| Phil Esposito |
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PLAYING CAREER Esposito joined the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1964 Season , and centering for the great Bobby Hull for four seasons, proved himself a quality playmaker, twice finishing amongst the league leading scorers. In 1967 , he was dealt to the Boston Bruins in a blockbuster trade along with Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield . While the hitherto unremarkable Hodge and Stanfield became stars in the Black-and-Gold, Esposito blossomed into the greatest scorer of his day, where he became the first NHL player to score 100 points in a season with 126 in the 1969 season. He went on to top the 100 point mark six times in all, including five consecutive seasons between 1971 and 1975. Esposito was named to the NHL's First All-Star team six consecutive times (from 1969 to 1974), and won the , Esposito and fellow superstar Bobby Orr led the Bruins to Stanley Cup victories in 1970 and 1972, and first place finishes in the league in 1971, 1972, and 1974. During the 1971 Season , Esposito shattered the record for most goals scored in a season when he finished up with 76. This record stood until February 1982 when Wayne Gretzky scored his 77th, 78th and 79th goal against the Buffalo Sabres . Esposito was on hand to present the game puck to Gretzky. Esposito also set the single season point scoring record in 1971 with 152, a mark likewise now held by Gretzky. After his performance in the Summit Series , where he was the inspirational captain for Team Canada and its leading scorer in the series, he won the 1972 Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's outstanding male athlete of the year and was made an Officer of the Order Of Canada . He also played for Team Canada in the Challenge Cup in 1976 and in the 1977 World Championships. In the 1976 Season , he and teammate Carol Vadnais were traded to the New York Rangers for Brad Park and Jean Ratelle . While not as glittering an offensive force as in his glory days, as captain of the Rangers, Esposito led the team in points each of his full seasons with the club and remained an effective scorer until his final season. The highlight of his years in New York was leading the Rangers to the Stanley Cup final in 1979 . He retired in 1981, then only second to Gordie Howe in career goals and total points, and subsequently becoming a broadcaster. RETIREMENT He served as general manager and coach for the Rangers for three years in the mid 1980s, where he earned the nickname "Trader Phil" for the numerous transactions he made while holding that office. He moved on to found the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning -- where his reputation and force of personality was widely credited with winning the expansion bid for Tampa Bay -- in 1992 , serving as the team’s president and general manager until 1998; he remains the team’s radio color commentator, and also co-hosts a daily call-in show on XM Satellite Radio 's '' Home Ice '' channel. Esposito was elected to the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 1984. His #7 jersey was retired by the Boston Bruins in an emotional ceremony where the current wearer, superstar defensemen Ray Bourque , surrendered the number in Esposito's honor. AWARDS
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND FACTS
CAREER STATISTICS INTERNATIONAL PLAY
International statistics SEE ALSO
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