Steve Eminger (born October 31, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Steve Eminger
Born (1983-10-31) October 31, 1983 (age 41)
Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Washington Capitals
Philadelphia Flyers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Anaheim Ducks
New York Rangers
HC CSKA Moscow
NHL draft 12th overall, 2002
Washington Capitals
Playing career 2003–2016

Playing career

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Eminger, who is also known for his physical play, started his hockey career with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League in 1999. He was drafted in the first round, 12th overall by the Washington Capitals at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut the next season, but after 17 games in Washington he was sent back down to Kitchener. Kitchener was strengthened by Eminger's return, and they won the Memorial Cup.

Since leaving junior hockey, Eminger split his time between the Capitals and their AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. Despite the lofty projections that came with his first-round-pick status, Eminger has failed to live up to expectations. Throughout the 2007–08 NHL season, the final season of his contract, Eminger spent a great deal of time as a healthy scratch. However, during the 2008 playoffs the Capitals were decimated by injuries and Eminger was put into the lineup with a larger role. During these playoffs, Eminger suddenly found his niche and proved himself to be a solid defenceman. During the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Eminger, along with the 84th overall pick (Jacob De Serres) were traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for the 27th pick overall (John Carlson).

On June 29, 2008, Eminger and the Flyers agreed to a one-year contract. After 12 games with the Flyers, Eminger was traded to Tampa Bay on November 7, 2008, along with Steve Downie and a 4th round draft pick for Matt Carle and a 3rd round draft pick.[1]

On March 9, 2009, on the day of the trade deadline, Tampa Bay traded Eminger to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Noah Welch and a 3rd round draft pick.[2]

On September 4, 2009, Eminger was signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Ducks to a two-year deal.[3]

On July 9, 2010, Eminger was traded to New York Rangers for Aaron Voros and Ryan Hillier.[4] On September 10, 2012, Eminger agreed to a new contract to re-sign with the Rangers.

After spending his professional career entirely on North America soil, Eminger signed as a free agent to his first contract abroad with Russian club, CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League on October 21, 2014.[5] After producing just 2 assists in 25 games, Eminger was released from his KHL contract and on January 24, 2014, Eminger joined the Norfolk Admirals after having cleared AHL wavers.[6]

On September 5, 2014, the Boston Bruins announced that Eminger had signed a one-year contract with their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.[7] As a free agent in the summer and into the midpoint of the 2015-16 season, Eminger returned to play in signing a professional try-out contract with the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL on January 21, 2016.[8] Eminger ended his playing career after winning the Calder Cup with the Monsters during the 2015–16 season.

On June 14, 2017, Eminger was announced to have accepted a position as a professional scout for the New York Rangers.[9]

Personal life

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Eminger is married to Lindsay Eminger.[10]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Bramalea Blues OPJHL 47 6 9 15 81
1999–2000 Kitchener Rangers OHL 50 2 14 16 74 5 0 0 0 0
2000–01 Kitchener Rangers OHL 54 6 26 32 66
2001–02 Kitchener Rangers OHL 64 19 39 58 93 4 0 2 2 10
2002–03 Kitchener Rangers OHL 23 2 27 29 40 21 3 8 11 44
2002–03 Washington Capitals NHL 17 0 2 2 24
2003–04 Washington Capitals NHL 41 0 4 4 45
2003–04 Portland Pirates AHL 41 0 4 4 40 7 0 1 1 2
2004–05 Portland Pirates AHL 62 3 17 20 40
2005–06 Washington Capitals NHL 66 5 13 18 81
2006–07 Washington Capitals NHL 68 1 16 17 63
2007–08 Washington Capitals NHL 20 0 2 2 8 5 1 0 1 2
2008–09 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 12 0 2 2 8
2008–09 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 50 4 19 23 36
2008–09 Florida Panthers NHL 9 1 0 1 6
2009–10 Anaheim Ducks NHL 63 4 12 16 30
2010–11 New York Rangers NHL 65 2 4 6 22
2011–12 New York Rangers NHL 42 2 3 5 28 4 0 0 0 0
2012–13 New York Rangers NHL 35 0 3 3 8 11 0 2 2 4
2012–13 Connecticut Whale AHL 4 1 0 1 0
2013–14 CSKA Moscow KHL 25 0 2 2 10
2013–14 Norfolk Admirals AHL 33 3 4 7 24 10 1 1 2 14
2014–15 Providence Bruins AHL 62 4 19 23 60 1 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 19 5 9 14 14 13 1 7 8 4
NHL totals 488 19 80 99 359 20 1 2 3 6
AHL totals 221 16 53 69 178 31 2 9 11 20
Medal record
Representing   Canada
World Junior Championships
  2003 Halifax

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2000 Canada Ontario U17   5 0 4 4 0
2003 Canada WJC   6 0 2 2 16
Junior totals 11 0 6 6 16

Awards and honors

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Awards Year
OHL
Second All-Star Team 2002
Memorial Cup 2003
Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2003
AHL
Calder Cup (Lake Erie Monsters) 2016 [11]

References

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  1. ^ "Flyers acquire defenseman Matt Carle". Flyers.nhl.com. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  2. ^ "Jay Bouwmeester stays; Panthers acquire Steve Eminger from Tampa Bay". palmbeachpost.com. 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  3. ^ "Ducks sign Eminger to a two-year deal". Anaheim Ducks. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  4. ^ "Rangers obtain Eminger from Ducks". New York Rangers. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
  5. ^ "Eminger joins CSKA Moscow" (in Russian). HC CSKA Moscow. 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  6. ^ "Norfolk signs Eminger". American Hockey League. 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
  7. ^ "Matt Fraser signed to one-year deal, Steve Eminger to AHL deal". Boston Bruins. 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  8. ^ "Monsters sign Steve Eminger to PTO". Lake Erie Monsters. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  9. ^ "Rangers announce hockey club personnel decisions". New York Rangers. 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  10. ^ "Steve Eminger biography". New York Rangers. 2013-03-14. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  11. ^ Brown, Tony (June 12, 2016). "Bjorkstrand's OT goal clinches Monsters' first-ever Calder Cup championship". Columbus Blue Jackets. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Washington Capitals first round draft pick
2002
Succeeded by