Jonathan Cheechoo Jonathan Earl Cheechoo ( Cree : ; born July 15 , 1980 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League . During the 2005 – 06 National Hockey League season , he led the NHL with 56 goals and won the Maurice " Rocket " Richard Trophy . He was the first San Jose Sharks player and the only First Nations person to win the " Rocket " Richard Trophy , awarded to the NHL player with the most goals in a season . After the 2005 - 06 season , his production numbers began to fall , and he has since struggled to earn spots on NHL teams . Playing career . Drafted by the Belleville Bulls of the OHL in the 1997 OHL priority selection , Cheechoo had a reasonably strong rookie year in 1997 – 1998 with 76 points ( 31 goals + 45 assists ) in 64 games , good for third place on his team . In the 1998 NHL Entry Draft , San Jose sent the 2nd overall pick ( David Legwand ) to Nashville for the third overall pick ( Brad Stuart ) and the 29th overall pick , which they used to draft Cheechoo . Most had predicted that Cheechoo would be a later - round pick , and San Jose was criticized for picking a lackluster forward who " skated slower forwards than most players skated backwards " instead of the highly - touted Legwand . Cheechoo joined the Bulls for the 1998 – 1999 season and finished with 82 points ( 35 + 47 ) in 63 games . Taking off in the playoffs , Cheechoo scored 30 points ( 15 + 15 ) in 21 games . Five of those goals were scored during Game 7 of the OHL Final against the London Knights , a game the Bulls would win 9 – 2 to secure their first OHL Championship . Although he was now eligible for AHL assignment , San Jose chose to leave him unsigned . San Jose was patient with Cheechoo , knowing he still had room to improve in the OHL . In the following season , Cheechoo had his best year , tallying a team - high 91 points ( 45 + 46 ) in 66 games . Cheechoo added 17 points ( 5 + 12 ) in sixteen games during the playoffs . His high goal total hinted at his sniping capabilities , and his statistical improvement mirrored his development . Notably , Cheechoo never played a full season while in juniors because of minor injuries he gained from his crash - and - bang style of play . For development , Cheechoo joined San Jose ' s AHL affiliate , the Kentucky Thoroughblades , in the 2000 – 2001 season before deciding to give the NHL another go and obtained hockey agent Thayne Campbell . San Jose Sharks . Cheechoo had a strong rookie season with Kentucky in the AHL scoring 66 points in 75 games . After going scoreless in the playoffs ( in which he was a healthy scratch for two games ) , Cheechoo rebounded with 46 points ( 21 + 25 ) in 53 games ( he missed games due to a leg injury ) . In 2002 – 03 , after scoring seven points ( 3 + 4 ) in nine games with the Cleveland Barons ( the relocated Kentucky Thoroughblades franchise ) , Cheechoo was recalled to San Jose to help revitalize the struggling team . Playing mostly on the third and fourth lines , Cheechoo had a modest 16 points ( 9 goals and 7 assists ) in 66 games . During the 2003 offseason , Cheechoo put himself on a power - skating regime and reduced his body fat to single digits , doing everything from weight work to sprinting exercises to increase his skating strength . His hard work paid off , as Cheechoo had 47 points in 81 games in 2003 – 2004 . Playing alongside Mike Ricci and Scott Thornton , Cheechoo had two mentors who taught Cheechoo how to be defensively responsible . Also , Cheechoo became one of San Jose ' s best grinders ; his new upper - body strength allowed him to win many battles along the boards . In the 2004 playoffs , Cheechoo had 10 points in 17 games . San Jose was eliminated by Calgary . During the NHL lockout , Cheechoo played with HV71 of the Swedish Elitserien and had 5 goals in 20 games . In the 2005 – 06 season , Cheechoo offensive statistics took off , netting a franchise record 56 goals and 93 points . Much of Cheechoo ' s success was augmented by the Sharks acquisition of superstar Joe Thornton in late November . Before the trade , Cheechoo had 15 points ( 7 goals , 8 assists ) in 24 games . In the 57 games after the trade , Cheechoo had 78 points ( 49 goals , 29 assists ) . Thornton knew how to get the puck to Cheechoo - who had the skill to score the goals . In the 2006 – 07 season , Cheechoo got off to a slow start as he , Joe Thornton , and newly acquired power forward Mark Bell , failed to click . However , after a struggling Bell was demoted to the press box in favor of young speedster Milan Michalek , Cheechoo picked it up somewhat , finishing the season with an impressive 37 goals and 69 points in 76 games . In the playoffs , it was revealed that Cheechoo played with a broken thumb . In 2006 , Cheechoo signed a 5 - year contract extension worth US $ 15 million . The deal will pay him US $ 2 . 5 million the first two years , US $ 3 million the third year , and US $ 3 . 5 million the last two years . Cheechoo ' s production dropped to 23 goals the following season , which then fell to just 12 goals in the 2008 - 09 NHL Season . Ottawa Senators . On September 12 , 2009 , he was traded by the Sharks , along with Milan Michalek and a second round pick , to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Dany Heatley and a fifth round pick . On February 12 , 2010 , Cheechoo was placed on waivers by the Senators after they acquired Matt Cullen from the Carolina Hurricanes . On February 13 , 2010 , he cleared waivers and was re - assigned to the Binghamton Senators , Ottawa ' s AHL affiliate . He was recalled in the post season and he played one game against the Penguins . On June 28 , 2010 , he was again placed on waivers by the Senators . Cheechoo , who was heading into the final year of a five - year contract signed with San Jose in 2006 , was reportedly owed $ 3 . 5 million for the 2010 – 11 NHL season . On June 29 , 2010 the Senators bought out the final year of his contract making him a free agent . Dallas Stars . Following his buy out , Cheechoo was invited to the Dallas Stars training camp on September 4 , 2010 . He was released from the tryout 22 days later , on September 26 , following his appearance in two pre - season games where he failed to register a point and posted a - 2 rating . Stars head coach Marc Crawford stated that Cheechoo played well and that the Stars could have very easily kept the former 50 goal scorer . However , Dallas felt that Cheechoo needed to out perform their current players and therefore released him so that he would have the opportunity to join another team . Return to the Sharks organization . On October 5 , 2010 , Cheechoo returned to the Sharks organization , signing a professional try - out contract with AHL affiliate , the Worcester Sharks , to re - unite with his first pro coach Roy Sommer who previously coached him with the Kentucky Thoroughblades . St . Louis Blues . On July 12 2011 , Cheechoo signed with the St . Louis Blues to a 1 year 2 way contract