Tom Fitzgerald (ice hockey)

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Position Center/Wing
Shot Right
Height
Weight
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 Flag of United States 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 in 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.

Was the first player in NHL playoff history to score two shorthanded goals on the same minor penalty.

[edit] External links


Preceded by
new creation
Nashville Predators captains
1998-2002
Succeeded by
Greg Johnson
In other languages