Rory Fitzpatrick Rory B . Fitzpatrick ( born January 11 , 1975 ) is a former American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League ( NHL ) for the Montreal Canadiens , St . Louis Blues , Nashville Predators , Buffalo Sabres , Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers . Playing career . He spent his junior career in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves , and was selected in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft , 47th overall , by the Montreal Canadiens . After completing his junior eligibility , Fitzpatrick made his professional debut in the AHL , although he eventually joined the Canadiens and played 42 games . Just six games into the following season , however , Fitzpatrick was dealt to St . Louis in the blockbuster Pierre Turgeon trade , where he played a pair of games before being shipped down to the minors . After that demotion , Fitzpatrick would only play one more game in a Blues uniform , spending the bulk of his time in the minor leagues before finally being traded to the Nashville Predators . Fitzpatrick ' s luck did not improve with the Predators , one of the NHL ' s newest expansion teams , and he was sent to Edmonton after only two games . In Edmonton , he spent time as a healthy scratch , but never actually saw NHL icetime . He was , however , a reliable offensive threat with the Hamilton Bulldogs . Following the 2000 – 01 NHL season , Fitzpatrick became an unrestricted free agent . Signing with the Buffalo Sabres as a depth defenseman , Fitzpatrick spent the majority of 2001 – 02 with his hometown team , the Rochester Americans of the AHL , although he did play five games with the Sabres . This gave him an opportunity to be reunited with former junior teammate Jay McKee . In 2002 – 03 , Fitzpatrick again started the year in Rochester . However , he was recalled four times by Buffalo , and the last time , on February 12 , he stayed with the team , and spent the entire 2003 – 04 with them . Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff played him in all situations - evenstrength , on the power play and short - handed . A knee injury prematurely ended Fitzpatrick ' s season . In July 2004 , Fitzpatrick filed for salary arbitration , but was able to reach a deal with the Sabres before the hearing . During the NHL lockout , he spent his time doing odd jobs before signing with Rochester for the final twenty games . He also played with the Original Stars Hockey League before its collapse , and worked at a hockey clinic . After returning with the Sabres for 2005 – 06 , Fitzpatrick then moved on to the Vancouver Canucks the following season and secured a role as a depth defenseman playing in 58 games and appearing in the post season . A free agent , Fitzpatrick then signed a one - year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on October 9 , 2007 , and split the 2007 – 08 season between the Flyers and AHL affiliate , the Philadelphia Phantoms . In 2008 , Rory ' s former AHL club , the Rochester Americans ( also his hometown ) requested that now sole parent club , the Florida Panthers , provide the Amerks with more veteran players to aide prospects , and put together a winning team . The Panthers responded by recruiting fan - favorite Fitzpatrick to a two - year deal , to have him lead the way for Rochester ' s defense . 2007 All - Star Game vote . During the 2006 – 07 NHL season , while playing for the Vancouver Canucks , despite having zero points in 18 games , Fitzpatrick finished third in All - Star Game voting for defensemen in the Western Conference with 550 , 177 votes , falling 23 , 000 votes shy of second place Nicklas Lidström , winner of 4 Norris Trophies and 3 Stanley Cups . The idea was to use the new NHL procedure , where people were encouraged to vote as often as they liked , to have an unlikely candidate chosen . Contributors to this goal sent the idea across the Internet in the hopes of having Fitzpatrick voted in as one of the two starting defensemen for the Western Conference . They also created several videos on Youtube as a way to spread news . A website , www . voteforrory . com , was created as well . Rory peaked in balloting at the number 2 position , before eventually being bumped from participation in the game to third place . The plot was originally conceived as a humorous campaign designed to show the flaws in the NHL voting system . The logic was that if enough people voted for an unlikely player to start the game , the league would change its system . After some time , the plan metamorphosed for many into a more symbolic gesture . For his part , Fitzpatrick — who never actively supported the campaign beyond donning a T - shirt at the request of photographers — stated that he had gotten a kick out of the movement and acknowledged the hard work that his supporters had put into it . Fitzpatrick ' s teammates were also supportive , with several voicing their intention to vote , and wearing customized " Vote for Rory " T - shirts at a team practice . The final voting results on January 13 , 2007 saw Rory finish in third place behind Scott Niedermayer and Nicklas Lidstrom , meaning he did not start in the All - Star game . " Slate " found the final results suspicious due to unlikely numerical coincidences in the final week of voting , and believed that the NHL altered the vote counts .