Kelly Buchberger

Kelly Buchberger
Buchberger in 2014 at the Edmonton Oilers training camp
Born December 2, 1966
Langenburg, SK, CAN
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Left
Played for Edmonton Oilers
Atlanta Thrashers
Los Angeles Kings
Phoenix Coyotes
Pittsburgh Penguins
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 188th overall, 1985
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 19862004

Kelly Michael Buchberger (born December 2, 1966) is a retired professional Canadian hockey player and currently works in Player Personnel for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Buchberger has played for the Edmonton Oilers, Atlanta Thrashers, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also played minor hockey with the Western Hockey League Moose Jaw Warriors and pro hockey with the American Hockey League Nova Scotia Oilers.

He was drafted in the ninth round by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, making him the 188th overall pick. He made his NHL debut in 1987 Stanley Cup Finals (The last player to play his first NHL game in Stanley Cup Finals). During his playing career, he was known best for his gritty play and leadership, having captained the Oilers for four years. He won 2 Stanley Cups with Edmonton in 1987 and 1990.

Buchberger was the last remaining member of the active Oilers roster to have been on one of their 5 Stanley Cup winning teams. He remained with the Oilers until 1999, when he was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999 NHL Expansion Draft.

Coaching career

Upon retiring, Buchberger was an assistant coach with the Edmonton Road Runners AHL team in 2004–05. He then joined the Oilers management as Development Coach. On August 3, 2007, he was named head coach of the Oilers American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, and guided the team to a 35–35–10 record, the team's first .500 season since 1998–99. Buchberger then was promoted to the Edmonton Oilers during the 2008 offseason, becoming an assistant coach with them. On June 10, 2014 he was reassigned to the role of Player Personnel and replaced as assistant coach by Craig Ramsay.

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1984–85 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 51 12 17 29 114
1985–86 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 72 14 22 36 206 13 11 4 15 37
1986–87 Nova Scotia Oilers AHL 70 12 20 32 257 5 0 1 1 23
1986–87 Edmonton Oilers NHL 3 0 0 0 5
1987–88 Nova Scotia Oilers AHL 49 21 23 44 206 2 0 0 0 11
1987–88 Edmonton Oilers NHL 19 1 0 1 81
1988–89 Edmonton Oilers NHL 66 5 9 14 234
1989–90 Edmonton Oilers NHL 55 2 6 8 168 19 0 5 5 13
1990–91 Edmonton Oilers NHL 64 3 1 4 160 12 2 1 3 25
1991–92 Edmonton Oilers NHL 79 20 24 44 157 16 1 4 5 32
1992–93 Edmonton Oilers NHL 83 12 18 30 133
1993–94 Edmonton Oilers NHL 84 3 18 21 199
1994–95 Edmonton Oilers NHL 48 7 17 24 82
1995–96 Edmonton Oilers NHL 82 11 14 25 184
1996–97 Edmonton Oilers NHL 81 8 30 38 159 12 5 2 7 16
1997–98 Edmonton Oilers NHL 82 6 17 23 122 12 1 2 3 25
1998–99 Edmonton Oilers NHL 52 4 4 8 68 4 0 0 0 0
1999–00 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 68 5 12 17 139
1999–00 Los Angeles Kings NHL 13 2 1 3 13 4 0 0 0 4
2000–01 Los Angeles Kings NHL 82 6 14 20 75 8 1 0 1 2
2001–02 Los Angeles Kings NHL 74 6 7 13 105 7 0 0 0 7
2002–03 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 79 3 9 12 109
2003–04 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 71 1 3 4 109
NHL totals 1182 105 204 309 2297 97 10 14 24 129

Coaching record

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L OTL SOL Pts Finish Result
SPR2007–08 80353555805th in AtlanticMissed playoffs

See also

External links

Preceded by
Position created
Atlanta Thrashers captain
1999–2000
Succeeded by
Steve Staios
Preceded by
Shayne Corson
Edmonton Oilers captain
199599
Succeeded by
Doug Weight