Craig Simpson

For the New Zealand international football (soccer) player, see Craig Simpson (footballer).

Craig Simpson
Born	February 15, 1967 (1967-02-15) (age 44) London, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Left wing / right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Edmonton Oilers Pittsburgh Penguins Buffalo Sabres
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 1985 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	1985–1996

Craig Andrew Simpson (born February 15, 1967) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres. He is currently a broadcaster, involved in Hockey Night in Canada telecasts.

Biography

Playing career

Simpson played Collegiate hockey for the Michigan State Spartans of the NCAA from 1983–84 to 1984–85.

He was drafted in the 1st Round, 2nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. Midway through his third NHL season, he was traded as part of a package to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Paul Coffey. Simpson blossomed in Edmonton, playing on a line with future Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson. He scored a career high 56 regular season goals during the 1987–88 season, and won two Stanley Cups with the Oilers, in 1988 and 1990. He would be dealt to the Buffalo Sabres prior to the 1993-94 season.

Simpson suffered a serious back injury in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 1, 1993. Though he continued to play, the injury would eventually end his playing career at age 28. He retired as a player in 1996, finishing with 497 career NHL points. He holds the record for best career shooting percentage (minimum 800 shots) with 23.66%. He also holds the record for best career playoff shooting percentage (minimum 80 shots) with 33.65%, well ahead of second place Ken Linseman (23.21%).

Broadcasting career

After retiring as a player, Simpson joined FOX television as a hockey analyst. In 1998, Simpson joined CTV Sportsnet as a colour commentator for Edmonton Oilers regional games, as well as the network's weekly national broadcasts. He left in 2003 to become an assistant coach with the Oilers. After the 2006–07 season, he resigned from his position with the club to take a job as a colour commentator for CBC Television, alongside former Sportsnet partner Jim Hughson. Beginning in the 2008-09 season, Hughson and Simpson are the primary Hockey Night in Canada broadcast team and call the Stanley Cup Finals.

Simpson is also the colour commentator man in the EA Sports NHL franchise, along with play-by-play partner Hughson. Simpson also appears in TV commercials and print ads for Carpet Superstores of Edmonton.

On March 22, 2008, Hughson and Simpson called the NHL game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche at 1 p.m. MDT. They then boarded a chartered plane to Calgary where the pair then announced the third game of the Hockey Night in Canada triple-header between the Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild at 8 p.m. MDT. This is believed to be a first in the National Hockey League.^[1]

On January 30, 2010 during Hockey Day in Canada Simpson was given the opportunity to do the colour commentating along side Jim Hughson in the Canucks at Leafs marquee game.

Coaching career

Simpson joined his former team, the Edmonton Oilers, in 2005 and served as an assistant coach of the team. He helped lead the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 2005–06 season.

Battle of the Blades

In 2009, Simpson participated in the first season of CBC's "Battle of the Blades", a made-for-TV figure-skating competition that paired eight former NHL stars with female figure skaters. Simpson and his partner, Jamie Salé, won the competition on Monday November 16, 2009.

Family

Simpson is the younger brother of former CHL Player of the Year Dave Simpson and Rogers Sportsnet reporter Christine Simpson. He and his wife Christine separated in 2010 after his affair with Jamie Sale, his partner in Battle of the Blades. The Simpson's have 3 teenage children. He is also the son of Canadian Olympic athlete Marion Simpson.

Simpson's son, Dillon Simpson, was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the 4th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.^[2][3] He is currently a defenseman at the University of North Dakota.^[2][4]

Awards and achievements

• 1987–88 - NHL - Stanley Cup (Edmonton)
• 1989–90 - NHL - Stanley Cup (Edmonton)

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1983–84	Michigan State University	NCAA		46	14	43	57	38		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Michigan State University	NCAA		42	31	53	84	33		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		76	11	17	28	49		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		72	26	25	51	34		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		21	13	13	26	34		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Edmonton Oilers*	NHL		59	43	21	64	43		19	13	6	19	26
1988–89	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		66	35	41	76	80		7	2	0	2	10
1989–90	Edmonton Oilers*	NHL		80	29	32	61	180		22	16	15	31	8
1990–91	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		75	30	27	57	66		18	5	11	16	12
1991–92	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		79	24	37	61	80		1	0	0	0	0
1992–93	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		60	24	22	46	36		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		22	8	8	16	8		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		24	4	7	11	26		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				634	247	250	497	659		67	36	32	68	56

• *-Stanley Cup champion

References

1. ^ Houston, William (March 21, 2008). "Hughson, Simpson will have double the fun". The Globe and Mail: p. S2. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Matheson, J. (June 26, 2011). "Oilers study history to help build future". Edmonton Journal. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Oilers+study+history+help+build+future/5007600/story.html. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
3. ^ "Sons make fathers proud at Entry Draft". Fox News. June 25, 2011. http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/06/25/sons-make-fathers-proud-at-entry-draft/. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
4. ^ Schlossman, B. (June 23, 2011). "NHL DRAFT: UND's Simpson is a wild card". Grand Forks Herald. http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/207639/group/homepage/. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 

External links

• Craig Simpson's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Persondata
Name	Simpson, Craig
Alternative names
Short description	Canadian ice hockey player
Date of birth	1967-02-15
Place of birth	London, Ontario
Date of death
Place of death