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James Wisniewski

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James Wisniewski
Wisniewski with the Blue Jackets in 2013
Born (1984-02-21) February 21, 1984 (age 40)
Canton, MI, USA
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago Blackhawks
Anaheim Ducks
New York Islanders
Montreal Canadiens
Columbus Blue Jackets
National team  United States
NHL draft 156th overall, 2002
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2004–present

James Joseph Wisniewski (born February 21, 1984) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Playing career

Early Years

Wisniewski started his junior hockey career with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2000. He improved every year significantly, and was drafted in the fifth round, 156th overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2002. At the start of the 2003–04 season, he was named captain of the Whalers. That year, he scored 17 goals, 11 on the power-play. He finished 24th in overall scoring with 70 points, third amongst defensemen and just six points short of the OHL lead, set by Kingston Frontenacs defenseman Bryan Rodney. For his efforts, Wisniewski was awarded the OHL's 2004 Max Kaminsky Trophy as the most outstanding defenseman. He also took home the OHL's parent league, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL)'s, Defenceman of the Year award.[1] This recognition gained Wisniewski a contract with Chicago, and a jump to the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Norfolk Admirals, the Blackhawks' top minor league affiliate.

Wisniewski was called up early to the Blackhawks in the 2006–07 season and stuck with the team. However, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the first period in a game against the Los Angeles Kings on March 5, 2007, and was placed on injured reserve, missing the rest of the season.

Anaheim Ducks

On March 4, 2009, Wisniewski was traded by the Blackhawks, along with Finnish forward Petri Kontiola, to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Samuel Påhlsson and Logan Stephenson.[2]

In the 2009–10 season, Wisniewski entrenched himself in the Ducks' defense corps and scored a career-high 30 points in 69 games. On March 17, 2010, in a game against former team, the Blackhawks, Wisniewski delivered a retaliation hit to Brent Seabrook, his former teammate and good friend, driving his head against the glass. Wisniewski received an eight-game suspension for the hit; the last player to receive a suspension of that length was former Duck Chris Pronger.[3]

Wisniewski in 2011 during his tenure with the Montreal Canadiens

Islanders and Canadiens

On July 30, 2010, Wisniewski was traded by the Ducks to the New York Islanders for a conditional third-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.[4]

At the beginning of the 2010–11 season, on October 12, 2010, Wisniewski was suspended for two games for making an obscene gesture towards Sean Avery.[5]

On December 28, 2010, Wisniewski was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for second-round pick in the 2011 Draft and conditional fifth round pick in 2012.[6] He scored seven goals to go with 23 assists in 43 games with the Canadiens, as well as two assists in six playoff games.

Columbus Blue Jackets

With the Blue Jackets in 2013

On June 29, 2011, Wisniewski's rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2012; the pick would become a fifth-rounder if Columbus signed him.[7] He subsequently signed a six-year, $33 million contract with the Blue Jackets on July 1, 2011.[8]

On September 26, 2011, Wisniewski was suspended for the remainder of the pre-season and eight regular season games by the NHL for a hit to the head of Minnesota Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck on September 23 after the end of regulation.[9] In an injury-shortened 2011–12 season, Wisniewski appeared in 48 games with Columbus, scoring six goals along with 21 assists as the Blue Jackets finished well out of the playoff hunt.

Wisniewski would again suffer another season plagued by injuries in the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, producing 14 points in 30 games with the Blue Jackets. However, in 2013–14, he scored seven goals and a career-high 51 point in 75 games, tied with the St. Louis Blues' Alex Pietrangelo for ninth in points among NHL defensemen, helping the Blue Jackets clinch their first playoff berth since 2009.[10]

Second stint with the Ducks

On March 2, 2015, Wisniewski was traded by the Blue Jackets to the Anaheim Ducks, along with a 2015 third-round pick, in exchange for Rene Bourque, William Karlsson and a 2015 second-round pick, marking the beginning of his second term with the Ducks.[11]

Carolina Hurricanes

On June 27, 2015, the second day of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Wisniewski was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes In exchange for Anton Khudobin.[12]

In his first game with the Hurricanes, Wisniewski suffered a tear to his left ACL which effectively ended his season on opening night.[13]

Personal

Wisniewski attended Canton High School in Canton, Michigan.

Wisniewski started a clothing line called WizWear. According to Wisniewski, "I always like to dress nice and have my own style. We support the USO of Illinois, the families of fallen soldiers. I wanted to do something a little bit different to set up for a charity than a golf tournament or bowling event. It's something I can have a little bit of fun with also." Both of his grandfathers fought in World War II.[14]

Wisniewski is the nephew of former NHL player and coach Billy Dea.[15]

He is an accomplished amateur golfer and has won a club championship at Jack Nicklaus' Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000–01 Plymouth Whalers OHL 53 6 23 29 72 19 3 10 13 34
2001–02 Plymouth Whalers OHL 62 11 25 36 100 6 1 2 3 6
2002–03 Plymouth Whalers OHL 52 18 34 52 60 18 2 10 12 14
2003–04 Plymouth Whalers OHL 50 17 53 70 63 9 3 7 10 8
2004–05 Norfolk Admirals AHL 66 7 18 25 110 5 1 3 4 2
2005–06 Norfolk Admirals AHL 61 7 28 35 67 4 1 2 3 6
2005–06 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 19 2 5 7 36 — — — — —
2006–07 Norfolk Admirals AHL 10 0 6 6 8 — — — — —
2006–07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 50 2 8 10 39 — — — — —
2007–08 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 68 7 19 26 103 — — — — —
2008–09 Rockford IceHogs AHL 2 3 1 4 0 — — — — —
2008–09 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 31 2 11 13 14 — — — — —
2008–09 Anaheim Ducks NHL 17 1 10 11 16 12 1 2 3 10
2009–10 Anaheim Ducks NHL 69 3 27 30 56 — — — — —
2010–11 New York Islanders NHL 32 3 18 21 18 — — — — —
2010–11 Montreal Canadiens NHL 43 7 23 30 20 6 0 2 2 7
2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 48 6 21 27 37 — — — — —
2012–13 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 30 5 9 14 15 — — — — —
2013–14 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 75 7 44 51 61 6 0 2 2 10
2014–15 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 56 8 21 29 34 — — — — —
2014–15 Anaheim Ducks NHL 13 0 5 5 10 — — — — —
2015–16 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 552 53 221 274 459 24 1 6 7 27

Wisniewski at the 2008 IIHF World Championship
Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2004 Helsinki
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2002 Trnava

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2002 United States WJC18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3 1 2 3 6
2003 United States WJC 4th 7 0 4 4 6
2004 United States WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 2 3 5 4
2008 United States WC 6th 6 1 2 3 6
Junior totals 16 3 9 12 16
Senior totals 6 1 2 3 6

Awards and achievements

References

  1. ^ "Wisniewski is CHL defenceman of the year". CHL.com. 2004-05-06. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
  2. ^ "'Hawks get veteran center Pahlsson". nhl.com. 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  3. ^ "NHL suspends Wisniewski 8 games". ESPN. 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2010-05-10. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Islanders acquire Wisniewski from Anaheim". New York Islanders. 2010-07-30. Retrieved 2010-07-30. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Isles' Wisniewski suspended two games for an obscene gesture". The Sports Network. 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2010-10-13. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Habs acquire James Wisniewski from the Islanders". Montreal Canadiens. 2010-12-28. Retrieved 2010-12-28. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Habs trade Wisniewski's rights to Blue Jackets for draft pick". The Sports Network. 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-06-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "Defenseman Wisniewski inks six-year deal with Blue Jackets". The Sports Network. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Wisniewski suspended on wild hit". Yahoo! Sports. 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2011-09-26. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "James Wisniewski player splits". National Hockey League. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2014-04-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Ducks acquire James Wisniewski, three others in deadline deals". Los Angeles Times. 2015-03-02. Retrieved 2015-03-02. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ "Hurricanes acquire Wisniewski from Ducks". NHL. 2015-06-27. Retrieved 2015-06-27.
  13. ^ "Hurricanes' James Wisniewski played just 47 seconds before tearing ACL". CBS Sports. 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  14. ^ Kuc, Chris (2008-12-25). "Blackhawks' James Wisniewski starts fashion line for charity". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  15. ^ Pat Hickey (2011-01-18). "Defenceman Wisniewski brings badly needed dose of power-play magic after loss of markov and gorges". The Gazette. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
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