About Phil Housley

After being drafted sixth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, Housley embarked on a long NHL career that lasted 21 years. Known for his soft hands and outstanding passing ability, Housley tallied at least 60 points in each of his eight seasons with the Sabres. In 1990, a trade sent the backliner to the Winnipeg Jets. He played three seasons with the Jets and amassed 97 points (18 goals, 79 assists) in 80 games in 1992-93. Between 1993 and 1998, Housley spent time with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals. He returned to the Flames for three seasons beginning in 1998, posting 50-plus points in two of those years. The Chicago Blackhawks claimed Housley in the 2001 NHL Waiver Draft, and he notched 15 goals and 24 assists in 2001-02. He spent part of his last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Housley is the top scoring U.S.-born player, with 1,232 points (338-894).

He is considered one of the best American defenceman ever, alongside fellow Americans Chris Chelios and Brian Leetch. However, Housley never won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's Top Defenceman, thanks in large part to playing in the same era and reaching his peak years at the same time as the likes of Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Chelios and Leetch (the four combined to win every Norris Trophy between 1985 and 1997), and that he spent considerable time during his career playing forward.

Housley never won the Stanley Cup, coming closest with the Capitals in 1998, where they were swept in the Stanley Cup Finals by the Detroit Red Wings. He played more NHL games without winning the Stanley Cup than any player in NHL history. Luke Richardson is the active NHL player who has played the most games without winning the coveted trophy: 1,339 at the end of the 2006-07 season.

On January 21, 2000, Housley played in his 1,257th NHL Game, the most ever at the time by an American, breaking the record held by Craig Ludwig. Housley went on to play in 1,495 NHL games. He held the record for games played by an American-born player for nearly seven years, until it was broken, on November 24, 2006, by Chris Chelios.

Housley was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, and is currently eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame. On February 7, 2007, he was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame, commemorated in a pre-game ceremony with former head coach Scotty Bowman on hand.

Housley was born in South St. Paul, Minnesota and currently coaches high school hockey for the Stillwater Ponies of Stillwater, Minnesota. He and his wife Karin have four children - Taylor, Reide, Wilson and Avery.