Wilf Paiement

Wilf Paiement
Born	(1955-10-16) October 16, 1955 Earlton, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 01 in (1.85 m)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Kansas City Scouts Colorado Rockies Toronto Maple Leafs Quebec Nordiques New York Rangers Buffalo Sabres Pittsburgh Penguins
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 1974 Kansas City Scouts
Playing career	1974–1988

Wilfred Paiement, Jr. (pron.: /peɪˈmɑːnt/; born October 16, 1955) is a former professional ice hockey right winger in the NHL from 1974 through 1988, for six different NHL teams. He is the younger brother of former NHL hockey player Rosaire Paiement.

Playing career

Wilf Paiement was selected in the first round 1st (2nd overall) of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Scouts of the NHL. He played two seasons in Kansas City before the team moved to Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies.

Paiement was a member of the Canadian team which returned to the World Championship in Austria in 1977 after seven years of absence. During the tournament, frustrated by the lack of success, many members of Team Canada, including Paiement, resorted to violence. Paiement attacked Swedish player Lars-Erik Ericsson (who received a stick in the eye), as well as Russian players Sjadrin, Jakusjev and Babinov (who were all knocked unconscious).

On October 25, 1978, Paiement attacked Detroit Red Wings center Dennis Polonich with his stick. The diminutive five-foot-six-inch Polonich was trash-talking with Paiement, when Paiement struck Polonich's across the face with a two-handed slash, which resulted in severe facial lacerations, a smashed nose that required extensive reconstructive surgery, and a severe concussion. Along with a match penalty, Paiement was given the second longest (at the time) suspension in NHL history - 15 games. Polonich sued, and was rewarded with a settlement of $850,000 in 1982; he has suffered with breathing problems from then on.

Paiement was traded from the Rockies to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with Pat Hickey for Lanny McDonald and Joel Quenneville on December 29, 1979.

Paiement played in Toronto for the next three seasons before again being traded to the Quebec Nordiques for Miroslav Frycer and a 7th round pick in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft (Jeff Triano). After five seasons in Quebec, he was traded to the New York Rangers for Steve Patrick where he only played eight games.

The Buffalo Sabres claimed Paiement off waivers on October 6, 1986. He only played one season in Buffalo before rounding out his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins and finally, the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the IHL in 1987–88.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1971–72	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA		34	6	13	19	74		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	St. Catharines Black Hawks	OHA		61	18	27	45	173		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	St. Catharines Black Hawks	OHA		70	50	73	123	134		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Kansas City Scouts	NHL		78	26	13	39	101		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Kansas City Scouts	NHL		57	21	22	43	121		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Colorado Rockies	NHL		78	41	40	81	101		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Colorado Rockies	NHL		80	31	56	87	114		2	0	0	0	7
1978–79	Colorado Rockies	NHL		65	24	36	60	80		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Colorado Rockies	NHL		34	10	16	26	41		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		41	20	28	48	72		3	0	2	2	17
1980–81	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		77	40	57	97	145		3	0	0	0	2
1981–82	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		69	18	40	58	203		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		8	7	6	13	18		14	6	6	12	28
1982–83	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		80	26	38	64	170		4	0	1	1	4
1983–84	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		80	39	37	76	121		9	3	1	4	24
1984–85	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		68	23	28	51	165		18	4	2	6	58
1985–86	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		44	7	12	19	145		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	New York Rangers	NHL		8	1	6	7	13		16	5	5	10	45
1986–87	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		56	20	17	37	108		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Muskegon Lumberjacks	IHL		28	17	18	35	52		5	0	2	2	15
1987–88	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		23	2	6	8	39		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				946	356	458	814	1757		69	18	17	35	185

Achievements

• Wilf Paiement was the first player ever drafted by the current day New Jersey Devils organization.
• He played in the very first games for the Kansas City Scouts and the Colorado Rockies.
• While Paiement was playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs he wore the number 99 for the 187 games he spent in Toronto, and is one of only 3 players (Rick Dudley for 30 games and Wayne Gretzky for 1,487 games), and was the last player other than Gretzky to wear that number. He last wore #99 on March 6, 1982 against the Montreal Canadiens. Referencing his time using the number 99, Paiement appeared in a commercial for the Canadian furniture store Leon's in 2008, in honour of their 99th anniversary. The commercial teased that he was Wayne Gretzky before being revealed on camera, to which he said "What, you're expecting someone else?"
• Upon his retirement from the NHL, Paiement was the last active player that had ever played for the Kansas City Scouts.

External links

• Wilf Paiement's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Wilf's Bio on Hockey Draft Central.com

Preceded by none	Kansas City Scouts first round draft pick 1974	Succeeded by Barry Dean
Preceded by Simon Nolet	Colorado Rockies captain 1977-79	Succeeded by Gary Croteau