Russ Courtnall

Russ Courtnall
Born (1965-06-02) June 2, 1965
Duncan, BC, CAN
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs (1983–1988)
Montreal Canadiens (1988–1992)
Minnesota North Stars (1992–1993)
Dallas Stars (1993–1995)
Vancouver Canucks (1995–1997)
New York Rangers (1997)
Los Angeles Kings (1997–1999)
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 7th overall, 1983
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 19831999

Russell William Courtnall (born June 2, 1965) is a former Canadian NHL player. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings. Courtnall was born in Duncan, British Columbia, but grew up in Oak Bay, British Columbia.

Professional career

Courtnall was born in Duncan, British Columbia. Coming out of junior hockey, he was considered one of the top prospects in 1983 and the Toronto Maple Leafs selected him seventh overall in the Entry Draft. In 1982–83, Courtnall scored 36 goals and 61 assists for 97 points in 60 games. After being drafted by the Leafs, Courtnall appeared in just 32 games with the Cougars, scoring 29 goals and 66 points before being called up to the Maple Leafs, who were in dire need of scoring help at the time. As a rookie with Toronto, he scored 12 goals and 22 points in 69 games. Although his goal production was not as high as the Leafs had hoped for, his speed opened up opportunities, especially for his linemates.

In 1984, Courtnall also suited up for the Canadian Olympic team, which finished out of the medals at the Sarajevo Games. Upon returning, he rejoined the Maple Leafs. In 1985–86 (playing alongside fellow Notre Dame Hounds alumni Gary Leeman and rookie Wendel Clark on what was dubbed The Hound Line), Courtnall broke the 20-goal barrier, notching 22 to go along with 38 assists for 60 points. His offensive numbers improved the following year with 29 goals and 73 points.

In trying to force Courtnall to play a tougher brand of hockey, the club saw his offensive production decrease in 1987–88. After just nine games into the 1988–89 season, the Maple Leafs dealt Courtnall to the Montreal Canadiens for enforcer John Kordic. Although Courtnall's stock had clearly gone down in the eyes of Maple Leafs' management, most observers felt Montreal got a steal in that trade.

In 64 games, Courtnall put up 39 points with the Habs, but his fast skating and stickhandling abilities made him a fan favourite. Courtnall saved his best performance for the playoffs, where the Canadiens advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup finals before losing to the Calgary Flames. In 21 post-season games, Courtnall contributed eight goals and 13 points.

Courtnall enjoyed another two-and-a-half years in Montreal before joining the Minnesota North Stars for the 1992–93 season. In 84 games, he managed a career-high 36 goals and 43 assists for 79 points. He followed that up with an 80-point season in the team's first year of play in Dallas. Late in the 1994–95 season, Courtnall was traded to the Vancouver Canucks where he teamed with his brother, Geoff Courtnall, for 13 games that year.

In 1997–98, Courtnall signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings, where he played until his retirement following the 1998–99 season. He finished with 297 goals, 447 assists and 744 points in a 15-year NHL career.

Courtnall was a participant in both the second and third seasons of Battle of the Blades, the latter as a last-minute replacement for the late Wade Belak, but was eliminated early in the competition on both occasions.

Transactions

Career statistics

 Season   Team   League  Regular season Playoffs
  GP     G     A    Pts   PIM    GP     G     A    Pts   PIM 
1982–83Victoria CougarsWHL603661973312117186
1983–84Victoria CougarsWHL3229276663
1983–84Toronto Maple LeafsNHL1439126
1984–85Toronto Maple LeafsNHL6912102244
1985–86Toronto Maple LeafsNHL7322386052103698
1986–87Toronto Maple LeafsNHL79294473901334711
1987–88Toronto Maple LeafsNHL652326494762130
1988–89Toronto Maple LeafsNHL91124
1988–89Montreal CanadiensNHL642217391521851318
1989–90Montreal CanadiensNHL80273259271151610
1990–91Montreal CanadiensNHL79265076291383117
1991–92Montreal CanadiensNHL27714216101124
1992–93Minnesota North StarsNHL8436437949
1993–94Dallas StarsNHL842357805991890
1994–95Dallas StarsNHL327101713
1994–95Vancouver CanucksNHL1341418411481221
1995–96Vancouver CanucksNHL812639654061342
1996–97Vancouver CanucksNHL479192824
1996–97New York RangersNHL142572153470
1997–98Los Angeles KingsNHL58126182740002
1998–99Los Angeles KingsNHL576131919
NHL totals 1029 297 447 744 557 129 39 44 83 83

See also

Preceded by
Gary Nylund
Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick
1983
Succeeded by
Al Iafrate


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