Eric Belanger
Encyclopedia
Éric Bélanger is a Canadian
professional
ice hockey
centre who is currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers
of the National Hockey League
.
in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft
. Before making his NHL debut, Bélanger played with the Beauport Harfangs
and Rimouski Océanic
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
, Fredericton Canadiens
, Springfield Falcons
and Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League
and the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League. Bélanger made his NHL debut on October 6, 2000. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Bélanger played for HC Bolzano in Italy
.
On September 29, 2006, Bélanger and Tim Gleason
were traded to the Hurricanes for Oleg Tverdovsky
and Jack Johnson. On February 9, 2007, Bélanger was traded to the Nashville Predators
in exchange for center Josef Vašíček
. The following day, he was sent to the Atlanta Thrashers
for defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski
. During his time in Atlanta, he helped the Thrashers to their first playoff berth where on April 12th, 2007 he scored the first ever Atlanta Thrashers
playoff goal off a feed from Niclas Havelid
on the powerplay.
On July 3, 2007, Bélanger signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild
on a 3-year deal.
On March 3, 2010
, the NHL trade deadline
, Bélanger was traded to the Washington Capitals
for a 2nd round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
. In game 5 of the Capitals' 2010
playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens
, Bélanger took a high stick to the mouth from Canadiens defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron
, that resulted in Belanger losing 9 teeth. Moments after the hit, the game telecast showed Belanger on the bench removing a loose tooth from his mouth, using just his fingers and a piece of gauze.
He signed a three-year contract worth $5.25 million with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2011.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
ice hockey
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 who is currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
of 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...
.
Playing career
He was drafted in the fourth round, ninety-sixth overall, by the Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft
1996 NHL Entry Draft
The 1996 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 22, 1996.- Selections by round :Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :- Round two :...
. Before making his NHL debut, Bélanger played with the Beauport Harfangs
Beauport Harfangs
The Beauport Harfangs were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1990 to 1997. They played their home games at the Aréna Marcel Bédard in the Quebec City suburb of Beauport, Quebec. The team's first coach was Alain Chainey, who was an assistant coach with the...
and Rimouski Océanic
Rimouski Océanic
The Rimouski Océanic are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League . The franchise was granted for the 1969–70 season...
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
, Fredericton Canadiens
Fredericton Canadiens
The Fredericton Canadiens, or the 'Baby Habs' were a professional ice hockey team in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The Canadiens played their home games at the Aitken Centre...
, Springfield Falcons
Springfield Falcons
The Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center and are the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The Falcons' two main rivals are the Connecticut Whale and the...
and Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League
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...
and the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League. Bélanger made his NHL debut on October 6, 2000. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Bélanger played for HC Bolzano in Italy
Serie A (hockey)
Serie A is the name of the top tier of professional ice hockey in Italy, which first began play in 1924. They are conducted under the authority of the Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio...
.
On September 29, 2006, Bélanger and Tim Gleason
Tim Gleason
Timothy Gleason is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
were traded to the Hurricanes for Oleg Tverdovsky
Oleg Tverdovsky
Oleh Fedorovych "Oleg" Tverdovsky is a Ukrainian-Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Early years:...
and Jack Johnson. On February 9, 2007, Bélanger was traded to the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in exchange for center Josef Vašíček
Josef Vasicek
Josef Vašíček was a Czech professional ice hockey player. Vasicek last played for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League and died when the team's aircraft charter crashed on September 7, 2011...
. The following day, he was sent to the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
for defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski
Vitaly Vishnevski
Vitaliy Viktorovych Vyshnevsky is a Ukrainian-Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Playing career:...
. During his time in Atlanta, he helped the Thrashers to their first playoff berth where on April 12th, 2007 he scored the first ever Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
playoff goal off a feed from Niclas Havelid
Niclas Hävelid
Niclas Hävelid is a professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for Linköpings HC of the Swedish Elitserien. While born in Stockholm, he was raised in Enköping, roughly 78 km west of his birthplace.-Playing career:...
on the powerplay.
On July 3, 2007, Bélanger signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
on a 3-year deal.
On March 3, 2010
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
, the NHL trade deadline
NHL trade deadline
The National Hockey League's trade deadline is a date set by the NHL league office after which no trades are allowed for the remainder of the season. The deadline for the 2011–12 NHL season is set for February 27, 2012 at 3 pm EST. Prior to the current CBA, the trade deadline date had been in...
, Bélanger was traded to 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...
for a 2nd round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
2010 NHL Entry Draft
The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft. An unofficial record of 11 American-trained players were selected in...
. In game 5 of the Capitals' 2010
2010 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 14, 2010, after the 2009–10 NHL regular season. The Finals ended on June 9, 2010, with the Chicago Blackhawks defeating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to two to win their fourth championship and their first since 1961...
playoff series against 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 ...
, Bélanger took a high stick to the mouth from Canadiens defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron
Marc-André Bergeron
Marc-André Bergeron is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently under contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.-Career:...
, that resulted in Belanger losing 9 teeth. Moments after the hit, the game telecast showed Belanger on the bench removing a loose tooth from his mouth, using just his fingers and a piece of gauze.
He signed a three-year contract worth $5.25 million with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2011.
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 | ||
| 1994–95 1994–95 QMJHL season The 1994–95 QMJHL season was the 26th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The QMJHL unveils an updated logo one season after its special 25th anniversary logo, using a stylized ice skate and the letters of the league's French acronym... |
Beauport Harfangs Beauport Harfangs The Beauport Harfangs were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1990 to 1997. They played their home games at the Aréna Marcel Bédard in the Quebec City suburb of Beauport, Quebec. The team's first coach was Alain Chainey, who was an assistant coach with the... |
QMJHL | 71 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 24 | 18 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 25 | ||
| 1995–96 1995–96 QMJHL season The 1995–96 QMJHL season was the 27th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league continued to expand eastward, adding an expansion team in Moncton, New Brunswick, and the Saint-Jean Lynx relocated to the eastern Quebec city of Rimouski in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region... |
Beauport Harfangs | QMJHL | 59 | 35 | 48 | 83 | 18 | 20 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 6 | ||
| 1996–97 1996–97 QMJHL season The 1996–97 QMJHL season was the 28th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league continues explore new markets as the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser move north to Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The New Faces Cup is renamed the RDS Cup, for its new sponsor, Réseau des sports. Fourteen... |
Beauport Harfangs | QMJHL | 31 | 13 | 37 | 50 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Rimouski Océanic Rimouski Océanic The Rimouski Océanic are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League . The franchise was granted for the 1969–70 season... |
QMJHL | 31 | 26 | 41 | 67 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 1997–98 AHL season The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western... |
Fredericton Canadiens Fredericton Canadiens The Fredericton Canadiens, or the 'Baby Habs' were a professional ice hockey team in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The Canadiens played their home games at the Aitken Centre... |
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... |
56 | 17 | 34 | 51 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | IHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 1998–99 AHL season The 1998–99 AHL season was the 63rd season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Providence Bruins finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:... |
Springfield Falcons Springfield Falcons The Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center and are the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The Falcons' two main rivals are the Connecticut Whale and the... |
AHL | 33 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1999–00 | Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL | 65 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2000–01 2000–01 AHL season The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty... |
Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL | 13 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 62 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 53 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2002–03 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 62 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 81 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Bolzano-Bozen Foxes | Serie A Serie A (hockey) Serie A is the name of the top tier of professional ice hockey in Italy, which first began play in 1924. They are conducted under the authority of the Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio... |
12 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 65 | 17 | 20 | 37 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Carolina Hurricanes Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center... |
NHL | 56 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Atlanta Thrashers Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season... |
NHL | 24 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | ||
| 2007–08 | Minnesota Wild Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
NHL | 75 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Minnesota Wild | NHL | 79 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Minnesota Wild | NHL | 60 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | 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 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Phoenix Coyotes Phoenix Coyotes The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena.... |
NHL | 82 | 13 | 27 | 40 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 716 | 134 | 205 | 339 | 319 | 41 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 28 | ||||