John Grahame

John Gillies Mark Grahame (born August 31, 1975) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes. He won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004.

John Grahame
John Grahame during his tenure with the Lake Erie Monsters.
Born (1975-08-31) August 31, 1975
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Boston Bruins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Carolina Hurricanes
Avangard Omsk
National team  United States
NHL Draft 229th overall, 1994
Boston Bruins
Playing career 19972012

Playing career

Grahame played in the USHL for the Sioux City Musketeers before he was drafted in the ninth round, 229th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He then elected to play three years of collegiate hockey with the Lake Superior State Lakers of the CCHA, and would later become the only Lakers goaltender to play more than 50 games in the NHL or win the Stanley Cup.

John turned professional in the 1997–98 season, and was assigned by the Bruins to start for the Providence Bruins. In his second pro year, Grahame returned to the P-Bruins and took the team to the playoffs, leading them to victory in the Calder Cup.

In the 1999–2000 campaign, Grahame started the season back in Providence, but was called up to the Boston Bruins mid-season to back up Byron Dafoe in the Bruins' net, where he played credibly and was second in balloting to the league's all-rookie team. However, a broken ankle in the 2000 offseason took a long time to heal, and Grahame struggled to recapture his form.[1] He played for the next three seasons in Boston before being traded midseason in 2003 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The following season, Grahame returned to standard, having the best season of his career as a backup for the Stanley Cup-winning club. Grahame's presence allowed starter Nikolai Khabibulin to get extended rest when he needed.

He became Tampa Bay's starting goalie in the 2005–06 NHL season, but was criticized publicly by head coach John Tortorella after consecutive poor starts which contributed to the Lightning being eliminated in the first round of the Playoffs.[2]

Grahame signed a two-year, $2.8 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 1, 2006.[3] He was placed on waivers by the Hurricanes on January 4, 2008. The Hurricanes called up Michael Leighton from the team's AHL affiliate, the Albany River Rats, to replace him as the team's backup goaltender after Grahame began the season with a 4–6–1 record. The Hurricanes recalled Grahame on January 21.

During this time, Grahame played a single game for the United States Olympic team in the 2006 Winter Olympics, and also was the starter for the United States National Team in the 2007 World Championships.

In May 2008, after the conclusion of the Hurricanes' season, as a free agent, Grahame signed with Avangard Omsk of the new Kontinental Hockey League.

On December 12, 2009, Grahame signed a professional tryout contract for the 2009–10 season with the Philadelphia Flyers AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms. After playing in 12 games with the Phantoms, Grahame signed a contract with the Colorado Avalanche and was assigned to the injury-hit Lake Erie Monsters on March 3, 2010.[4] He played in 14 games, recording only 4 wins, with the Monsters to finish the season and was re-signed on a one-year contract by the Avalanche on July 2, 2010.[5]

He was brought up to the Avalanche on February 11, 2011, after Craig Anderson went back to Denver for personal reasons. He sat on the bench serving as Peter Budaj's backup for two contests and did not see any playing time. At the end of the 2010–11 season, he retired after the Monsters made it to the playoffs for the first time in their 4-year history.

On March 28, 2012, he briefly came out of retirement and signed a contract with the New York Islanders to serve as a backup for the injury depleted team through the remainder of the 2011–12 season. At the completion of the season he did not manage to feature in a game for the Islanders.[6]

Coaching career

On September 15, 2011, it was announced the Grahame would become the goaltending coach for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL, a team that he had previously played for in his career.[7]

Personal

He is the son of former professional goaltender Ron Grahame, who served as assistant athletic director at the University of Denver. His father was traded for the draft pick used to select John Grahame's future teammate Ray Bourque. His mother, Charlotte was a member of the front office of the Colorado Avalanche that won the Stanley Cup. John & Charlotte are the first mother and son to get their names engraved on the Stanley Cup.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLTOTLMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1994–95 Lake Superior State CCHA 28167316167522.78.887
1995–96 Lake Superior State CCHA 29214216586722.42.904
1996–97 Lake Superior State CCHA 371934219713433.66.876
1997–98 Providence Bruins AHL 5515314305316433.22.898
1998–99 Providence Bruins AHL 483791277113432.90.896 1915412094812.38.912
1999–00 Providence Bruins AHL 271113215288613.38.902 131038393502.50.917
1999–00 Boston Bruins NHL 24710513445522.46.910
2000–01 Providence Bruins AHL 164738934703.16.899 178910434622.65.923
2000–01 Boston Bruins NHL 103404712803.57.867
2001–02 Boston Bruins NHL 1987210795212.89.897
2002–03 Boston Bruins NHL 23119213526112.71.902
2002–03 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 176549143422.23.920 101111201.08.958
2003–04 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 29189116885812.06.913 10034203.53.882
2005–06 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 5729221315216153.06.889 4131881504.79.847
2006–07 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 281013215157202.85.897
2007–08 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 175718485303.75.875
2007–08 Albany River Rats AHL 74304152103.04.912
2008–09 Avangard Omsk KHL 20910111955732.86.896
2009–10 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 1221007173402.84.896
2009–10 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 144738374803.44.883
2010–11 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 341912220098012.39.911 5233031302.58.918
NHL totals 224978614412,363574122.79.898 6143331903.42.883

See also

Awards and honors

Award Year
College
CCHA All-Tournament Team 1996 [8]
AHL
Calder Cup (Providence Bruins) 1999
NHL
Stanley Cup (Tampa Bay Lightning) 2004

References

  1. "John Grahame profile". Legends of Hockey. March 20, 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  2. Tim Wharnsby (April 28, 2006). "Tortorella pulls Grahame after second, blasts own goalie's poor performance". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
  3. "Hurricanes sign John Grahame". Carolina Hurricanes. July 1, 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  4. "Avs sign John Grahame to minor league deal". Denver Post. March 3, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  5. "Avalanche signs Quincey, Winnik and six others". Colorado Avalanche. July 2, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  6. "Grahame agrees to terms for remainder of 2011-12 season". New York Islanders. March 28, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  7. Jordan Berger (September 15, 2011). "NHL Veteran Returns to Coach Musketeers". Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  8. "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
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