Alex Tanguay

Alex Joseph Jean Tanguay (born November 21, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played for the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and Arizona Coyotes in the National Hockey League (NHL) and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in 2004.

An offensive player, he is best known for his passing and playmaking ability.

Tanguay currently serves as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings.

An alumnus of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Tanguay has his jersey retired.

As a youth, Tanguay played in the 1992 and 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Beauce, Quebec.

Following a season of midget AAA hockey with the Cap-de-Madeleine Estacades, Tanguay joined the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the 1996–97 season.

He played 70 games, scored 27 goals and 68 points and was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team.

The following season, he improved to 47 goals and 85 points in 51 league games.

During his junior career, he was also a member of Canada's under-20 team at the 1998 World Junior Championships.

Selected in the first round, 12th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, he began his NHL career with Colorado in 1999.

He was a member of the eighth place Canadian junior team at the 1998 World Junior Hockey Championship, finishing second in team-scoring with three points in seven games.

In a draft in which they had four first-round selections, the Colorado Avalanche made Tanguay their first pick, 12th overall, at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

He was invited to Colorado's training camp that fall, and impressed the team such that he made the team as an 18-year-old.

Tanguay and the Avalanche, however, were unable to come to terms on a contract and he was instead returned to Halifax for the 1998–99 season.

A few games into his third season with the Mooseheads, he tied a franchise record with five points in one game, an 11–3 victory over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on October 9, 1998, then tied another record with four goals in a 6–1 defeat of the Drummondville Voltigeurs six nights later.

However, he suffered a concussion early in the season which forced him out of the line-up for 28 games.

Though he was limited to 31 contests in 1998–99, he scored 27 goals and 61 points.

Tanguay finished his junior career as the Mooseheads' all-time leader in goals (101), assists (113) and points (214).

Tanguay made his NHL debut on October 5, 1999, against the Nashville Predators and scored his first point that night, recording an assist on a Claude Lemieux goal as part of a 3–2 Colorado win.

He scored at least one point in his first five NHL games, including his first NHL goal on October 8 against Peter Skudra of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In his sophomore season of 2000–01, Tanguay improved to 77 points and finished sixth in the NHL in plus/minus at +35.

He enjoyed an 11-game point streak in November 2000, scoring six goals and 13 assists in that span.

He was a key contributor for the Avalanche in the post-season, recording 21 points.

Tanguay won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001, scoring two goals in Game 7 against the New Jersey Devils.

In game seven of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals, Tanguay scored two goals, including the game-winner, and added an assist in a 3–1 victory against the New Jersey Devils.

His efforts led Colorado to its second Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.

After falling to 48 points over 70 games in, Tanguay rebounded in to score 67 points.

During the season, he had a career best 16-game point streak which set a Colorado team record.

He was named to play in the YoungStars Game as part of 2002 NHL All-Star weekend, but did not play due to injury.

Though he struggled at times adjusting to play in the NHL, he finished the season second in the league amongst rookies with 51 points, 19 behind rookie-leader Scott Gomez.

He also scored his first career NHL hat trick on March 22, 2003, against the Chicago Blackhawks.

He was nearly traded to the Boston Bruins early in the season when both he and the team were struggling.

Individually, he was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy following his rookie season and was chosen to the 2004 All-Star Game during his six-year tenure with Colorado.

In honour of his accomplishments, the team retired his #18 jersey in 2005.

Having replaced his agent following his earlier inability to sign with Colorado, Tanguay agreed to a contract with the Avalanche during the season and was assigned to Colorado's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate after his junior season ended.

He scored one goal and two assists in five regular season games and added two assists in five playoff games.

In July 2006, he was traded to the Flames and spent two years with the club before single-season stints with the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning.

In July 2010, he returned to Calgary, signing as an unrestricted free agent.

After three seasons with Calgary, he returned to Colorado for the 2013–14 season.

In February 2016, Tanguay was traded from the Avalanche to the Arizona Coyotes, retiring at the season's conclusion.