{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1977)}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | image= Steve Valiquette.jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = Valiquette with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2006 | position = Goaltender | catches = Left | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6 | weight_lb = 210 | played_for = {{plainlist | * New York Islanders * Edmonton Oilers * New York Rangers * Lokomotiv Yaroslavl * HC CSKA Moscow * HC Valpellice }} | ntl_team = | ntl_team_2 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|8|20}} | birth_place = Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada | career_start = 2000 | career_end = 2012 | draft = 190th overall | draft_year = 1996 | draft_team = Los Angeles Kings }} '''Stephen Valiquette''' (born August 20, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Valiquette played 46 games in the National Hockey League, nearly all for the New York Rangers, before finishing his playing career in Europe.<ref name="NHL profile">{{cite web|title=Steve Valiquette|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8465161|work=Players|publisher=NHL.com|access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref>
Valiquette is currently employed as a studio analyst for MSG Network covering the Rangers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ashmore|first1=Mike|title=Valiquette helping bring analytics to goaltending|url=http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20150318/SPORTS/150319753|website=The Trentonian|access-date=October 18, 2016|date=March 18, 2015}}</ref>
==Professional career== While playing junior hockey for the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Valiquette was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 1996 NHL entry draft in the eighth round.<ref name="NHL profile" /> Playing two more seasons in the OHL with the Wolves and the Erie Otters, Valiquette never actually played for the Kings organization, and in 1998, now a free agent, signed with the New York Islanders.<ref name=notes>{{cite web|title=Notes|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8465161&view=notes|work=Steve Valiquette|publisher=NHL.com|access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> Valiquette played in six NHL games for the Islanders in 1999-2000, but otherwise played for a variety of teams in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and American Hockey League (AHL) through 2003. When Valiquette made his playing debut in 2000, he was the tallest goaltender<ref name=SI.com>{{cite web|title=2006 NHL draft review|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/allan_muir/06/25/west.grades/1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628095712/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/allan_muir/06/25/west.grades/1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2006|publisher=Sports Illustrated.com|access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> to ever play a game in the NHL at 6-foot-6.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hockeygoalies.org/news/oldnews.html | title=News Archives | access-date=2008-02-09 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501123437/http://www.hockeygoalies.org/news/oldnews.html | archive-date=2007-05-01 }}</ref> Ben Bishop, standing 6-foot-7, has since surpassed Valiquette as the tallest NHL goaltender.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://blues.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=388511 | title=Home Sweet Home for Blues' Bishop | publisher=St. Louis Blues | last=Pinkert | first=Chris | date=2008-10-24 | access-date=2009-01-22 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030021128/http://blues.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=388511 | archive-date=2008-10-30 }}</ref>
In July 2003, Valiquette signed as a free agent with the Edmonton Oilers.<ref name="notes" /> Three months later, he was claimed by the Florida Panthers in the NHL waiver draft on October 3, 2003. Six days later he was claimed back by the Edmonton Oilers. He appeared in one game with Edmonton, playing 14 minutes. Valiquette spent the balance of the 2003–04 season with the Toronto Roadrunners of the AHL, playing in 35 games.
On March 3, 2004, Valiquette was traded by the Oilers, along with forward Dwight Helminen and a second-round selection in the 2004 draft to the New York Rangers for center Petr Nedvěd and goaltender Jussi Markkanen.<ref name="notes" /> Valiquette spent the 2004–05 season with the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, during the NHL lockout. That season, he and teammate Jason LaBarbera shared the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award, awarded to the goalie (or goalies) with the league's lowest team goals against average.<ref name="AHL hap">{{cite web|title=HARRY "HAP" HOLMES MEMORIAL AWARD|url=http://ahlhalloffame.com/harry-hap-holmes-memorial-award-p139052|work=Trophy case|publisher=American Hockey League Hall of Fame|access-date=5 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116104435/http://ahlhalloffame.com/harry-hap-holmes-memorial-award-p139052|archive-date=16 November 2010}}</ref> In fact, Valiquette owned the league's lowest goals against average with 1.77.<ref name=THN>{{cite magazine|last=Williams|first=Patrick|title=Top 10 developments of the decade|url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/30460-Top-10-developments-of-the-decade.html|magazine=The Hockey News|access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> He then signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Russian Superleague on April 26, 2005.<ref name="notes" />
In July 2006, the Rangers brought Valiquette back, and re-signed him.<ref name="notes" /> On March 3, 2007, he won his first game in the NHL in almost three years.<ref name="Mar 07 win">{{cite news|last=Zinser|first=Lynn|title=Lundqvist Gets Rest, and Backup Saves Rangers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/sports/hockey/04rangers.html|access-date=5 August 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 March 2007}}</ref> With the departure of starting goalie Kevin Weekes to the New Jersey Devils, in July 2007, Valiquette became the back-up to Henrik Lundqvist.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/01172009/sports/rangers/lundqvist_understudy_could_become_best_n_150609.htm | title=Lundqvist understudy could become best No. 2 goalie in Rangers history | newspaper=New York Post | last=Brooks | first=Larry | date=2009-01-17 | access-date=2009-01-22}}</ref> On January 31, 2008, against the Philadelphia Flyers, Valiquette recorded the first shutout of his NHL career, as the Rangers won 4-0.<ref name="1st SO">{{cite news|last=Zinser|first=Lynn|title=Rangers Help Valiquette Claim First N.H.L. Shutout|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/sports/hockey/01rangers.html?_r=1|access-date=5 August 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=1 February 2008}}</ref> Ten days later, on February 9, he recorded his second consecutive shutout in a 2–0 win, also against the Flyers.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2008020915 | title=NY Rangers 2, Philadelphia 0 | publisher=Associated Press | last=Maaddi | first=Rob | date=2008-02-09 | access-date=2008-02-09}}</ref> He went on to finish the season 5-5-2. The following year, in a February 6, 2009 game against the Dallas Stars, he let 10 goals in a single game, a league worst for the season.<ref name="10 goals">{{cite web|title=Rangers 2 Stars 10|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=290206009|work=ESPN.com|access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref>
Valiquette appeared in his first career NHL playoff games with the Rangers during the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals when he relieved starting goalie Henrik Lundqvist for the third period of games five and six, playing 40 minutes and allowing no goals on nine shots.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-sprang2512697296apr24,0,5164776.story | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501132538/http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-sprang2512697296apr24,0,5164776.story | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 1, 2009 | title=Capitals blank Rangers, cut deficit to 3-2 | newspaper=Newsday | last=Zipay | first=Steve | date=2009-04-25 | access-date=2009-04-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-sprang2712701315apr26,0,2875599.story | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501221503/http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-sprang2712701315apr26,0,2875599.story | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 1, 2009 | title=Rangers pushed to the brink after losing Game 6 | newspaper=Newsday | last=Zipay | first=Steve | date=2009-04-26 | access-date=2009-04-30}}</ref> Over the span of five seasons with the Rangers, Valiquette recorded 14 wins, 4 of them as shutouts.<ref name="NHL profile" /> Shortly after what proved to be his final NHL game, an 8-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, in which he gave up all 8 goals, Valiquette was put on waivers, and subsequently sent to the Hartford Wolf Pack, in an effort to restore his game.<ref name=DNews>{{cite news|last=Botte|first=Peter|title=New York Rangers put backup goalie Steve Valiquette on waivers, acquire Anaheim's Erik Christensen|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-12-03/sports/17941269_1_undisclosed-ailment-backup-goalie-steve-valiquette-brandon-dubinsky|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130085739/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-12-03/sports/17941269_1_undisclosed-ailment-backup-goalie-steve-valiquette-brandon-dubinsky|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2013|access-date=5 August 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=3 December 2009}}</ref> He did not play for the Rangers again, and on July 15 Valiquette signed with the KHL side HC CSKA Moscow,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hockeysverige.se/news_show_lundqvists-backup-valjer-khl.html?id=10302662 | title=Lundqvists backup väljer KHL | publisher=HockeySverige | date=2010-07-16 | access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref> who bought out his contract after one season.<ref name="CT WHale">{{cite news|last=Berlett|first=Bruce|title=Former Wolf Pack Valiquette Returns to Ice|publisher=Connecticut Whale|date=20 November 2011}}</ref>
During the summer of 2011, Valiquette turned down an offer to return to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, due to a lack of guaranteed playing time. This proved fortunate for him, in light of the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash, which killed nearly the entire team and staff.<ref name="CT WHale" /> Unsigned and not playing, it was announced in November 2011 that Valiquette, who runs a goalie school of his own, was taking a position at Quinnipiac University as the volunteer goalie coach for the men's NCAA team.<ref name=ECAC>{{cite web|title=Valiquette Joins Bobcats Staff|work=ECAC Hockey |url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/members/quinnipiac/20111611_ValiquetteQuinnipiacStaff|access-date=5 August 2012|date=16 November 2011}}</ref> However, a couple of days later, the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, for whom Valiquette had played while in the Islanders' system, put out a call for an emergency backup, as they were shorthanded due to injuries with their Islanders parent club.<ref name="CT WHale" /> Ultimately, Valiquette wound up not having to play for the Sound Tigers, and moved on to play for HC Valpellice of the Italian Serie A league, which in 14 games, he led in save percentage and goals against average.<ref name=OHLAC>{{cite web|title=Steve Valiquette Calls it a Career|url=http://www.ohlalumnicentral.com/steve-valiquette-retired/|publisher=OHL Alumni Central|access-date=5 August 2012|date=2012-07-14}}</ref><ref name=Euro>{{cite web|title=Statistics Serie A 2011-2012|url=http://eurohockey.com/stats/league/2012/136-serie-a.html?is_order=1&order=9&dir=2&position=1&type=1&season=2012&list_number=&|publisher=Euro Hockey.com|access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> After his season at HC Valpellice, Valiquette signed with Swedish club Djurgården of the HockeyAllsvenskan league,<ref name=ctpost>{{cite web|title=Sound Tigers notebook: Gallant back, Valiquette retires|work=Connecticut Post |url=http://www.ctpost.com/sports/article/Sound-Tigers-notebook-Gallant-back-Valiquette-3705943.php|publisher=ctpost.com|access-date=5 August 2012|date=2012-07-14}}</ref> but instead retired due to injury.<ref name="ECAC" />
== Career statistics == ===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:90%; text-align:center;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="10" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! W !! L !! T !! OTL !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV% ! GP !! W !! L !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV% |- | 1993–94 | Burlington Cougars | OPJHL | 30 || — || — || — || — || 1663 || 112 || 1 || 4.04 || — | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1994–95 | Rayside-Balfour Canadiens | NOJHL | 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || — || 89 || 12 || 0 || 8.09 || — | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1994–95 | Smiths Falls Bears | CJHL | 21 || 10 || 8 || 3 || — || 1275 || 75 || 0 || 3.53 || — | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1994–95 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 4 || 2 || 0 || 0 || — || 138 || 6 || 0 || 2.61 || .949 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1995–96 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 39 || 13 || 16 || 2 || — || 1887 || 123 || 0 || 3.91 || .892 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1996–97 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 61 || 21 || 29 || 7 || — || 3311 || 232 || 1 || 4.20 || .899 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1996–97 | Dayton Bombers | ECHL | 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 89 || 6 || 0 || 4.03 || .882 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1997–98 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 14 || 5 || 7 || 1 || — || 807 || 50 || 0 || 3.72 || .904 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1997–98 | Erie Otters | OHL | 28 || 16 || 7 || 3 || — || 1525 || 65 || 3 || 2.56 || .917 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1998–99 | Hampton Roads Admirals | ECHL | 31 || 18 || 7 || 3 || — || 1713 || 84 || 1 || 2.94 || .916 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1998–99 | Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL | 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || — || 59 || 3 || 0 || 3.05 || .885 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1999–00 | New York Islanders | NHL | 6 || 2 || 0 || 0 || — || 193 || 6 || 0 || 1.87 || .949 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1999–00 | Trenton Titans | ECHL | 12 || 5 || 6 || 1 || — || 692 || 36 || 1 || 3.12 || .902 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1999–00 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 60 || 3 || 0 || 3.00 || .927 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1999–00 | Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL | 14 || 8 || 5 || 0 || — || 727 || 36 || 0 || 2.97 || .901 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2000–01 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 20 || 7 || 10 || 1 || — || 1066 || 54 || 0 || 3.04 || .907 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 2001–02 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 20 || 10 || 5 || 1 || — || 1071 || 45 || 2 || 2.52 || .923 | 1 || 0 || 0 || 18 || 1 || 0 || 3.30 || .800 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2002–03 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 34 || 15 || 14 || 3 || — || 1962 || 86 || 2 || 2.63 || .912 | 4 || 3 || 1 || 253 || 9 || 0 || 2.13 || .931 |- | 2003–04 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 13 || 2 || 0 || 9.23 || .714 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2003–04 | Toronto Roadrunners | AHL | 35 || 14 || 14 || 5 || — || 2064 || 89 || 2 || 2.59 || .913 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 2003–04 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 7 || 2 || 4 || 1 || — || 400 || 15 || 1 || 2.25 || .928 | 1 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 0 || 0 || 0.00 || 1.000 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2003–04 | New York Rangers | NHL | 2 || 1 || 1 || 0 || — || 119 || 6 || 0 || 3.03 || .915 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 2004–05 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 35 || 19 || 11 || — || 1 || 1900 || 56 || 7 || 1.77 || .935 | 2 || 1 || 1 || 118 || 4 || 0 || 2.03 || .938 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2005–06 | Yaroslavl Lokomotiv | RSL | 45 || — || — || — || — || 2734 || 89 || 4 || 1.95 || .923 | 8 || — || — || 458 || 23 || 0 || 3.01 || — |- | 2006–07 | New York Rangers | NHL | 3 || 1 || 2 || — || 0 || 115 || 6 || 0 || 3.14 || .867 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2006–07 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 30 || 17 || 12 || — || 0 || 1694 || 66 || 6 || 2.34 || .909 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 2007–08 | New York Rangers | NHL | 13 || 5 || 3 || — || 3 || 686 || 25 || 2 || 2.19 || .916 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2008–09 | New York Rangers | NHL | 15 || 5 || 5 || — || 2 || 823 || 39 || 1 || 2.84 || .907 | 2 || 0 || 0 || 40 || 0 || 0 || 0.00 || 1.000 |- | 2009–10 | New York Rangers | NHL | 6 || 2 || 3 || — || 1 || 305 || 19 || 1 || 3.74 || .852 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2009–10 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 11 || 4 || 5 || — || 1 || 547 || 34 || 0 || 3.73 || .877 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 2010–11 | CSKA Moscow | KHL | 35 || 9 || 16 || — || 5 || 1897 || 93 || 2 || 2.94 || .897 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2011–12 | HC Valpellice | ITA | 15 || 10 || 5 || — || 0 || 914 || 32 || 2 || 2.10 || .940 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"| NHL totals ! 46 !! 16 !! 14 !! 0 !! 5 !! 2061 !! 97 !! 4 !! 2.36 !! .905 ! 2 !! 0 !! 0 !! 40 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0.00 !! 1.000 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"| KHL totals ! 35 !! 9 !! 16 !! — !! 5 !! 1897 !! 93 !! 2 !! 2.94 !! .897 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.stevevaliquette.com/ Steve Valiquette Official Website] *{{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valiquette, Stephen}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Bridgeport Sound Tigers players Category:Canadian ice hockey goaltenders Category:Dayton Bombers players Category:Edmonton Oilers players Category:Erie Otters players Category:Franco-Ontarian people Category:Hampton Roads Admirals players Category:Hartford Wolf Pack players Category:Lokomotiv Yaroslavl players Category:Los Angeles Kings draft picks Category:Lowell Lock Monsters players Category:MSG Network people Category:New York Islanders players Category:New York Rangers players Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Providence Bruins players Category:Ice hockey people from Etobicoke Category:Springfield Falcons players Category:Sudbury Wolves players Category:Toronto Roadrunners players Category:Trenton Titans players