Steve Kelly
Encyclopedia
R. Steve Kelly is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey
center
who played in the National Hockey League
with the Edmonton Oilers
, Tampa Bay Lightning
, New Jersey Devils
, Los Angeles Kings
, Minnesota Wild
and the Columbus Blue Jackets
.
of the WHL
, where he compiled 254 points in 268 games. In 1995–1996, Kelly tallied 101 points and 203 penalty minutes to lead the Raiders to a 47-win season and second place in the WHL Eastern Division. Kelly was then drafted in the first round, 6th overall, of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft
by the Edmonton Oilers
.
Despite his high draft status, Kelly has never appeared in more than 43 games in an NHL
season and has just 21 points in 147 games. Kelly played just 27 games for the Edmonton Oilers during the 1996–97 and 1997–98 seasons before being traded in February 1998 to the Tampa Bay Lightning
along with Bryan Marchment
and Jason Bonsignore
in exchange for Roman Hamrlík
and Paul Comrie
.
After 58 games over two seasons with the Lightning, Kelly was sent to the New Jersey Devils
prior to the 1999–2000 season, where he spent the majority of the season with their AHL
affiliate, the Albany River Rats
. Kelly notched 57 points for Albany, but made just one appearance with the Devils. However, injuries during the Devils' playoff run forced Kelly into the NHL lineup, where he appeared in 10 games during the Devils' Stanley Cup
winning drive. In February 2001, after 25 games in New Jersey
, Kelly was traded to the Los Angeles Kings
for forward Bob Corkum
. With L.A.'s AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs
, Kelly enjoyed his best statistical seasons as a pro, amassing 133 points in just 113 games from 2002–2004, and representing the Canadian All-Stars in the 2004 AHL All-Star Classic.
Following the 2003–2004 season, Kelly signed in Germany
's Deutsche Eishockey Liga with the Mannheim Eagles. In November 2005, Kelly signed with the Frankfurt Lions
of the same league, where he scored 20 points in 22 games. In 2007, he signed with the Minnesota Wild and spent much of the season with the team's AHL
affiliate, the Houston Aeros
before being called up at the end of the season to fill in at center. After being signed by Columbus Blue Jackets and sent down to their affiliates Syracuse Crunch, Kelly chose to return to Europe by signing a one-year-contract with HDD Tilia Olimpija Ljubljana in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. However, after posting 3 points in only his second game in the 2009-10 season, Kelly suffered a season ending injury and decided terminate his contract and retire from professional hockey to return to Canada.
While showing promise at the beginning of his pro career, most would regard him as the 'biggest bust' of the 1995 NHL draft. Many Oilers fans use Kelly as an example of the Oilers' inability to draft NHL level players. Most fans and media expected the Oilers to draft Shane Doan
—an obvious choice who was drafted next by Winnipeg and later become the face and captain of the Jets/Coyotes franchise—but shocked everybody by drafting Kelly 6th overall.
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...
center
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 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...
with 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 ....
, Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
, New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, 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...
, 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 ....
and 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...
.
Playing career
Kelly played his junior hockey with the Prince Albert RaidersPrince Albert Raiders
The Prince Albert Raiders are a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. The Raiders play in the East Division of the Eastern Conference. They are based in the Saskatchewan city of Prince Albert...
of the WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
, where he compiled 254 points in 268 games. In 1995–1996, Kelly tallied 101 points and 203 penalty minutes to lead the Raiders to a 47-win season and second place in the WHL Eastern Division. Kelly was then drafted in the first round, 6th overall, of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft
1995 NHL Entry Draft
The 1995 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta. The drafting order was now set partially by a lottery system whereby teams would not be guaranteed first pick if they finished last. Instead, a draft lottery was instituted in which the winner of the lottery could move...
by 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 ....
.
Despite his high draft status, Kelly has never appeared in more than 43 games in an NHL
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...
season and has just 21 points in 147 games. Kelly played just 27 games for the Edmonton Oilers during the 1996–97 and 1997–98 seasons before being traded in February 1998 to the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
along with Bryan Marchment
Bryan Marchment
Bryan William Marchment is a former Canadian ice hockey defenceman. He spent his NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Hartford Whalers, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames...
and Jason Bonsignore
Jason Bonsignore
Jason Bonsignore is a former professional ice hockey forward and speedway promoter and racer. As a hockey player, he was drafted in the first round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, 4th overall, by the Edmonton Oilers, as one of the team's two first-round picks that year .-Playing career:Bonsignore was...
in exchange for Roman Hamrlík
Roman Hamrlík
Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
and Paul Comrie
Paul Comrie
Paul Gordon Comrie is a former professional ice hockey forward. He played 15 National Hockey League games with the Edmonton Oilers during the 1999–2000 NHL season.-Hockey Player:...
.
After 58 games over two seasons with the Lightning, Kelly was sent to the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
prior to the 1999–2000 season, where he spent the majority of the season with their 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...
affiliate, the Albany River Rats
Albany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
. Kelly notched 57 points for Albany, but made just one appearance with the Devils. However, injuries during the Devils' playoff run forced Kelly into the NHL lineup, where he appeared in 10 games during the Devils' Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winning drive. In February 2001, after 25 games in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Kelly was traded to the 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...
for forward Bob Corkum
Bob Corkum
Robert Freeman Corkum is a retired American professional ice hockey center. He was drafted in the third round, 47th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...
. With L.A.'s AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs
Manchester Monarchs
The Manchester Monarchs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Manchester, New Hampshire at the Verizon Wireless Arena. They have been the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings since 2001.-History:...
, Kelly enjoyed his best statistical seasons as a pro, amassing 133 points in just 113 games from 2002–2004, and representing the Canadian All-Stars in the 2004 AHL All-Star Classic.
Following the 2003–2004 season, Kelly signed in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's Deutsche Eishockey Liga with the Mannheim Eagles. In November 2005, Kelly signed with the Frankfurt Lions
Frankfurt Lions
The Frankfurt Lions were a professional men's ice hockey club from Frankfurt, Germany that played in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The club ceased operations in 2010 due to financial difficulty.-History:...
of the same league, where he scored 20 points in 22 games. In 2007, he signed with the Minnesota Wild and spent much of the season with the team's 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...
affiliate, the Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
before being called up at the end of the season to fill in at center. After being signed by Columbus Blue Jackets and sent down to their affiliates Syracuse Crunch, Kelly chose to return to Europe by signing a one-year-contract with HDD Tilia Olimpija Ljubljana in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. However, after posting 3 points in only his second game in the 2009-10 season, Kelly suffered a season ending injury and decided terminate his contract and retire from professional hockey to return to Canada.
While showing promise at the beginning of his pro career, most would regard him as the 'biggest bust' of the 1995 NHL draft. Many Oilers fans use Kelly as an example of the Oilers' inability to draft NHL level players. Most fans and media expected the Oilers to draft Shane Doan
Shane Doan
Shane Albert Doan is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and captain of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League . Doan is the longest tenured player on the club, having played all fourteen of his NHL seasons with the original Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes franchise...
—an obvious choice who was drafted next by Winnipeg and later become the face and captain of the Jets/Coyotes franchise—but shocked everybody by drafting Kelly 6th overall.
