# Paul Ysebaert

Paul Robert Ysebaert (born May 15, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. During his fourteen years playing career, he played 11 years in the National Hockey League as a left wing for the New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings, Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Ysebaert accumulated a total of 336 points in 532 games during his career.

## Playing career

Ysebaert was one of the more popular players in Detroit during the early 1990s after arriving in a trade from the New Jersey Devils. Earning the nickname "Rocket Man" from the fans, he enjoyed his best season in 1991–92, with 35 goals and 40 assists. The same year he became the first Red Wing to win the NHL Plus-Minus Award. Ysebaert was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets before the 1993–94 season for former University of Michigan defenceman Aaron Ward. Ysebaert served as the first captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning, from 1995 to 1997. After one season in Europe, Ysebaert retired in 2000, citing injuries.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1982–83 | Petrolia Jets | WOHL | 40 | 23 | 30 | 53 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1982–83 | Newmarket Flyers | OJHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1983–84 | Petrolia Jets | WOHL | 33 | 35 | 42 | 77 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1984–85 | Bowling Green Falcons | CCHA | 42 | 23 | 32 | 55 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1985–86 | Bowling Green Falcons | CCHA | 42 | 23 | 45 | 68 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1986–87 | Bowling Green Falcons | CCHA | 42 | 27 | 58 | 85 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1986–87 | Canada | Intl | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1987–88 | Utica Devils | AHL | 78 | 30 | 49 | 79 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1988–89 | Utica Devils | AHL | 56 | 36 | 44 | 80 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1988–89 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1989–90 | Utica Devils | AHL | 74 | 53 | 52 | 105 | 61 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989–90 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1990–91 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 11 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1990–91 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 51 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991–92 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 79 | 35 | 40 | 75 | 55 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 1992–93 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 80 | 34 | 28 | 62 | 42 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 1993–94 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 60 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1993–94 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 11 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 1994–95 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 15 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1994–95 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 29 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 55 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996–97 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 39 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997–98 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 82 | 13 | 27 | 40 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998–99 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | IHL | 27 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998–99 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–00 | SC Rapperswil–Jona | NLA | 32 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 532 | 149 | 187 | 336 | 217 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 20 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| All-CCHA Second Team | 1985–86 |
| All-CCHA Second Team | 1986–87 |
| CCHA All-Tournament Team | 1987 |
| AHL Les Cunningham Award | 1989–90 |
| AHL John B. Sollenberger Trophy | 1989–90 |
| NHL Plus-Minus Award | 1991–92 |