Canadian professional hockey player Kris Draper currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League.
Draper began his career joining the Canadian National Team in 1988. He was then drafted 62nd overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1989 NHL draft. After making his NHL debut with the Jets during the 1990-91 season, he split the next few seasons between the Jets and their AHL and OHL affiliates. On June 30, 1993, Draper was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, for one dollar.
He joined the Wings in the 1993-94 regular season, playing 39 games. He earned a full roster spot in 1994, and assisted the Wings to back to back Stanley Cup Championships in 1997 and 1998. He was also a big part of the March 26, 1997 Brawl in Hockeytown. Draper was checked from behind into the boards by Claude Lemieux in the 1996 playoffs. The incident required Draper to have re-constructive surgery on his jaw. Fellow Red Wings got revenge on Lemieux during the 1997 brawl, which turned into a giant on-ice fight involving numerous Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche players.
Draper went on to win his third Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2002. He also earned the Selke Trophy in 2004 as the best defensive forward in the league. Following the retirement of longtime Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman, Draper was named alternate captain in 2006.
The Red Wings continued their decade of dominance in 2008 when Draper and the rest of the squad defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals. It was Draper's fourth Stanley Cup ring and the fourth championship for the team in 11 seasons.
Kris Draper 2009-10 Season
Kris Draper joined the Red Wings for 81 of 82 regular season games in the 2009-10 campaign. He contributed seven goals and 15 assists, plus a career-low of only 28 penalty minutes. Draper was key in the team's rise from a mid-season slump to finish the year on a good note. Detroit rose from out of playoff contention to place fifth in the Western Conference and qualify for the 2010 NHL Playoffs.http://redwings.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8446485
Kris Draper's Day With The Stanley Cup
This video follows Kris Draper as he brought the Stanley Cup home for the fourth time in 2008. After spending some time with his family, Draper took the cup to a children's hospital to spend time with sick kids. Draper went on to parade the cup around town, before settling back at his home to enjoy a generous ice cream sundae with the family.
References
Fast Facts
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Born
May 24, 1971
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Birthplace
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Position
Center
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Shoots
Left
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Fact:
Three time Stanley Cup Champion with the Detroit Red Wings
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Fact:
Co-owner of the Flint Generals, a Detroit Red Wings minor league affiliate
