Rick Zombo Richard Zombo ( born May 8 , 1963 in Des Plaines , Illinois , United States ) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the NHL for 12 seasons between 1984 and 1996 . Playing career . Junior / NCAA Hockey . Zombo played with the Austin Mavericks of the USHL as a 17 year old during the 1980 - 81 season , earning 36 points in 43 games . In the 1981 NHL Entry Draft , the Detroit Red Wings drafted Zombo in the 8th round , 149th overall . Despite being drafted , Zombo decided to attend the University of North Dakota and play hockey with their team , the North Dakota Fighting Sioux . In his freshman season with North Dakota , Zombo appeared in 45 games , registering 16 points , as he helped the team win the 1982 NCAA National Championship as the Fighting Sioux defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 5 - 2 in the championship game . In 1982 - 83 , Zombo would once again earn 16 points , and he would earn a spot on the US National Team in the World Junior Hockey Championships , where he went pointless in seven games . Zombo saw his offensive numbers explode in the 1983 - 84 season with North Dakota , as he recorded 31 points in 34 games in what would be his last season with the Fighting Sioux . Professional career . Detroit Red Wings . Zombo would spend the 1984 - 85 season with the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL , playing in 56 games , as he had three goals and 35 points . Zombo also appeared in his first NHL game during the season , going pointless with the Detroit Red Wings . He spent most of the 1985 - 86 season with Adirondack , improving his numbers to seven goals and 41 points in 69 games , while appearing in 14 games with Detroit , recording an assist . Zombo spent the 1986 playoffs with Adirondack , earning four points in 17 games as the Red Wings won the Calder Cup . Zombo would begin the 1986 - 87 season in Adirondack once again , earning six points in 25 games , before being called up to Detroit for the rest of the season . Zombo would earn five points in 44 games with Detroit , while adding an assist in seven playoff games . The 1987 - 88 season would be Zombo ' s first full season in the NHL , where he had 17 points in 62 games , along with an impressive + 24 rating , helping Detroit win the Norris Division . In the playoffs , Zombo had six assists in 16 games , as the Red Wings lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the Campbell Conference finals . Zombo improved in the 1988 - 89 season , earning 21 points in 75 games , as well as a + 22 rating , as Detroit once again won the Norris Division championship . The Red Wings struggled in the playoffs , and were upset by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round , where Zombo had an assist in six games . Zombo had the best season of his career in 1989 - 90 , as he scored a career high five goals and 25 points in 77 games , however , the Red Wings would not qualify for the post - season , as they finished in last place in the Norris Division . The 1990 - 91 season saw Zombo ' s numbers slip a little bit , as he fell to four goals and 23 points in 77 games with Detroit , but the club would return to the playoffs . The Red Wings would push the heavily favored St . Louis Blues to seven games before being eliminated in the first round . Zombo had a goal in seven post - season games . Zombo began the 1991 - 92 with Detroit , going pointless in three games , before being traded to the St . Louis Blues on October 18 , 1991 , for goaltender Vincent Riendeau . St . Louis Blues . Zombo would play in 64 games with the St . Louis Blues in the 1991 - 92 season , earning 18 points , helping the team make the playoffs . In the first round , the Blues were eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks , as Zombo had two assists in six games . His offensive numbers continued to slump during the 1992 - 93 season , as Zombo had no goals and 15 assists in 71 games with the Blues . Zombo added a point in 11 playoff games , as well as a poor rating of - 9 as the St . Louis lost in the second round . Zombo continued to struggle in the 1993 - 94 season , earning 10 points in 74 games with a - 15 rating during the regular season . In the playoffs , the Blues were swept by the Dallas Stars in the first round , as Zombo had no points in four games . In the lockout shortened season in 1994 - 95 , Zombo appeared in only 23 games , earning five points with the Blues , before going pointless in three playoff games . On October 2 , 1995 , the Blues would trade Zombo to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Fred Knipscheer . Boston Bruins . Zombo would spend the 1995 - 96 season with the Boston Bruins , where he had 14 points in 67 games , as Boston failed to qualify for the playoffs , and after the season the Bruins let him become a free agent . Los Angeles Kings . On December 13 , 1996 , the Los Angeles Kings signed Zombo to a contract , and sent him to play with the Phoenix Roadrunners of the IHL . In 23 games with the Roadrunners , Zombo had six points . After the season , Zombo announced his retirement from the game .