Brent Ashton | |||
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Born |
Saskatoon, SK, CAN |
May 18, 1960 ||
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 |
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National team | Canada | ||
NHL Draft | 26th overall, 1979 Vancouver Canucks |
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Playing career | 1979–1994 |
Brent Kenneth Ashton (born May 18, 1960) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who spent fourteen 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.
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 1982–83 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. He was again struggling to start the 1983–84 season with just 4 goals through 29 games, but a trade to the Quebec Nordiques would 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. He would turn in another solid season in 1984–85, finishing with 26 goals and 58 points.