Tom Fitzgerald (hockey)
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| Position | Center/Wing |
| Shot | Right |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 191 lb (87 kg) |
| Pro Clubs | New York Islanders Florida Panthers Colorado Avalanche Nashville Predators Chicago Blackhawks Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Bruins |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Born | August 28, 1968, Billerica, MA, USA |
| NHL Draft | 17th overall, 1986 New York Islanders |
| Pro Career | 1988 – 2006 |
Tom Fitzgerald (born August 28, 1968 in Billerica, Massachusetts) is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League. He is currently a studio analyst for the New England Sports Network Boston Bruins broadcasts.
[edit] Playing career
Fitzgerald played his college hockey for Providence College and was selected by the New York Islanders of the NHL in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft (1st round, 17th overall). He turned pro in 1988 with the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate Springfield Indians, and inn 1990 was one of the key players who led Indians to the Calder Cup championship.
He played parts of five seasons for the Islanders before being drafted as one of the original Florida Panthers in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. Although he has been cast as a defensive forward in the NHL, he had his best scoring years in Miami and was one of the leaders in Florida's 1996 Stanley Cup run. In those 1995-96 playoffs, Fitzgerald scored the decisive goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was a 58-foot slapshot that found its way past Penguins goalie Tom Barrasso.
He was briefly traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 1998 before being drafted in another expansion draft, this time by the Nashville Predators, who sought out his veteran leadership. Fitzgerald was named Nashville's first captain and so served for four seasons. He has subsequently played for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In the summer of 2004, Fitzgerald signed as a free agent with the Boston Bruins.
Tom and his wife Keri have four sons; Ryan, Casey, Jack and Brandon.
In July 2006, the Boston Bruins chose not to renew his contract. He announced his retirement on September 12, 2006.
I'm very proud to retire as a Boston Bruin. I came to Boston with an agenda, which was to play here and live out a childhood dream. I did that and I'm very lucky and very fortunate. I took a lot of pride in wearing that sweater and I'm walking away a very happy man.
Fitzgerald did a stint as an analyst for the Outdoor Life Network during the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, and is one of NESN's studio analysts during postgame coverage of Boston Bruins' matches.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by new creation |
Nashville Predators captains 1998-2002 |
Succeeded by Greg Johnson |
Categories: American ice hockey players | 1968 births | Living people | New York Islanders players | Florida Panthers players | Colorado Avalanche players | Nashville Predators players | Chicago Blackhawks players | Toronto Maple Leafs players | Boston Bruins players | National Hockey League first round draft picks | The NHL on Versus
