Brent Ashton

Last updated
Brent Ashton
Born (1960-05-18) May 18, 1960 (age 64)
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Vancouver Canucks
Colorado Rockies
New Jersey Devils
Minnesota North Stars
Quebec Nordiques
Detroit Red Wings
Winnipeg Jets
Boston Bruins
Calgary Flames
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft 26th overall, 1979
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 1979–1994

Brent Kenneth Ashton (born May 18, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent 14 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1979 and 1993. Despite being a fine goalscoring winger, he was known during his career for being the most-traded player in the history of the NHL, a record since tied by Mike Sillinger.

Contents

Playing career

Ashton played his junior hockey for his hometown Saskatoon Blades and following a 119-point season in 1978–79 was selected in the second round (26th overall) of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. He stepped straight into the Canucks' lineup at the age of 19 in 1979–80. Although he tied an NHL rookie record with a 4–assist game against the Atlanta Flames, he was used sparingly and finished the year with 5 goals and 19 points in 47 games. In 1980–81, he improved to 18 goals and 29 points, but at the conclusion of the season was traded to the Colorado Rockies in a three-way deal.

In Colorado, Ashton received more icetime and responded in fine style, leading the Rockies with 36 assists and 64 points in 1981–82. For 1982–83, the franchise moved to New Jersey and became the New Jersey Devils, and Ashton slumped to just 14 goals and 33 points in 76 games.

Ashton was dealt to the Minnesota North Stars for the 1983–84 campaign, but struggled to get icetime on a deep North Star squad, and suffered through the worst season of his career, finishing with just 7 goals and 17 points. After beginning the 1984–85 season with the North Stars getting just 4 goals through 29 games, Ashton was traded to the Quebec Nordiques which rejuvenate his career. In 49 games after the trade to Quebec, Ashton exploded offensively with 27 goals and 51 points, finishing the year with a career-high 31 goals.

Ashton would get off to a blistering start to the 1985–86 campaign, with 25 goals through 46 games, but in what would become the story of his career was traded mid-season to the Detroit Red Wings despite recording 78 goals in just 172 games as a Nordique. Ashton continued to score frequently in Detroit, finishing the season with a career-high 40 goals and 75 points, and added 13 points in 16 playoff games as the Red Wings reached the Campbell Conference finals. In 1987–88, he turned in a respectable 26 goals and 53 points and had another strong playoff performance with 7 goals and 12 points in 16 games as Detroit again reached the conference finals.

For the 1988–89 season, Ashton was on the move again, this time to the Winnipeg Jets. He turned in 31 goals - his fifth straight year with at least 25 goals - and a career-high 37 assists for 68 points, and at the conclusion of the season helped Canada to a silver medal at the 1989 World Championships.

Ashton would have the longest stay of his NHL career in Winnipeg, spending three full seasons with the Jets. He turned in another 20 goal season in 1989–90, but as he moved into his 30s injuries took their toll and his production began to fall off. After a poor start to the 1991–92 season, he was dealt to the Boston Bruins, where he rebounded to finish with 18 goals and 40 points. However, the following year he would struggle with just 2 goals in 26 games for the Bruins and was assigned to the minors for the first time in his 14-year career. He was eventually traded to the Calgary Flames, and finished out the year strongly with 19 points in 32 games as a Flame.

Unable to get an NHL contract for the 1993–94 campaign, Ashton signed with the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League and was playing well until suffering a career-ending knee injury in November. The injury occurred just as he was about to sign with the Los Angeles Kings, who would have been his tenth NHL team.

In 998 career NHL games, Ashton scored 284 goals and added 345 assists for 629 points, along with 635 penalty minutes. He was traded an NHL-record 9 times during his career. His record was later tied by Mike Sillinger. [1]

Personal life

Following his career, Ashton returned to his hometown of Saskatoon where he operates Brent Ashton Sportswear, as well as coaches minor hockey.

His brother, Ron Ashton, was also a professional hockey player, appearing for the Winnipeg Jets during their WHA incarnation.

Ashton is married with two sons, Taylor and Carter, who is also a professional hockey player, playing for Leksands IF in the SHL [2]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1975–76 Saskatoon Olympics SJHL 47405090——————
1975–76 Saskatoon Blades WCHL 1134711181125
1976–77 Saskatoon BladesWCHL5426255184612315
1977–78 Saskatoon BladesWCHL4638266447—————
1978–79 Saskatoon BladesWHL6264551198011144185
1979–80 Vancouver Canucks NHL 47514191141016
1980–81 Vancouver CanucksNHL771811295730000
1981–82 Colorado Rockies NHL8024366026—————
1982–83 New Jersey Devils NHL7614193347—————
1983–84 Minnesota North Stars NHL6871017541212322
1984–85 Minnesota North StarsNHL29471115—————
1984–85 Quebec Nordiques NHL492724513818641013
1985–86 Quebec NordiquesNHL772632586432139
1986–87 Quebec NordiquesNHL4625194417—————
1986–87 Detroit Red Wings NHL35151631221649136
1987–88 Detroit Red WingsNHL732627535016751210
1988–89 Winnipeg Jets NHL7531376836—————
1989–90 Winnipeg JetsNHL792234563773142
1990–91 Winnipeg JetsNHL6112243658—————
1991–92 Winnipeg JetsNHL71014—————
1991–92 Boston Bruins NHL6117223947—————
1992–93 Boston BruinsNHL2622411—————
1992–93 Providence Bruins AHL 11481210—————
1992–93 Calgary Flames NHL32811194160332
1993–94 Las Vegas Thunder IHL 164101429—————
NHL totals9982843456296358524254970

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1989 Canada WC 103362

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References

  1. ↑ Michael Woods; Daniel Girard (February 28, 2012). "Carter Ashton's father knows best when it comes to NHL trades". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 16, 2018. He laughed when asked if he's worried his son might catch the trade record he shares with Mike Sillinger, who retired in 1990 after 17 seasons.
  2. ↑ "Carter Ashton". Elite Prospects.
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