Andrew Cassels
Encyclopedia
Andrew Cassels is a retired professional ice hockey
centre
who played sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League
for the Montreal Canadiens
, Hartford Whalers
, Calgary Flames
, Vancouver Canucks
, Columbus Blue Jackets
and Washington Capitals
. He is currently an assistant coach with the Cincinnati Cyclones
of the ECHL
.
in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft
. He played three stellar seasons with the Ottawa 67's
of the OHL
, his best season coming 1987–88, when he led the OHL in assists and points in both the regular season and playoffs en route to winning the league MVP award. In his NHL debut with Montreal on 19 November 1989, Cassels scored his first career goal on his first shift and first shot against the Calgary Flames
. However, Cassels would find his playing time limited on a deep Montreal team, and only played 60 games for the Canadiens before being traded to the Hartford Whalers
in 1991 for a second round draft pick that the Canadiens used to pick Valeri Bure
.
It was in Hartford that Cassels had his greatest success. He recorded 41 points in 1991–92 campaign and had a strong playoffs, finally showing the offensive potential that had seen him taken in the first round of the draft. He would explode in 1992–93, as he recorded 22 goals and 63 assists for 85 points, and formed a deadly partnership with sniper Geoff Sanderson
establishing himself as one of the best young playmaking centres in the game. While he would not come close to matching those totals again as Hartford struggled to non-playoff finishes, he continued to mature as an all-around player in following years and he and Sanderson remained a consistent and effective offensive partnership. Cassels led the Whalers in assists for 5 consecutive seasons from 1992–1997, and led the team in overall scoring in the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season.
Cassels was a member of the final Whalers team in 1996–97, but did not make the move with the franchise to Carolina as he was dealt to the Calgary Flames
that summer. He would play two seasons for the Flames, but struggled to produce in the defensive system of coach Brian Sutter
, slumping to totals of just 44 and 37 points.
In 1999 Cassels became an unrestricted free agent and signed a 3-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks
. In Vancouver, he would be rejuvenated offensively, bouncing back to record 45 assists and 62 points in 1999–2000. In his first two seasons in Vancouver, he would lead the team in assists and finish second in scoring. However, team success continued to elude him, as his string of playoff misses was extended to nine. In 2001–02, he would play some of the best hockey of his career, recording 50 points in 53 games in helping the Canucks reach the playoffs - their second appearance since 1996 and his first since 1992.
With the expiration of his contract in 2002 and the development of younger centremen Brendan Morrison
and Henrik Sedin
, Cassels left Vancouver in 2002 to sign a free agent contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets
, where he was re-united with his friend and former linemate Geoff Sanderson. None of their chemistry had disappeared in their five years apart, as both players had their biggest years since their time in Hartford. Cassels' 48 assists and 68 points were his highest totals since his career year in 1993. However, injuries would take their toll the in 2003–04 as he slumped to just 6 goals and 26 points, his lowest totals since his rookie year in Montreal.
Following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Cassels signed with the Washington Capitals
on 12 August 2005. However, the year-long layoff, along with age and injuries, had greatly reduced his effectiveness. After playing just 31 games and scoring only 12 points, Cassels was released by the Capitals on 28 January 2006.
In 16 NHL seasons, Cassels appeared in 1015 games, recording 204 goals and 528 assists for 732 points along with 410 penalty minutes. He led his team in assists in 7 of those seasons.
Cassels is also the only known player to have scored two separate goals in incidents where a slap shot puck ricochet off of his face.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
centre
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
who played sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
for the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
, Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
, Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. He is currently an assistant coach with the Cincinnati Cyclones
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
.
Playing career
Andrew Cassels was selected 17th overall by the Montreal CanadiensMontreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft
1987 NHL Entry Draft
The 1987 NHL Entry Draft was held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1986–87 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players selected.-Selections...
. He played three stellar seasons with the Ottawa 67's
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67’s are a junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They have played in the Ontario Hockey League since 1967, Canada's centennial year. The current coach is Chris Byrne.-History:...
of the OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
, his best season coming 1987–88, when he led the OHL in assists and points in both the regular season and playoffs en route to winning the league MVP award. In his NHL debut with Montreal on 19 November 1989, Cassels scored his first career goal on his first shift and first shot against the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
. However, Cassels would find his playing time limited on a deep Montreal team, and only played 60 games for the Canadiens before being traded to the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
in 1991 for a second round draft pick that the Canadiens used to pick Valeri Bure
Valeri Bure
Valeri Vladimirovich Bure is a retired professional ice hockey right winger from Russia. He played ten seasons in the National Hockey League...
.
It was in Hartford that Cassels had his greatest success. He recorded 41 points in 1991–92 campaign and had a strong playoffs, finally showing the offensive potential that had seen him taken in the first round of the draft. He would explode in 1992–93, as he recorded 22 goals and 63 assists for 85 points, and formed a deadly partnership with sniper Geoff Sanderson
Geoff Sanderson
Geoff M. Sanderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger, most notably for the Hartford Whalers and Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League . Sanderson is currently a scout for the New York Islanders...
establishing himself as one of the best young playmaking centres in the game. While he would not come close to matching those totals again as Hartford struggled to non-playoff finishes, he continued to mature as an all-around player in following years and he and Sanderson remained a consistent and effective offensive partnership. Cassels led the Whalers in assists for 5 consecutive seasons from 1992–1997, and led the team in overall scoring in the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season.
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
that summer. He would play two seasons for the Flames, but struggled to produce in the defensive system of coach Brian Sutter
Brian Sutter
Brian Louis Allen Sutter is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward and former head coach in the National Hockey League . Brian is the second oldest of the famous Sutter brothers, six of whom have played in the NHL, and is the only one to have his number retired by an NHL team.-Player: Sutter was...
, slumping to totals of just 44 and 37 points.
In 1999 Cassels became an unrestricted free agent and signed a 3-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. In Vancouver, he would be rejuvenated offensively, bouncing back to record 45 assists and 62 points in 1999–2000. In his first two seasons in Vancouver, he would lead the team in assists and finish second in scoring. However, team success continued to elude him, as his string of playoff misses was extended to nine. In 2001–02, he would play some of the best hockey of his career, recording 50 points in 53 games in helping the Canucks reach the playoffs - their second appearance since 1996 and his first since 1992.
With the expiration of his contract in 2002 and the development of younger centremen Brendan Morrison
Brendan Morrison
Brendan Morrison is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League...
and Henrik Sedin
Henrik Sedin
Henrik Sedin is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . His identical twin brother Daniel also plays for the Canucks. Having played together throughout their careers, the pair are known for their effectiveness playing off one...
, Cassels left Vancouver in 2002 to sign a free agent contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, where he was re-united with his friend and former linemate Geoff Sanderson. None of their chemistry had disappeared in their five years apart, as both players had their biggest years since their time in Hartford. Cassels' 48 assists and 68 points were his highest totals since his career year in 1993. However, injuries would take their toll the in 2003–04 as he slumped to just 6 goals and 26 points, his lowest totals since his rookie year in Montreal.
Following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Cassels signed with the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
on 12 August 2005. However, the year-long layoff, along with age and injuries, had greatly reduced his effectiveness. After playing just 31 games and scoring only 12 points, Cassels was released by the Capitals on 28 January 2006.
In 16 NHL seasons, Cassels appeared in 1015 games, recording 204 goals and 528 assists for 732 points along with 410 penalty minutes. He led his team in assists in 7 of those seasons.
Cassels is also the only known player to have scored two separate goals in incidents where a slap shot puck ricochet off of his face.
Awards
- 1986–871986–87 OHL seasonThe 1986–87 OHL season was the 7th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Fifteen teams each played 66 games. The Oshawa Generals won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the North Bay Centennials.-Final standings:-Scoring leaders:...
- OHLOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
Emms Family AwardEmms Family AwardThe Emms Family Award is presented annually to the top first year player in the Ontario Hockey League.The award was donated to the OHL by Leighton "Hap" Emms, former owner of franchises in Barrie, Niagara Falls and St...
(Rookie of the Year) - 1987–88 - OHL First All-Star Team
- 1987–88 - OHL William Hanley TrophyWilliam Hanley TrophyThe William Hanley Trophy is awarded to the Ontario Hockey League's Most Sportsmanlike Player. It is named for William Hanley, a former secretary-manager of the Ontario Hockey Association who served in that capacity for twenty-five years...
(Most Gentlemanly player) - 1987–88 - OHL Eddie Powers Memorial TrophyEddie Powers Memorial TrophyThe Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top scorer in the Ontario Hockey League. The trophy was donated by the Toronto Marlboro Athletic Club in memory of Edward Powers, and was first awarded to Tod Sloan of St...
(Leading Scorer) - 1987–88 - OHL Red Tilson TrophyRed Tilson TrophyThe Red Tilson Trophy is an annual award given to the most outstanding player in the Ontario Hockey League. The award is voted on by OHL writers and broadcasters, and is named for Red Tilson, a former played for the Oshawa Generals who was killed in service in the Second World War...
(MVP) - 1988–89 - OHL First All-Star Team
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1986–87 1986–87 OHL season The 1986–87 OHL season was the 7th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Fifteen teams each played 66 games. The Oshawa Generals won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the North Bay Centennials.-Final standings:-Scoring leaders:... |
Ottawa 67's Ottawa 67's The Ottawa 67’s are a junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They have played in the Ontario Hockey League since 1967, Canada's centennial year. The current coach is Chris Byrne.-History:... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
66 | 26 | 66 | 92 | 28 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 7 | ||
| 1987–88 | Ottawa 67's | OHL | 61 | 48 | 103 | 151 | 39 | 16 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 13 | ||
| 1988–89 | Ottawa 67's | OHL | 56 | 37 | 97 | 134 | 66 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 10 | ||
| 1989–90 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 1989–90 AHL season The 1989–90 AHL season was the 54th season of the American Hockey League.Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Sherbrooke Canadiens repeated finishing first overall in the regular season... |
Sherbrooke Canadiens Sherbrooke Canadiens The Sherbrooke Canadiens were a professional ice hockey team in Sherbrooke, Quebec. They played their home games at the Palais des Sports. They were a member of the American Hockey League from 1984 to 1990, and were a farm team of the Montreal Canadiens.... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
55 | 22 | 45 | 67 | 25 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 6 | ||
| 1990–91 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 54 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1991–92 | Hartford Whalers Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97... |
NHL | 67 | 11 | 30 | 41 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1992–93 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 84 | 21 | 64 | 85 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 79 | 16 | 42 | 58 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 46 | 7 | 30 | 37 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 81 | 20 | 43 | 63 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 81 | 22 | 44 | 66 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... |
NHL | 81 | 17 | 27 | 44 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 70 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL | 79 | 17 | 45 | 62 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 66 | 12 | 44 | 56 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 53 | 11 | 39 | 50 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2002–03 | Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 79 | 20 | 48 | 68 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 58 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
NHL | 31 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 16 seasons | NHL career | 1015 | 204 | 528 | 732 | 410 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 8 | |||
International play
Played for Canada in:- 1989 World Junior Championships1989 World Junior Ice Hockey ChampionshipsThe 1989 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 13th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. The Soviet Union won the gold medal, its eleventh, and ultimately final, championship...
- 1996 World Championships1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships- Group 2 :- Quarterfinals :- Consolation Round 11-12 Place :Austria was relegated to Group B.- Semifinals :- Match for third place :- Final :-World Championship Group B :...
(Silver medal)
International statistics
| Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 1989 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 1989 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 13th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. The Soviet Union won the gold medal, its eleventh, and ultimately final, championship... |
Canada Canada national junior hockey team The Canadian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Canada. The team represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January... |
WJC World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world... |
7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
| 1996 1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships - Group 2 :- Quarterfinals :- Consolation Round 11-12 Place :Austria was relegated to Group B.- Semifinals :- Match for third place :- Final :-World Championship Group B :... |
Canada | WC | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Junior int'l totals | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | ||
| Senior int'l totals | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||