the Conference Finals for the first time since 1994. On May 18, in game two of the series against the San Jose Sharks, Bieksa recorded his first career Gordie Howe hat-trick as he recorded a goal on Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi, an assist on a goal by Chris Higgins and got into a fight with Sharks forward Patrick Marleau as the Canucks bombarded the Sharks in game two with a 7–3 win to take a 2–0 lead in the series. The Canucks would eventually go on to win the series in five games against the second-seeded Sharks to earn a spot on the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1994. Bieksa ended the series with five points (four goals and an assist) recorded in all five games in the series including the series-clinching goal in double-overtime in game 5 to send the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1994. The goal came after fellow Canucks defenceman Alexander Edler's dump-in had bounced off a stanchion along the boards. With Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi unaware of the puck's location until after the puck found its way into the net, Bieksa took a slapshot from the blueline to win the game. Facing the Boston Bruins in the Finals, the Canucks were defeated in seven games. Bieksa finished the playoffs with 10 points (five goals and assists) in all 25 games played. His five goals led all playoff defencemen, while his average ice time of 25 minutes and 40 seconds per game was first among Canucks players. It was revealed after the Canucks' elimination that several players had been playing with injuries, including Bieksa, who had suffered a bruised medial collateral ligament, which he initially suffered in game two of the Finals from a slash from Bruins' forward Rich Peverley that went uncalled.

Having played the final year of his existing contract, Bieksa addressed his pending unrestricted free agency by telling the media he was ready to re-sign for less than market value in order to remain with the Canucks. Shortly thereafter, on June 27, 2011, Bieksa signed a five-year, $23 million contract extension. The deal came with a no-trade clause and was reported to be front-loaded, with Bieksa making $7 million in his first year, followed by $4.5 million, $5 million, $4 million and $2.5 million annual salaries. The deal kept the popular defenceman amongst the core for another chance at winning a Stanley Cup. Bieksa played 78 games in the 2011–12 season with eight goals and 36 assists for 44 points to help the Canucks win the Presidents' Trophy for the second consecutive season, but the Canucks were upset in the first round of the 2012 playoffs by the eighth-seeded and eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Los Angeles Kings.

On December 22, 2013, Bieksa played his 500th NHL game in a 2–1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Bieksa ended the 2013–14 season playing in 76 games with four goals and 20 assists for 24 points recorded although the Canucks missed the 2014 playoffs, marking for the first time since 2008 where Bieksa and the team missed the playoffs.

On January 20, 2015, Bieksa suffered a broken hand in a 4–1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning after getting struck by a puck from a slapshot by Lightning' defenceman Victor Hedman. He underwent successful hand surgery on February 6 to repair the injury resulting in him missing the next 22 games. Bieksa eventually ended the 2014–15 season with four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 60 games as the Canucks returned to the playoffs after missing by eight points the year prior. Bieksa played all six games recording an assist in the 2015 playoffs as the Canucks were defeated in six games in the first round by the Calgary Flames.

Anaheim Ducks (2015–2018) On June 30, 2015, the Vancouver Canucks traded Bieksa to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2016 NHL entry draft reuniting him with Ryan Kesler, who had been traded to the Ducks by the Canucks the previous off-season. Two days later, Bieksa signed a two-year, $8,000,000 contract extension that ran through the 2017–18 season. The deal included a full no-movement clause. Adjusting to a new team for the first time in his career, Bieksa would also play in all six playoff games where he recorded just one assist as the Ducks were defeated in the first round of the 2016 playoffs by the Nashville Predators in seven games.

In the 2016–17 season, his second season with the Ducks, Bieksa continued to help develop and mentor the young defence core. He finished the season with three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in 81 games played. Upon arriving into the 2017 playoffs, the Ducks swept the Calgary Flames in the first round. Bieksa finished the series with four assists in four games. Following a tear to his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in the first game of the second round against the Edmonton Oilers, he missed the rest of the series (where the Ducks defeated the Oilers in seven games) but returned in the conference finals against the Nashville Predators who defeated the Ducks in six games.

During the 2017–18 season, Bieksa was held without a goal for the first time since his rookie season, the 2005–06 season. Despite being goalless, he recorded eight assists for eight points in 59 games played. He also played one game in the Ducks first round sweep against the San Jose Sharks in the 2018 playoffs and was held pointless.

Retirement On October 13, 2022, the Canucks announced that Bieksa would sign a one-day contract with the team and retire on November 3 when the Canucks played against the Ducks.

Playing style Bieksa was known as a two-way defenceman with the Canucks. He earned a reputation as a fighter early in his career in the AHL. Though he was a very strong two-way defender first and foremost, Bieksa was also known as a very rugged defender who would drop his gloves at pretty much any time. He became known around the league for performing a variation of a one punch knockout style superman punch on skates, which he executed successfully a few times during his NHL career. At one point he was listed online as an undefeated fighter with well over 30 NHL fights as reported by Scott Oake of Hockey Night in Canada.

He was praised throughout his career for his leadership qualities by coaches, NHL executives and by his close teammates including the Sedin twins. Henrik at the Sedin's retirement ceremony in Vancouver in February 2020 called Bieksa a "Great leader, a great teammate".

Bieksa along with Canucks teammates Ryan Kesler, Alexandre Burrows and Maxim Lapierre were known as four of the most fierce competitors of their time in the NHL as all four players were driving forces behind the Canucks' 2011 Stanley Cup Final run and in their two back-to-back Presidents' Trophy-winning seasons in 2010–11 and 2011–12, respectively. During these times, they were commonly known to be among the league's most frustrating players to play against.

Post-playing career In 2019, Bieksa and Dean Caban co-founded West Coast Academy, an ice hockey academy in Southern California.

In 2020, he joined the Hockey Night in Canada team as a regular member of the analysis panel. He was a Canadian Screen Award nominee for Best Sports Analyst in 2021 and 2022,

From 2019 to 2021 he served as assistant coach for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks. From the 2021–22 season he served as assistant coach for the Fairmont Preparatory Academy Huskies.

Bieksa also joined KO Sports, a boutique ice hockey agency, as elite defence mentorship. He was joined by former teammate Ryan Kesler who joined as elite forward mentorship.

Personal life Bieksa was born in Grimsby, Ontario, on June 16, 1981, to Al Bieksa and Angela Lombardo. He has two brothers, Marty and Bryan, and two stepsisters, Terri Lynn and Jennifer. His father works in the Ontario Federation of Labour and coached his three sons during minor hockey.

During Bieksa's tenure with both the Manitoba Moose and Vancouver Canucks, he became close friends with teammate Rick Rypien, who died by suicide in August 2011 after years of clinical depression. Bieksa was the first Canucks teammate that Rypien confided in regarding his mental health. When Rypien took his first personal leave of absence from the Canucks in the 2008–09 NHL season, Bieksa took him into his home to live with his family. Having a close relationship with Rypien, Bieksa was involved in many of the ceremonies following his death, and helped create Hockey Talks to honour Rypien's legacy. He was a pallbearer at his funeral in Alberta and he later presented Rypien's family with one of the forward's game-worn Canucks jerseys during the team's pre-game ceremony in Rypien's honour in October 2011.

Bieksa and his wife, Katie, have two children, a son and daughter. The family resides in Newport Beach, California. Katie published a book in July 2017 titled Newport Jane, which is a semi-autobiographical story of a woman adjusting to a new life in California, that was inspired by Bieksa's trade from Vancouver to Anaheim in June 2015.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1997–98 Burlington Cougars OPJHL 27 0 3 3 10 — — — — — 1998–99 Burlington Cougars OPJHL 48 8 29 37 83 — — — — — 1999–00 Burlington Cougars OPJHL 49 6 27 33 139 — — — — — 2000–01 Bowling Green State University CCHA 35 4 9 13 90 — — — — — 2001–02 Bowling Green State University CCHA 40 5 10 15 68 — — — — — 2002–03 Bowling Green State University CCHA 34 8 17 25 92 — — — — — 2003–04 Bowling Green State University CCHA 38 7 15 22 66 — — — — — 2003–04 Manitoba Moose AHL 4 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 2004–05 Manitoba Moose AHL 80 12 27 39 192 14 1 1 2 35 2005–06 Manitoba Moose AHL 23 3 17 20 71 13 0 10 10 38 2005–06 Vancouver Canucks NHL 39 0 6 6 77 — — — — — 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks NHL 81 12 30 42 134 9 0 0 0 20 2007–08 Manitoba Moose AHL 1 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2007–08 Vancouver Canucks NHL 34 2 10 12 90 — — — — — 2008–09 Vancouver Canucks NHL 72 11 32 43 97 10 0 5 5 14 2009–10 Vancouver Canucks NHL 55 3 19 22 85 12 3 5 8 14 2010–11 Vancouver Canucks NHL 66 6 16 22 73 25 5 5 10 51 2011–12 Vancouver Canucks NHL 78 8 36 44 94 5 1 0 1 6 2012–13 Vancouver Canucks NHL 36 6 6 12 48 4 1 0 1 8 2013–14 Vancouver Canucks NHL 76 4 20 24 104 — — — — — 2014–15 Vancouver Canucks NHL 60 4 10 14 77 6 0 0 0 9 2015–16 Anaheim Ducks NHL 71 4 11 15 99 6 0 1 1 2 2016–17 Anaheim Ducks NHL 81 3 11 14 63 8 0 4 4 23 2017–18 Anaheim Ducks NHL 59 0 8 8 83 1 0 0 0 0NHL totals 808 63 215 278 1124 86 10 20 30 147

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2014 Canada WC 5th 8 2 2 4 4Senior totals 8 2 2 4 4

Awards and honours

Bowling Green Falcons team awards Award Year(s) W. G. Grinder's Grinder Award 2003 2022 2024 2025 2026

Records Manitoba Moose franchise record; most points by a rookie defenceman – 39 in 2004–05 (surpassed Kirill Koltsov, 32 in 2003–04)