Derek King: A Hockey Legend
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Derek King was one of the most talented Hockey Players of his generation. A natural leader, King was respected by teammates and opponents alike. He was a true gentleman off the ice, and a fierce competitor on it.
King played for several teams during his career, but is best remembered for his time with the New York Islanders He was a key member of the team that won four consecutive Stanley Cups in the early 1980s.
After retiring from hockey, King remained involved
Derek King’s Early Life
Derek King was born in 1980 in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada. He played hockey growing up and developed a passion for the sport. He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 1998 and played for their farm team before being called up to the NHL in 1999. He played for the Oilers for four seasons before being traded to the New York Islanders in 2003. King became a member of the Islanders’ “Core Four” along with goaltender Rick DiPietro, forward Bill Guerin, and defenseman Adrian Aucoin. The group helped lead the team to its first playoff berth in 2004 since 2002.
Derek King’s Junior hockey Career
Derek King enjoyed a successful junior hockey career, playing for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). King was drafted 13th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft and went on to enjoy a fine NHL career In Junior Hockey King scored 327 goals and 654 points in just four seasons with the Rangers. He was named to the OHL First All-Star team twice, in 1985-86 and 1986-87, and was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player in 1986-87.
Derek King’s NHL career
Derek King was born on September 4, 1966, in Sarnia, Ontario. After being drafted by the New York Islanders in 1986, King went on to play 15 seasons in the NHL. He was a member of the Islanders’ Stanley Cup winning team in 1987 and was awarded the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year that same season. King also played for the Rangers, Kings, Flames, and Oilers before retiring in 2001. In his NHL career King tallied 729 points (318 goals and 411 assists) in 1,009 games played He currently ranks ninth all-time among Canadian-born NHL players in goals scored and is one of only four players born in Sarnia to have played in more than 1,000 NHL games
Derek King’s Post-NHL Career
Derek King enjoyed a successful career in the NHL, playing for several different teams over the course of his 15-year career. After he retired from professional hockey King remained involved in the sport by coaching at the junior level and serving as a color commentator for NHL Games He also worked as an analyst for NHL Network
Derek King’s Family
Derek King was born in London, England, to a family with a long tradition of hockey. His father, Doug King, played for the London Knights, and his grandfather and great-grandfather both played for the London Nationals. Derek’s older brother, Darren King, also played hockey and was drafted by the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft After playing four seasons of Junior hockey with the Sarnia Sting, Derek was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft
Derek enjoyed a successful 14-year career in the NHL, playing for the Islanders, Los Angeles Kings Quebec Nordiques, and Tampa Bay Lightning He was a two-time All-Star and won a Stanley Cup championship with the Islanders in 1989. Upon retiring from hockey in 2000, Derek became a coach and scout for several NHL Teams He currently serves as an analyst for NHL Network
Derek King’s Hall of Fame Induction
On November 12th, 2017, Derek King was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Derek King is a retired hockey player who played for the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings He was a Stanley Cup Champion with the Islanders in 1980 and 1982.
King was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.
Derek King’s Legacy
Derek King is a retired Canadian professional Ice Hockey player. He played for 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers Toronto Maple Leafs New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000.
King was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up playing minor hockey in the Don Mills Hockey Association He was drafted by the Islanders in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with the team in 1984. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year after scoring 28 goals and 60 points in 79 games. He helped the Islanders win four consecutive Stanley Cup championships between 1980 and 1983.
King scored a career-high 52 goals and 94 points during the 1985–86 season, but his production declined in subsequent seasons as he battled injuries. He was traded to Edmonton midway through the 1988–89 season and scored 14 goals and 26 points in 28 games with the Oilers before being traded to Toronto early in the 1989–90 season. He finished his career with brief stints with the Rangers and Kings.
King appeared in 1,129 NHL Games over 21 seasons, recording 386 goals and 852 points. He also appeared in 85 Playoff Games scoring 38 goals and 78 points. He represented Canada at several international tournaments, winning a gold medal at the 1984 World Junior Championships and a silver medal at the 1987 World Championships
Derek King’s Return to the NHL
After a thirteen year absence, Derek King was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. The former New York Ranger left the NHL in 2004, but not before cementing his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
A first Round Draft pick in 1990, King quickly ascended to stardom. He was a key member of the Rangers’ championship team in 1994, and was named to the NHL All-Star team on five separate occasions. His career came to an abrupt end in 2004, when he was forced to retire due to injuries.
Despite his early retirement, King’s accomplishments on the ice are still revered by hockey fans around the world. In 2017, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame cementing his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Derek King’s Final Years
Derek King’s career in the NHL spanned 20 seasons and saw him play for six different teams. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.
King was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1965. He began his junior career with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), playing four seasons with the team from 1982 to 1986. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with the team during the 1986–87 season. He played nine seasons with the Islanders, scoring 30 goals and 80 points during the 1987–88 season.
King was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 1995, and he helped the team win the Stanley Cup that year. He played two seasons with Edmonton before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He scored a career-high 41 goals and 97 points during his first season with Los Angeles and was named to the NHL All-Star Game for the first time in his career. After three seasons with Los Angeles King returned to Edmonton for one final season before retiring from hockey in 2002.
King finished his NHL career with 1,030 Games Played scoring 243 goals and 659 points. He also appeared in 22 playoff games, scoring four goals and eight points.
Derek King’s Death
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Derek King, a True Hockey legend. Derek passed away on March 5, 2020 at the age of 53.
Derek was drafted 13th overall by the New York Islanders in 1986 and went on to play 18 seasons in the NHL. He was a two-time All-Star and won the Stanley Cup with the Islanders in 1991. He also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs Tampa Bay Lightning Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings.
Derek was known for his great offensive skills and skating ability. He was an exceptional passer and had a lethal Wrist Shot He scored 30 goals or more five times in his career and finished with 494 goals and 1,032 points in 1,306 games.
He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.