Martin Gelinas

Martin Gélinas (born June 5, 1970) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played 1,273 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators.

Gélinas played two seasons of junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the Hull Olympiques between 1987 and 1989.

He scored 101 goals and 107 assists in 106 games.

In his first year, 1987–88, Gélinas finished 10th in QMJHL scoring with 131 points.

He won the Michel Bergeron Trophy as offensive rookie of the year and was named Canadian Hockey League rookie of the year in addition to being named a QMJHL first-team all-star.

Gélinas added 32 points in 17 playoff games as the Olympiques defeated the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the final to win the President's Cup.

A first round selection of the Los Angeles Kings at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, Gélinas was sent to the Oilers as part of the 1988 Wayne Gretzky trade before ever playing a game for the Kings.

Gélinas reached the Stanley Cup Finals with four teams.

At the 1988 Memorial Cup, Gélinas won the George Parsons Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player of the tournament.

The National Hockey League (NHL) Central Scouting Bureau ranked Gélinas as the eighth best prospect at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.

He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings with the seventh overall pick.

Gélinas never played for the Kings as on August 9, 1988, he was included in one of the most significant trades in NHL history.

The Edmonton Oilers sent Wayne Gretzky, Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley to the Kings in exchange for Gelinas, Jimmy Carson, three first round draft picks and $15 million in cash.

As one of the key players coming to Edmonton in what he later called "the biggest trade in sports history", Gélinas endured the scrutiny of the Canadian media and pressure created by angry and disappointed fans after the Oilers dealt away a player in Gretzky who was considered a national icon.

Gélinas began the 1988–89 season with the Oilers and made his NHL debut and scored his first point, on an assist, on October 7, 1988, against the New York Islanders.

He scored his first goal ten days later against Jon Casey of the Minnesota North Stars but he was returned to Hull after six games to complete his second season of junior hockey.

The Quebec Nordiques, who had been criticized by local fans and media for failing to select Gélinas at the 1988 draft, attempted to acquire him in exchange for Bryan Fogarty.

Making his international debut, Gélinas played with the Canadian national junior team at the 1989 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

He recorded two assists in seven games for the fourth place Canadians.

Joining the Oilers full-time in 1989–90, Gélinas recorded 25 points in 46 games.

At the age of 19, he was a member of Edmonton's "Kid Line" playing alongside 22-year-olds Joe Murphy and Adam Graves.

He was a member of Edmonton's 1990 championship team and also reached the Finals in 1994 with Vancouver, 2002 with Carolina and 2004 with Calgary.

The trio provided an offensive boost in the post-season as the Oilers reached the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins.

Edmonton won the best-of-seven championship series four games to one and captured the Stanley Cup.

After recording 40 points in 1990–91, Gélinas scored only 29 points the following season.

The deal failed to materialize and Gélinas remained with the Oilers for the 1992–93 season where his offensive production again declined, to 23 points.

The Nordiques finally acquired Gélinas on June 20, 1993, in exchange for Scott Pearson.

He lasted only 31 games with Quebec before being placed on waivers and claimed by the Vancouver Canucks.

After scoring 16 points in 33 games to end the 1993–94 regular season with Vancouver, Gélinas added nine points in 24 playoff games.

The Canucks reached the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals but were defeated in seven games by the New York Rangers.

In the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season, he scored 23 points in 46 games and won his first of two consecutive Fred J. Hume Awards as Vancouver's "unsung hero".

Gélinas finally achieved the offensive production expected of him when he was drafted by recording consecutive 30-goal seasons.

He scored 30 goals in 1995–96 and led the Canucks with 35 goals, was second to Alexander Mogilny with 68 points and recorded a four-goal game against the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996–97.

He won three team awards: The Cyclone Taylor Award as Vancouver's most valuable player, the Molson Cup for earning the most three star selections and the Most Exciting Player Award.

A collision with Edmonton's Dan McGillis early in the 1997–98 season forced Gélinas out of the lineup with a sprained knee.

He missed 16 games due to the injury and had only eight points in 24 games played.

His tenure with the Canucks ended January 3, 1998.

He tied a record in 2004 by scoring three series-winning goals in one playoff year, earning the nickname "The Eliminator".

After playing his final professional season with SC Bern in the Swiss National League A (NLA), Gélinas turned to coaching and player development.

He was named an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames in 2012.