Deryk Engelland
Engelland with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018
Born (1982-04-03) April 3, 1982 (age 41)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Pittsburgh Penguins
Calgary Flames
Vegas Golden Knights
NHL Draft 194th overall, 2000
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2003–2020

Deryk Engelland (born April 3, 1982) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman. Engelland played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights over his eleven-season career in the National Hockey League (NHL). Throughout his career, Engelland was best known for his physical play and fighting abilities.

Engelland was selected in the sixth round, 194th pick overall, by the New Jersey Devils at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Penguins in 2009 after six years in the minor leagues.

Playing career

Early career

Engelland played five seasons of junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Moose Jaw Warriors. He appeared in two games in 1998–99 before establishing a place as a regular defenceman for the team in the following four seasons where he peaked at 17 points in 2001–02 and 199 penalty minutes in 2002–03.[1] The New Jersey Devils selected Engelland in the sixth round, 194th overall at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft,[2] but never played with the team. He turned professional in 2003–04 and split that season between the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL and the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL).[3]

Returning to Las Vegas, Engelland played the entire 2004–05 season in the ECHL where he scored 5 goals, added 16 assists and recorded 138 penalty minutes.[1] He then spent the following several seasons shuffling between the ECHL and AHL. 2005–06 was split between the South Carolina Stingrays and Hershey Bears, and the following year between Hershey and the Reading Royals.[1] His play with Hershey in the 2007 Calder Cup playoffs caught the attention of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins who signed him to a contract.[3] Engelland joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the 2007–08 AHL season where he played all 80 regular season games then added 23 more in the playoffs as the team reached the Calder Cup final.[4] He again played all 80 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2008–09.[1] After starting the 2009–10 season with the AHL club, Engelland reached a consecutive games played streak of 171 that was broken following a game played November 6, 2009, when he earned his first recall to Pittsburgh.[4]

Pittsburgh Penguins (2007–2014)

"The good thing about Deryk is, he knows his game really well. He's a simple defenseman with the puck. Makes the first pass. Makes the good, hard plays. He's a tough customer, tough to play against in the defensive zone, but also an intimidating guy with the brand of hockey he can play."

—Penguins coach Dan Bylsma describes Engelland's playing style in 2009[5]

After more than six years in the minor leagues, the 27-year-old Engelland made his NHL debut on November 10, 2009, against the Boston Bruins.[3] He played a total of nine games with Pittsburgh and recorded two assists. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he appeared in 71 games and scored 11 points.[1]

Engelland with the Penguins during warmups in March of 2014

Engelland praised the Penguins for their efforts to develop his skills as a physical defenceman;[3] he played his first full NHL season came in 2010–11. Engelland appeared in 63 games for the Penguins and scored his first NHL goal on November 12, 2010, against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[4][6] During the season, the Penguins signed Engelland to a three-year contract extension through the 2013–14 season and which paid him an average of $566,700 per season.[7]

In his second season, 2011–12, Engelland appeared in 73 games for Pittsburgh and improved to 4 goals and 13 assists.[1] When a labour dispute delayed the start of the 2012–13 NHL season, Engelland opted to sign with Rosenborg IHK in Norway's GET-ligaen.[8] He played 15 games for Rosenborg where he recorded 9 points before returning to Pittsburgh when the NHL resumed operation. In 42 games with the Penguins, Engelland had 6 assists.[1]

In his fourth NHL season, 2013–14, Engelland posted a career high of six goals (and added six assists) in a campaign where the Penguins occasionally played him at forward.[9] Though a regular in the Penguins line-up, Engelland was typically used in limited role.

Calgary Flames (2014–2017)

Engelland opted to leave the Penguins following the season and signed a three-year, $8.7 million contract with the Calgary Flames, where he hoped to earn expanded responsibilities with the rebuilding team.[10] The contract was for $2.9 million per season, a five-fold increase over his previous salary which was criticized as being among the worst value contracts signed during the 2014 free agency period.[11]

Engelland with the Flames in October 2014

However at the start of 2017 Engelland was made alternate captain of the Flames during the absence of Troy Brouwer, who was on injured reserve with a broken finger.[12]

Vegas Golden Knights (2017–2020)

Engelland with the Vegas Golden Knights in February 2018

As an impending free agent following the 2016–17 season, his third season with the Flames, Engelland was left exposed at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. Engelland, a resident of Las Vegas, was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights on June 21, 2017. Engelland immediately signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Golden Knights, marking his return to professional hockey in the city.[13] On January 15, 2018, the Golden Knights signed Engelland to a one-year, $1.5 million extension through the 2018–19 season.[14] On April 23, 2018, Engelland was nominated by the Knights for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy as a player who best exemplifies leadership qualities and gives back to his community.[15] The following day, Engelland was also named a finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership Award,[16] which he won on June 20.[17]

On July 23, 2019, the Golden Knights re-signed Engelland to a one-year, $700,000 contract extension.[18]

As an original member of the Golden Knights for three seasons, Engelland announced his retirement from professional hockey after 11 NHL seasons on December 22, 2020. He remained with the Golden Knights, transitioning to the club's Foundation and serving as the Special Assistant to the Owner.[19]

Personal life

Engelland was born April 3, 1982, in Edmonton, Alberta.[10] His father is a welder by trade, and the family moved frequently in his early life as he lived in the Edmonton-area communities of Leduc and Mayerthorpe before settling in Chetwynd, British Columbia.[20] He met his wife Melissa while playing in the minors in Las Vegas,[20] where the couple continue to live with their sons.[4][21]

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Sicamous Eagles KIJHL 51 6 21 27 90 — — — — —
1998–99 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1999–00 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 55 0 5 5 62 4 0 0 0 0
2000–01 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 65 4 11 15 157 4 0 0 0 10
2001–02 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 56 7 10 17 102 12 0 2 2 27
2002–03 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 65 3 8 11 199 13 1 1 2 20
2003–04 Las Vegas Wranglers ECHL 35 2 11 13 63 2 0 0 0 0
2003–04 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 26 0 0 0 34 — — — — —
2004–05 Las Vegas Wranglers ECHL 72 5 16 21 138 — — — — —
2005–06 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 35 3 13 16 20 — — — — —
2005–06 Hershey Bears AHL 37 0 4 4 77 1 0 0 0 0
2006–07 Hershey Bears AHL 44 4 6 10 95 14 0 0 0 14
2006–07 Reading Royals ECHL 6 0 3 3 8 — — — — —
2007–08 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 80 2 15 17 141 23 1 3 4 14
2008–09 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 80 3 11 14 143 12 0 2 2 6
2009–10 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 71 5 6 11 121 4 0 1 1 7
2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 9 0 2 2 17 — — — — —
2010–11 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 63 3 7 10 123 — — — — —
2011–12 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 73 4 13 17 56 6 0 1 1 14
2012–13 Rosenborg IHK NOR 15 1 8 9 43 — — — — —
2012–13 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 42 0 6 6 54 7 0 0 0 8
2013–14 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 56 6 6 12 58 — — — — —
2014–15 Calgary Flames NHL 76 2 9 11 53 11 0 1 1 50
2015–16 Calgary Flames NHL 69 3 9 12 54 — — — — —
2016–17 Calgary Flames NHL 81 4 12 16 85 4 0 0 0 2
2017–18 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 79 5 18 23 24 20 0 2 2 26
2018–19 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 74 2 10 12 18 7 0 1 1 8
2019–20 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 49 1 5 6 37 — — — — —
NHL totals 671 30 97 127 579 55 0 5 5 108
AHL totals 338 14 42 56 611 54 1 6 7 41

Awards and honours

Award Year
AHL
Calder Cup (Hershey Bears) 2006
NHL
Mark Messier Leadership Award 2018

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Deryk Engelland player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2014-09-24.
  2. ^ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2014-09-24.
  3. ^ a b c d Ashmore, Mike (2011-10-13). "ECHL alumni profile – Deryk Engelland". ECHL. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2014-09-24.
  4. ^ a b c d 2013–14 Pittsburgh Penguins Media Guide. Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Club. 2013. pp. 48–49.
  5. ^ Anderson, Shelly (2009-11-12). "Engelland fills hole on Penguins' defense". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
  6. ^ "Marc-Andre Fleury earns 150th career win as Penguins top Lightning". ESPN. 2010-11-12. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
  7. ^ "Penguins sign defenseman Deryk Engelland to three-year contract extension". Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Club. 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
  8. ^ "Finding roots, game in Norway Skille stepped into foreign land, knows how his ancestors felt". States News Service. 2013-02-26. Archived from the original on 2015-03-28. Retrieved 2014-09-25 – via Highbeam.
  9. ^ Gilbertson, Wes (2014-07-02). "Added punch". Calgary Sun. p. S5.
  10. ^ a b Cruickshank, Scott (2014-07-02). "Flames sign rugged Engelland". Calgary Herald. p. E3.
  11. ^ Whyno, Stephen (2014-07-02). "Thomas Vanek comes cheap, Deryk Engelland a head-scratcher: The best and worst deals of NHL free agency". National Post. Archived from the original on 2014-09-26. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
  12. ^ "Engelland honoured to wear an 'A'". NHL.com. 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  13. ^ "Deryk Engelland going home to Las Vegas". Calgary Sun. 2017-06-21. Archived from the original on 2017-06-22. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  14. ^ "Deryk Engelland Signs One-Year Contract Extension Worth $1.5 Million". NHL.com. January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  15. ^ "NHL announces 31 team nominees for King Clancy Trophy". NHL.com. April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  16. ^ "Messier NHL Leadership Award finalists unveiled". NHL.com. April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  17. ^ "Engelland of Golden Knights wins Messier Award for NHL leadership". NHL.com. June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  18. ^ "Engelland signs one-year contract with Golden Knights". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  19. ^ "VGK Defenseman Deryk Engelland to announce retirement from NHL". Vegas Golden Knights. December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  20. ^ a b Kennedy, Kevin (2011-10-22). "Before I made it: Deryk Engelland". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
  21. ^ Kaplan, Emily (October 11, 2017). "Longtime Las Vegas resident Deryk Engelland delivers goal, and hope, in Golden Knights' home opener". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 12, 2018.

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