Daniel Girardi

Daniel Girardi
Girardi during his time with the Lightning on May 21, 2018
Born (1984-04-29) April 29, 1984
Welland, Ontario
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 206 lb (93 kg; 14 st 10 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2005–2019

Daniel Girardi (born April 29, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played parts of 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning. He is currently a development coach for the Buffalo Sabres.

He is a one-time All-Star, being selected in 2012.

Career

Before playing in the NHL, Girardi played parts of three seasons with the Barrie Colts, three seasons with the Guelph Storm, and one season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). After his time in the OHL, he played 7 games with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL. During his second season with the Storm, they named him an alternate captain.[1]

He helped the Storm during the playoffs, defeating the Owen Sound Attack, Plymouth Whalers, and London Knights. They went on to eventually defeat and sweep the Mississauga IceDogs four games to zero in the finals to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup.[2] They advanced to the 2004 Memorial Cup tournament but were eliminated by the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).[3]

He was not drafted by an NHL team. On July 1, 2006, Girardi signed a two-way contract to join the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).[4] He was immediately sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack. On January 27, 2007, the Rangers called Girardi up and he made his NHL debut in a 2–1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers.[5] On February 17, Girardi recorded his first two NHL points, assisting on goals from Marcel Hossa and Matt Cullen in a 5–3 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers.[6] On October 18, 2007, Girardi scored his first NHL goal against Johan Hedberg in a 5–3 loss against the Atlanta Thrashers.[7] He helped the Rangers during the playoffs. They defeated the Atlanta Thrashers. They were defeated by the Buffalo Sabres four games to two in the Eastern Conference semifinals.[8] On February 17, 2008, Girardi signed a two-year, $3.1 million contract to stay with the Rangers.[9] During the 2009–10 season, he began to struggle defensively leave which earned him criticism from Rangers head coach John Tortorella.[10] On July 9, 2010, Girardi signed a four-year, $13.3 million contract to stay with the Rangers.[11] The next season, Girardi was named as an alternate captain and was selected for the All-Star after a fan petition.[12][13] On February 28, 2014, Girardi signed a six-year, $33 million contract to stay with the Rangers.[14] That year, he helped the Rangers during the playoffs. They defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Montreal Canadiens. They were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings four games to one in the Finals.[15] He found success in the rest of his year in New York but was suffering from many injured that required surgery and effected his playing time.[16][17][18] On June 14, 2017, the Rangers bought out the rest of Girardi's contract.[19]

On July 1, 2017, Girardi signed a two-year, $6 million contract to join the Tampa Bay Lightning.[20] He helped the Lightning during the playoffs. They defeated the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. They were defeated by the eventual Stanley Cup winning-Washington Capitals four games to three in the Eastern Conference finals.[21]

On September 20, 2019, Girardi announced that he was retiring from playing professional ice hockey. He retired as the all-time leader for blocked shots with almost 2,000.[22]

Management career

After retiring, Girardi became a development coach or he Buffalo Sabres.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Girardi Gets NHL Call-Up". Guelph Storm. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Storm Win OHL Championship". Guelph Storm. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Guelph eliminated from Memorial Cup". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Rangers sign C Cullen, D Rachunek, two others". ESPN. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Inside Flyers GM Daniel Briere's first NHL GM meetings". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  6. ↑ "New York Rangers Flashback Friday: Dan Girardi". Fox Sports. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Thrashers get first win under new coach". Reuters. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  8. ↑ "New York Rangers left to ponder what could've been in NHL playoffs". The Hockey News. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Rangers cap busy week of signings by agreeing to deal with D Tyutin". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Girardi hears it from Tortorella, and that's OK". Newsday. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Rangers re-sign Girardi, trade for Eminger". CBC Sports. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Rangers name Girardi alternate captain until Staal returns". New York Post. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Dan Girardi rocks Rangers' blue line". ESPN. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Girardi re-signs with Rangers for six years". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Kings win Stanley Cup on Martinez goal in 2OT". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Hartnett: War Horse Girardi Poised To Bounce Back This Postseason". CBS News. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Rangers' Staal, Girardi have ankle surgery". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Bruins' Pastrnak suspended for Girardi headshot". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Rangers to buy out defenseman Dan Girardi". New York Rangers. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Lightning sign defenseman Dan Girardi to two-year contract". Tampa Bay Lightning. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  21. ↑ "2018 NHL Playoffs: Capitals' Alex Ovechkin stuns Lightning, scores one minute into Game 7". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Former Lightning, Rangers d-man Dan Girardi retires as NHL's blocked shots leader"". CBC Sports. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Two Former Amerks Join Sabres as Development Coaches". Rochester Americans. Retrieved September 15, 2025.

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