Gary Roberts

Gary Roberts (born May 23, 1966) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the first round pick of the Calgary Flames, 12th overall in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Roberts played the first ten seasons of his NHL career with the Flames, winning the Stanley Cup in 1989. A serious neck injury forced Roberts to miss most of the 1994–95 season as well as the first half of the 1995–96 season. He returned to the Flames late that year, and after scoring 42 points in 35 games, won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey. His neck did not get better, and he was forced to miss the entire 1996–97 season. One year later, Roberts made a comeback with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he played three seasons before finishing his career with stints playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning. Roberts played over 1,200 NHL games in his career, recording 438 goals and 910 points.
== Playing career ==
Roberts played junior hockey for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Ottawa 67's beginning in 1982. In his second year, the 67's won the Memorial Cup. After the season, Roberts was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Roberts won the Memorial Cup a second time as a member of the Guelph Platers in 1986. Roberts split the next season between the Calgary Flames of the NHL and their AHL affiliate, the Moncton Golden Flames. Roberts made his NHL stay permanent beginning with the 1987–88 season. In 1989 he helped the Flames win the Stanley Cup.
=== Injuries and early retirement ===
At the conclusion of the 1995–96 season, Roberts won the NHL's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his comeback. On June 17, 1996, at the age of 30, Roberts announced his retirement from hockey, before returning to hockey after the next season.
=== Return to hockey ===
In his first NHL season away from Calgary, Roberts scored 20 goals and added 29 assists for 49 points in 61 games. He played for Carolina for three seasons before signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In Toronto, Roberts was reunited with his childhood friend and old Calgary teammate, Joe Nieuwendyk. Roberts did not play his first game of the 2002–03 season until February 15, 2003, after missing most of the season following surgeries on both shoulders during the summer of 2002. Three days later, Roberts and the Maple Leafs agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2003–04 season. On January 13, 2004, Roberts and teammate Tom Fitzgerald each played in the 1,000th games of their careers. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he did not play in the 2004–05 NHL season. On August 1, 2005, both Roberts and Nieuwendyk signed $4.5 million contracts with the Florida Panthers.
On February 27, 2007, Roberts was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenceman Noah Welch. Roberts re-signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins for a one-year, $2.5 million (USD) deal.
During the second period of the Penguins game against the Buffalo Sabres on December 29, 2007, Roberts became tangled up with Tim Connolly and landed awkwardly, breaking his left fibula. Roberts refused to be carried off in a stretcher. He had been honored before the game for having scored his 900th career point. Roberts scored two goals against the Ottawa Senators on April 9, 2008, becoming the oldest player in the NHL to register multiple goals in one playoff game.
On June 28, 2008, the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired exclusive negotiation rights with Roberts and Ryan Malone from the Penguins for a third-round draft pick in 2009. Two days later, the Lightning signed Roberts to a one-year contract that pays him a minimum of $1.25 million, with $10,000 extra for every game played in the regular season, a possible bonus of $820,000. Malone had signed a seven-year contract one day earlier.
On February 16, 2009, Gary Roberts became the oldest player in NHL history to be the sole goal scorer in a game (1-0 Lighting over Islanders). This broke the mark set by Scott Stevens who, at age 39, had been the previous oldest sole single goal scorer.
On March 6, 2009 Roberts announced his retirement from the NHL after failing to be claimed on the NHL waiver wire.
==Awards and achievements==
* 1985 – OHL Second All-Star Team
* 1986 – OHL Second All-Star Team
* 1989 – Stanley Cup winner - Calgary Flames
* 1992 – Played in NHL All-Star Game
* 1993 – Played in NHL All-Star Game 
* 1996 – Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
* 2004 – Played in NHL All-Star Game
== 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
1980–81 	Whitby 	OMHA 	 	42 	39 	44 	83 	112 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1981–82 	Whitby 	OMHA 	 	44 	55 	31 	86 	133 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1982–83 	Ottawa 67's 	OHL 	 	53 	12 	8 	20 	83 	  	5 	1 	0 	1 	19
1983–84 	Ottawa 67's 	OHL 	 	48 	27 	30 	57 	144 	  	13 	10 	7 	17 	62
1984–85 	Ottawa 67's 	OHL 	 	59 	44 	62 	106 	186 	  	5 	2 	8 	10 	10
1984–85 	Moncton Golden Flames	AHL 	 	7 	4 	2 	6 	7 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1985–86 	Ottawa 67's 	OHL 	 	24 	26 	25 	51 	83 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1985–86 	Guelph Platers 	OHL 	 	23 	18 	15 	33 	65 	  	20 	18 	13 	31 	43
1986–87 	Moncton Golden Flames	AHL 	 	38 	20 	18 	38 	72 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1986–87 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	32 	5 	10 	15 	85 	  	2 	0 	0 	0 	4
1987–88 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	74 	13 	15 	28 	282 	  	9 	2 	3 	5 	29
1988–89 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	72 	22 	16 	38 	250 	  	22 	5 	7 	12 	57
1989–90 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	78 	39 	33 	72 	222 	  	6 	2 	5 	7 	41
1990–91 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	80 	22 	31 	53 	252 	  	7 	1 	3 	4 	18
1991–92 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	76 	53 	37 	90 	207 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1992–93 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	58 	38 	41 	79 	172 	  	5 	1 	6 	7 	43
1993–94 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	73 	41 	43 	84 	145 	  	7 	2 	6 	8 	24
1994–95 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	8 	2 	2 	4 	43 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1995–96 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	35 	22 	20 	42 	78 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	Did not play (Injury)	 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1997–98 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	61 	20 	29 	49 	103 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1998–99 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	77 	14 	28 	42 	178 	  	6 	1 	1 	2 	8
1999–00 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	69 	23 	30 	53 	62 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2000–01 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	82 	29 	24 	53 	109 	  	11 	2 	9 	11 	0
2001–02 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	69 	21 	27 	48 	63 	  	19 	7 	12 	19 	56
2002–03 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	14 	5 	3 	8 	10 	  	7 	1 	1 	2 	8
2003–04 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	72 	28 	20 	48 	84 	  	13 	4 	4 	8 	10
2004–05 	Did not play 	 	 	See 2004–05 NHL lockout	See 2004–05 NHL lockout	See 2004–05 NHL lockout	See 2004–05 NHL lockout	See 2004–05 NHL lockout	See 2004–05 NHL lockout	See 2004–05 NHL lockout	See 2004–05 NHL lockout	See 2004–05 NHL lockout	See 2004–05 NHL lockout	See 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	58 	14 	26 	40 	51 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2006–07 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	50 	13 	16 	29 	71 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2006–07 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	NHL 	 	19 	7 	6 	13 	26 	  	5 	2 	2 	4 	2
2007–08 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	NHL 	 	38 	3 	12 	15 	40 	  	11 	2 	2 	4 	32
2008–09 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	NHL 	 	30 	4 	3 	7 	27 	  	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	1224 	438 	472 	910 	2560 	  	130 	32 	61 	93 	332
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	
== External links ==
* 
Category:Born in 1966
Category:Bill Masterton Trophy winners
Category:Calgary Flames draft picks
Category:Calgary Flames players
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Carolina Hurricanes players
Category:Florida Panthers players
Category:Guelph Platers alumni
Category:NHL All-Stars
Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks
Category:Ottawa 67's alumni
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Tampa Bay Lightning players
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:Memorial Cup winners
Category:Moncton Golden Flames players
Category:Retired in 2009
Category:NHL Players that have scored a hat trick