Tom Kurvers

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Defense
shoots =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 190
played_for = Montreal Canadiens
Buffalo Sabres
New Jersey Devils
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks
New York Islanders
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
nationality = USA
birth_date = Birth date and age|1962|10|14|mf=y
birth_place = Minneapolis, MN, USA
career_start = 1984
career_end = 1996
draft = 145th overall
draft_year = 1981
draft_team = Montreal Canadiens

Thomas "Tom" Kurvers (born October 14, 1962, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman who spent 11 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1984 and 1995. He was a member of the 1986 Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens. Currently, he serves as an executive for the Phoenix Coyotes. He now took a assistant GM job at Tampa Bay.

Playing career

Kurvers played collegiately at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and was selected 145th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft following his freshman season. His time with the Bulldogs culminated with winning the Hobey Baker Award, given to the most outstanding collegiate hockey player in the NCAA, as a senior in 1983–84 after registering 76 points in just 43 games.

Kurvers made his NHL debut in the 1984–85 season with the Canadiens. He won the Stanley Cup in 1986 with Montreal. After two full seasons with Montreal, and one game in the 1986–87 season, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for a draft pick.

Before the 1987–88 season, the Sabres traded Kurvers to the New Jersey Devils. He would play some of his best hockey for the Devils, posting 15 points in their surprising run to the 1988 Wales Conference Finals, and notching career highs of 16 goals and 66 points in 1988–89 season. He played two full seasons, and one game in the 1989–90 season, with the Devils before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the pick that would turn out to be Scott Niedermayer.

Kurvers would continue to be a journeyman throughout his NHL career, making stops with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim before leaving the league after the 1994–95 season. He then played one season in Japan before retiring. He was always a highly productive player, especially dangerous on the powerplay due to his wicked point shot and playmaking skills.

In his NHL career, Kurvers appeared in 659 games. He scored 93 goals and added 328 assists for 421 points. He also appeared in 57 Stanley Cup playoff games, scoring eight goals and recording 22 assists.

Post-Hockey Career

Following his retirement, Kurvers landed a job doing radio commentary for the Phoenix Coyotes, in part due to his connection to former Montreal teammate Bobby Smith who was GM in Phoenix at the time. Following one season in that capacity, he was hired as a pro scout by the Coyotes. Kurvers was promoted again, to Director of Player Personnel, in 2005.

Kurvers is married and has 3 children.

Awards

* Hobey Baker Award (top player in NCAA): 1983–84 season
* Stanley Cup Championship (Montreal) 1986

External links

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