Steve Thomas

Stephen Anthony "Stumpy" Thomas (born 15 July, 1963 in Stockport, England) is a retired British-born Canadian right winger who played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Detroit Red Wings.
==Personal==
==Trades & Signings==
Traded to Chicago by Toronto with Rick Vaive and Bob McGill for Al Secord and Ed Olczyk, September 3, 1987. Traded to NY Islanders by Chicago with Adam Creighton for Brent Sutter and Brad Lauer, October 25, 1991. Traded to New Jersey by NY Islanders for Claude Lemieux, October 3, 1995. Signed as a free agent by Toronto, July 30, 1998. Signed as a free agent by Chicago. Traded to Anaheim by Chicago for Anaheim's 5th round choice (Alexei Ivanov) in 2003 Entry Draft, March 11, 2003. Signed as a free agent by Detroit, November 5, 2003.
 
==Playing career==
Thomas went undrafted after his junior career but signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He began his NHL career in the 1984–85 season. Thomas was born in Stockport, England but was raised in Markham, Ontario, Canada. He played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboros of the OHL (he was the last original Toronto Marlboro to make it to the Maple Leafs of the NHL). Prior to playing in the NHL Thomas won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award in 1985 as the top rookie in the American Hockey League, while playing for the St. Catharines Saints. 
He developed into a bona-fide NHL goal scorer with Toronto, scoring 35 goals in the 1986–87 season. He was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks that summer and played for Chicago until 1991–92 and was then traded to the New York Islanders.
It would be with the Islanders that Thomas would have his best years. In the 1992–93 season, Thomas scored 37 goals and 50 assists for a career-high of 87 points. During the playoffs, when Islanders superstar Pierre Turgeon was injured by a Dale Hunter check in the first round, Thomas and teammate Ray Ferraro emerged as the unlikely heroes of the Islander's playoff run. Both made the top ten in postseason scoring as the Islanders made a run to the Prince of Wales Conference finals. The next year he set a career-high in goals with 42. 
Thomas had second stints with the Leafs (1998–2001) and Chicago (2001–2002) before moving to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. His career looked to be over with Chicago, however the trade to the Ducks instantly rejuvenated his career. After scoring just 4 goals with the Blackhawks, Thomas had 10 goals in the final 12 games of the season with the Ducks and added 4 more goals in the postseason as his team made it to their first Stanley Cup Finals. The Ducks had wanted to keep Thomas for 2003-2004 as well, but they ran out of money, and Thomas's absence negatively affected his former linemates.
Despite being considered a great playoff player, Thomas was never able to capture a Stanley Cup in his career. He came close in 2002–03 when his Mighty Ducks of Anaheim made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, the first of his and the team's, but they lost to the New Jersey Devils in a hard fought 7 games. Thomas also holds the record for overtime-winning goals with ten when he scored against the Buffalo Sabres, previously having shared it with Mario Lemieux's nine.
Thomas signed a one-year contract (2003–2004) with the Detroit Red Wings before the 2004–05 NHL lockout and proved effective playing on a line with youngster Pavel Datsyuk and Brett Hull. At one stretch in the seaon, Thomas had 10 points in 13 games, and he enjoyed more ice time than he initially expected due to injuries among the Wings' roster. The Wings finished first in the league but lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Calgary Flames.
After the 2004–05 NHL lockout he was invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs tryout in 2005, but he was cut before the regular season started.
He is currently the Assistant/Mentor Coach for the St. Michael's Buzzers, a Jr. A team in Toronto.
==Personal Life==
He has two children, a daughter Lauren Thomas and a son Christian Thomas, who is under contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League.
==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
1981–82 	Toronto Marlboros 	OHL 		1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1982–83 	Toronto Marlboros 	OHL 		61 	18 	20 	38 	42 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1983–84 	Toronto Marlboros 	OHL 		70 	51 	54 	105 	77 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1984–85 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 		18 	1 	1 	2 	2 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1984–85 	St. Catharines Saints 	AHL 		64 	42 	48 	90 	56 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1985–86 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 		65 	20 	37 	57 	36 	 	10 	6 	8 	14 	9
1985–86 	St. Catharines Saints 	AHL 		19 	18 	14 	32 	35 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1986–87 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 		78 	35 	27 	62 	114 	 	13 	2 	3 	5 	13
1987–88 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 		30 	13 	13 	26 	40 	 	3 	1 	2 	3 	6
1988–89 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 		45 	21 	19 	40 	69 	 	12 	3 	5 	8 	10
1989–90 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 		76 	40 	30 	70 	91 	 	20 	7 	6 	13 	33
1990–91 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 		69 	19 	35 	54 	129 	 	6 	1 	2 	3 	15
1991–92 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 		11 	2 	6 	8 	26 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1991–92 	New York Islanders 	NHL 		71 	28 	42 	70 	71 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1992–93 	New York Islanders 	NHL 		79 	37 	50 	87 	111 	 	18 	9 	8 	17 	37
1993–94 	New York Islanders 	NHL 		78 	42 	33 	75 	139 	 	4 	1 	0 	1 	8
1994–95 	New York Islanders 	NHL 		47 	11 	15 	26 	60 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1995–96 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 		81 	26 	35 	61 	98 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1996–97 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 		57 	15 	19 	34 	46 	 	10 	1 	1 	2 	18
1997–98 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 		55 	14 	10 	24 	32 	 	6 	0 	3 	3 	2
1998–99 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 		78 	28 	45 	73 	33 	 	17 	6 	3 	9 	12
1999–00 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 		81 	26 	37 	63 	68 	 	12 	6 	3 	9 	10
2000–01 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 		57 	8 	26 	34 	46 	 	11 	6 	3 	9 	4
2001–02 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 		34 	11 	4 	15 	17 	 	5 	1 	1 	2 	0
2002–03 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 		69 	4 	13 	17 	51 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
2002–03 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL 		12 	10 	3 	13 	2 	 	21 	4 	4 	8 	8
2003–04 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 		44 	10 	12 	22 	25 	 	6 	0 	1 	1 	2
NHL Totals	NHL Totals 	NHL Totals		1235 	421 	512 	933 	1306 	 	174 	54 	53 	107 	187
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year 	Team 	Event 	 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
1991 	Canada 	WC 	 	10	5 	3 	8 	12
1992 	Canada 	WC 	 	5 	2 	2 	4 	4
1994 	Canada 	WC 	 	6 	1 	5 	6 	0
1996 	Canada 	WC 	 	8 	2 	3 	5 	29
Senior totals	Senior totals	Senior totals	 	29	10	13	23 	45
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==References==
* 2005 NHL Official Guide & Record Book ISBN 0-920445-91-8
* # 32 Steve Thomas RW
==External links==
*
Category:Born in 1963
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Mighty Ducks of Anaheim players
Category:New York Islanders players
Category:New Jersey Devils players
Category:St. Catharines Saints players
Category:Toronto Marlboros alumni
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:Retired in 2004
Category:Undrafted
Category:NHL Players that have scored a hat trick