Garnet Exelby

Garnet Exelby
Born	August 16, 1981 (1981-08-16) Craik, SK, CAN
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams	Detroit Red Wings Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) Atlanta Thrashers Toronto Maple Leafs Chicago Blackhawks
NHL Draft	217th overall, 1999 Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career	2001–present

Garnet Exelby (born August 16, 1981) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL). He is particularly known for his aggressive style of play and his fearsome body checking skills.^{[citation needed]}

Playing career

Exelby was drafted by the Thrashers in round 8, 217th overall, at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Having already spent one year playing junior hockey for the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL, Exelby played the next two seasons at the WHL with the Blades and the Regina Pats. In the 2001–02 season, Exelby moved away from the juniors and played in the AHL for the Chicago Wolves. He stayed with the Wolves for the whole of that season, as the Wolves clinched the AHL's Calder Cup. Exelby was called up to the main Thrashers roster midway through the 2002–03 NHL season.

On July 1, 2009, Exelby was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs with Colin Stuart for Pavel Kubina and the rights to Tim Stapleton.

Exelby became a free agent on July 1, 2010. He was invited on a try-out basis with the New York Rangers. He was let go on September 27.

On November 26, 2010 the Chicago Blackhawks signed Exelby to a one-year contract and assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.

On July 5, 2011 the Detroit Red Wings signed Exelby to a one-year contract, with the expectation that he will provide depth for the AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.

Awards

• Inaugural recipient of the Dan Snyder Memorial Award - 2003–04

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998–99	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		61	5	3	8	91		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		63	1	8	9	79		11	0	2	2	21
2000–01	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		43	5	10	15	110		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Regina Pats	WHL		22	2	8	10	51		6	0	2	2	2
2001–02	Chicago Wolves	AHL		75	3	4	7	257		25	0	4	4	49
2002–03	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		15	0	2	2	41		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Chicago Wolves	AHL		53	3	6	9	140		9	0	1	1	27
2003–04	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		71	1	9	10	134		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		75	1	9	10	75		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		58	2	8	10	56		4	0	0	0	6
2007–08	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		79	2	5	7	85		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		59	0	7	7	120		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		51	1	3	4	73		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		77	3	10	13	128		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				408	7	43	50	584		4	0	0	0	6

Career transactions

• Selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft as an 8th round choice, 217th overall.
• Traded to Regina Pats (WHL) by Saskatoon Blades (WHL) for Scott Balan and future considerations, January 15, 2001.
• Called up during the NHL 2002–03 season.
• Traded to Toronto Maple Leafs, July 1, 2009
• Signed to the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, July 5, 2011

See also

• List of Toronto Maple Leafs players

External links

• Garnet Exelby's career stats at Eliteprospects.com
• Garnet Exelby's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Garnet Exelby's biography at Legends of Hockey

Preceded by None

Winner of the Dan Snyder Memorial Award 2004

Succeeded by Niclas Hävelid, 2006