Steve Eminger
Played forWashington Capitals
Philadelphia Flyers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Anaheim Ducks
New York Rangers
Lake Erie Monsters
PositionDefence
ShootsRight
Height6 ft
Height in1
Weight lb202
Birth dateOctober 31, 1983 (age 42)
Birth placeWoodbridge, Ontario, Canada
Draft (2002)12th overall
Draft teamWashington Capitals
Career start2003
Career end2016

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

Playing career

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 on 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 with the Rangers.

After spending his professional career entirely on North American 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 waivers.[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, 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

Eminger is married to Lindsay Eminger.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1998–99Bramalea BluesOPJHL47691581
1999–2000Kitchener RangersOHL50214167450000
2000–01Kitchener RangersOHL546263266
2001–02Kitchener RangersOHL6419395893402210
2002–03Kitchener RangersOHL23227294021381144
2002–03Washington CapitalsNHL1702224
2003–04Washington CapitalsNHL4104445
2003–04Portland PiratesAHL410444070112
2004–05Portland PiratesAHL623172040
2005–06Washington CapitalsNHL665131881
2006–07Washington CapitalsNHL681161763
2007–08Washington CapitalsNHL20022851012
2008–09Philadelphia FlyersNHL120228
2008–09Tampa Bay LightningNHL504192336
2008–09Florida PanthersNHL91016
2009–10Anaheim DucksNHL634121630
2010–11New York RangersNHL6524622
2011–12New York RangersNHL422352840000
2012–13New York RangersNHL350338110224
2012–13Connecticut WhaleAHL41010
2013–14CSKA MoscowKHL2502210
2013–14Norfolk AdmiralsAHL33347241011214
2014–15Providence BruinsAHL62419236010000
2015–16Lake Erie MonstersAHL19591414131784
NHL totals488198099359201236
AHL totals22116536917831291120

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2000Canada OntarioU1750440
2003CanadaWJC602216
Junior totals1106616

Awards and honors

AwardsYear
OHL
Second All-Star Team2002
Memorial Cup2003
Memorial Cup All-Star Team2003
AHL
Calder Cup (Lake Erie Monsters)2016[11]

References

  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.