Walt Poddubny

Walter Michael Poddubny (February 14, 1960 – March 21, 2009) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and coach who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1981–82 until 1991–92. He played 468 career NHL games, scoring 184 goals and 238 assists for 422 points.

Walt Poddubny
Born (1960-02-14)February 14, 1960
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Died March 21, 2009(2009-03-21) (aged 49)
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for Edmonton Oilers
Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Rangers
Quebec Nordiques
New Jersey Devils
NHL Draft 90th overall, 1980
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 1980–1995

Career

Poddubny was drafted 90th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

He was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs by the New York Rangers for Mike Allison on August 18, 1986, in a trade considered to be Phil Esposito's best during his three years as the team's general manager.[2] Poddubny was the leading scorer in each of his only two Rangers campaigns, with 87 points (40 goals, 47 assists) in 1986–87 and 88 (38 goals, 50 assists) the following season.[3][4] He was the recipient of the New York Rangers Fan Club's Frank Boucher Trophy for the most popular player on and off the ice in both years, and the team's Most Valuable Player Award from the Professional Hockey Writers Association in 1987.[5]

Following a productive season in 1988-89 with the Quebec Nordiques, that saw Poddubny score 38 goals in 72 games played,[6] his playing career began to decline from damaged knees.[7]

After his career in the NHL, Poddubny coached several hockey teams including six seasons as head coach of the Anchorage Aces. Life after the NHL wasn't easy for him, and he once said, "People think if you played in the NHL, you're set for life. It's not like that for everyone."[7]

Poddubny died of a heart attack at the age of 49, collapsing at his sister's house in Thunder Bay.[8][9]

Career statistics

Ice hockey
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1978–79Brandon Wheat KingsWHL2011112212—————
1979–80Kitchener RangersOMJHL19391235—————
1979–80Kingston CanadiansOMJHL433017473630220
1980–81Milwaukee AdmiralsIHL54264—————
1980–81Wichita WindCHL702129502071116726
1981–82Wichita WindCHL6035468179—————
1981–82Edmonton OilersNHL40000—————
1981–82Toronto Maple LeafsNHL113478—————
1982–83Toronto Maple LeafsNHL722831597143140
1983–84Toronto Maple LeafsNHL3811142548—————
1984–85St. Catharines SaintsAHL8571210—————
1984–85Toronto Maple LeafsNHL325152026—————
1985–86St. Catharines SaintsAHL3728275552—————
1985–86Toronto Maple LeafsNHL331222342594154
1986–87New York RangersNHL754047874960008
1987–88New York RangersNHL7738508876—————
1988–89Quebec NordiquesNHL72383775107—————
1989–90Utica DevilsAHL21230—————
1989–90New Jersey DevilsNHL334101428—————
1990–91New Jersey DevilsNHL14461010—————
1991–92New Jersey DevilsNHL71236—————
1992–93EC Bad NauheimDEU II4435417614995152015
1993–94HC FassaITA923519—————
1993–94EC Bad NauheimDEU III37404686115—————
1994–95Worcester IceCatsAHL34761362—————
NHL totals 468 184 238 422 454 19 7 2 9 12

Roller hockey
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1994Las Vegas FlashRHI1921264732
1995Orlando RollergatorsRHI107101712
RHI totals 29 28 36 64 44

Coaching
     
Season Team League Type GP W L T OTL Pct Result
1994–95Orlando RollergatorsRHIHead Coach23716000.304
1995–96Daytona Beach BreakersSHLHead Coach603320700.608Lost in round 1
1996–97Anchorage AcesWCHLHead Coach644118050.68Lost in Finals
1997–98Anchorage AcesWCHLHead Coach643620080.625Lost in round 2
1998–99Anchorage AcesWCHLHead Coach714622030.669Lost in round 2
1999–00Anchorage AcesWCHLHead Coach‡563021050.58
2000–01Anchorage AcesWCHLHead Coach722741040.403
2001–02Anchorage AcesWCHLHead Coach‡40926050.287Lost in round 1

‡ - Midseason Replacement

gollark: Have you SEEN ancient times?
gollark: Also that, yes, you can choose what to do as long as it is indirectly valued enough to get people to give you food and such.
gollark: I am not, however, forced to work all the time, and if I work I get a significant cut of the reward for this, unlike a slave.
gollark: I mean, broadly speaking, I'm at least... strongly incentivized... to do work (when I'm at the societally approved™ age for this).
gollark: This is not how slavery works.

References
  1. 1980 NHL Entry Draft — The Internet Hockey Database.
  2. Kreiser, John & Friedman, Lou. The New York Rangers: Broadway's Longest-Running Hit. Champaign, IL: Sagamore Publishing, 1996.
  3. 1986–87 New York Rangers (NHL) – The Internet Hockey Database.
  4. 1987–88 New York Rangers (NHL) – The Internet Hockey Database.
  5. New York Rangers 2000–2001 Media Guide.
  6. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4324
  7. "A man who lived for the game that left him behind". The Globe and Mail. March 23, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  8. "Former NHL player Walt Poddubny dies". Associated Press. March 21, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
  9. "Former NHLer Poddubny dies suddenly". The Canadian Press. March 21, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
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