Dan Hamhuis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dan Hamhuis
Hamhuis with the Vancouver Canucks in October 2015
Born	(1982-12-13) December 13, 1982 (age 42) Smithers, British Columbia, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Nashville Predators Vancouver Canucks Dallas Stars
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	12th overall, 2001 Nashville Predators
Playing career	2002–2020

Daniel Hamhuis (born December 13, 1982) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was chosen by the Nashville Predators in the 2001 NHL Draft.

Hamhuis played junior hockey with the Prince George Cougars in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was picked 12th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. The next year, he won awards for being the best defenceman and player in the WHL. He was also named the top defenceman in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). After his junior career, Hamhuis started playing professionally with the Milwaukee Admirals. This team was a minor league team for the Predators. He then made his NHL debut with Nashville. After playing five seasons there, Hamhuis signed a six-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. In his first year with the Canucks, he helped them reach the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the Boston Bruins in that series.

Hamhuis also played for Team Canada in many international tournaments. He won a bronze medal at the 2001 and a silver medal at the 2002 World Junior Championships. He also played in four straight World Championships. He won a gold medal in 2007 and silver medals in 2008 and 2009. On January 7, 2014, he was chosen for the 2014 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team. He won a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics with the team.

Playing Career

Early Years

When he was younger, Hamhuis broke his leg. This made it harder for WHL teams to see him play. Because of this, he was not picked in the WHL Bantam Draft. The Prince George Cougars later added Hamhuis to their special list of players. He started playing junior hockey in 1998–99. He scored one goal and four points in 56 games. He was named the Cougars' best rookie and best student player that year.

The next season, in 1999–2000, he scored 10 goals and 33 points in 70 games. He helped Prince George reach the Conference Finals. He scored two goals and five points in 13 playoff games. He was also named the Cougars' best student player again.

In his third WHL season, 2000–01, Hamhuis scored 13 goals and 59 points in 62 games. This was the eighth-highest score among defencemen in the league. He was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team. He was also named Prince George's most dedicated player. He played in the 2001 CHL Top Prospects Game and was a captain for his team. NHL scouts thought he was the second-best North American player overall. They also said he was the top defenceman.

The Nashville Predators picked him 12th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Scouts said he was a strong offensive defenceman. He was good at skating, passing, and hitting. His coach compared his style to Scott Niedermayer.

After being drafted, Hamhuis went to his first NHL training camp. But he was sent back to the WHL on September 19, 2001. In his fourth junior season, he had his best year with 50 assists and 60 points in 59 games. He won the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the WHL's best defenceman. He also won the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the WHL's player of the year. He was the first player since 1977 to win both awards. Hamhuis also won the CHL Defenceman of the Year Award. He was named to the WHL West and CHL First All-Star Teams. He left Prince George as the team's all-time leader in assists with 123.

On July 7, 2002, the Predators signed Hamhuis to a contract. He was almost on Nashville's team for the 2002–03 season. But he was sent to the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL on October 3. He played 68 games and scored six goals and 27 points for the Admirals.

Nashville Predators (2003–2010)

Hamhuis during a Predators practice in September 2005

Hamhuis joined the NHL with the Predators the next season. He scored his first NHL goal on October 16, 2003. It was a game winner on the powerplay against St. Louis Blues goalie Chris Osgood. Nashville won that game 4–1. Later in the season, he had a great night with five points (one goal and four assists). This happened in a 9–4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 4, 2004. He finished the season with seven goals and 26 points in 82 games. He was one of the top rookie defencemen in the NHL. Hamhuis also played in the 2004 NHL YoungStars Game. He helped the Predators reach the playoffs for the first time ever.

Because of the NHL lockout, Hamhuis played in the AHL in 2004–05. He scored 13 goals and 51 points in 76 games. He was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team. When the NHL started again in 2005–06, the Predators signed Hamhuis to a one-year contract. He had a great season, scoring seven goals, 31 assists, and 38 points in 82 games. He played the most ice time for the Predators.

After his strong season, Hamhuis signed a four-year contract with the Predators on September 21, 2006. His scoring went down a bit in the next season. In 2007–08, he scored four goals and 27 points in 80 games. Hamhuis scored his first playoff goal against the Detroit Red Wings. Nashville lost that series. Hamhuis continued to score around 25 points in the next two seasons.

His role with the Predators changed as younger defencemen like Shea Weber and Ryan Suter became the top players. Hamhuis became a "shutdown defenceman." This means he played against the other team's best forwards. He also played a lot when his team was shorthanded.

It became clear that Hamhuis would not re-sign with the Predators. So, his rights were traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on June 19, 2010. He couldn't agree on a contract with Philadelphia. So, his rights were traded again to the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 25. He also couldn't agree on a contract with them.

Vancouver Canucks (2010–2016)

Hamhuis during a team practice with the Vancouver Canucks in March 2012

On July 1, 2010, Hamhuis became a free agent. This meant he could sign with any team. He signed a six-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Hamhuis grew up in Smithers, British Columbia, and wanted to play for the Canucks. This was a big reason he didn't sign with Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

Early in the 2010–11 season, he hurt his foot blocking a shot. He missed eight games. When he came back, he scored his first goal as a Canuck. Later, he got a concussion in a game against the Anaheim Ducks. He hit his head on the boards after a hit from Ryan Getzlaf. Hamhuis later said the hit was "unnecessary."

After returning, he scored two goals in one game for the first time in his NHL career. He finished the season with six goals and 23 points in 64 games. He helped the Canucks have the best record in the NHL. They won the Presidents' Trophy for the first time. In the 2011 playoffs, the Canucks made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. During Game 1 of the Finals, Hamhuis got a sports hernia and other injuries. He couldn't play for the rest of the series. The Canucks lost the Finals in seven games to the Boston Bruins. Hamhuis had played a big role in the playoffs before his injury.

In his second season with Vancouver, Hamhuis had a career-high 33 assists and 37 points in the 2011–12 season. He also led the Canucks in plus-minus. The Canucks won their second straight Presidents' Trophy. In the 2012 playoffs, the Canucks were upset by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.

Hamhuis played 47 games in the 2012–13 season, which was shorter due to a lockout. He scored four goals and 24 points. The Canucks lost in the first round of the 2013 playoffs.

On October 6, 2013, Hamhuis got his 200th NHL assist. He played in 79 games in the 2013–14 season. He scored five goals and 22 points. The Canucks did not make the playoffs that year.

On November 20, 2014, he tore a muscle in his groin. This made him miss 22 games. He finished the 2014–15 season with one goal and 23 points in 59 games. The Canucks returned to the playoffs but lost in the first round.

On December 9, 2015, Hamhuis' face was hit by a hard shot. This broke his jaw, and he missed 21 games. He ended the 2015–16 season with three goals and 13 points in 58 games. The Canucks struggled and missed the playoffs again.

Dallas Stars (2016–2018)

On July 1, 2016, Hamhuis signed a two-year contract with the Dallas Stars. He played 159 games with the Stars. During that time, he scored 40 points.

Return to Nashville (2018–2020)

On July 25, 2018, Hamhuis signed a two-year contract to return to the Nashville Predators. This was the team that first drafted him in 2001. In 57 games during the 2018-19 NHL season, Hamhuis had five assists. He played in six playoff games against his former team, the Dallas Stars. The Stars won that series. On August 13, 2020, Hamhuis announced he was retiring from the NHL after 16 seasons.

International Play

Hamhuis during the 2008 IIHF World Championship
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Gold	2014 Sochi
World Championships
Gold	2007 Russia
Gold	2015 Czech Republic
Silver	2008 Canada
Silver	2009 Switzerland
World Junior Championships
Silver	2002 Czech Republic
Bronze	2001 Russia

Hamhuis played for the Canadian junior team in 2001 and 2002. He won a bronze medal in 2001 in Russia. He had one assist in seven games. The next year in the Czech Republic, he scored three points in six games. He tied for the most points among defencemen on his team. He hurt his shoulder during the tournament but came back to help Canada win a silver medal.

Four years later, Hamhuis joined the Canadian men's team for the 2006 World Championships in Latvia. This was his first of four straight appearances. He led all Canadian defencemen with five points in nine games. Canada finished fourth.

Hamhuis with the IIHF World Championship trophy in 2007

The next year, he joined Team Canada after his NHL team was out of the playoffs. He won his first international gold medal in a 4–2 win against Finland in Moscow. He had three points in nine games.

In 2008, Hamhuis and Canada played in the gold medal game again. But they lost 5–4 in overtime to Russia. He played the second-most ice time for Canada.

Canada faced Russia again in 2009 and lost 2–1. Hamhuis scored four points in nine games. He also played the second-most ice time for Canada.

Hamhuis was invited to a camp for the 2010 Winter Olympics. But he was not chosen for the Olympic team.

On January 7, 2014, Hamhuis was named to the Canadian Olympic team for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games. Team Canada won the gold medal by beating Sweden 3-0.

Personal Life

Hamhuis grew up in Smithers, British Columbia. His parents are Marty and Ida. He has two sisters, Erin and Cindy. His father and sisters also play hockey. Hamhuis grew up in a Christian home. He has continued to practice his faith. When he joined the Canucks, he helped organize optional chapel services for his teammates.

Hamhuis started playing hockey at age four. He often played against older kids because his hometown was small. He went to provincial championships four years in a row. He won the title with his team, the Smithers Storm, in his last year of minor hockey. Future Predators teammate Cody Franson was a stick boy for Hamhuis' team. Hamhuis cheered for the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks when he was growing up.

Hamhuis left home at 15 to play junior hockey with the Prince George Cougars. He met his wife, Sarah, there. They have three daughters.

Hamhuis is now an owner of the Prince George Cougars team. He is part of a group that bought the team in 2014. This group includes another NHL player, Eric Brewer.

While with the Canucks, Hamhuis helped with community programs. He was a spokesperson for the Canucks Autism Network. This group helps people and families living with autism in British Columbia.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2001	Canada	WJC			7	0	1	1	8
2002	Canada	WJC			6	0	3	3	8
2006	Canada	WC	4th		9	1	4	5	10
2007	Canada	WC			9	1	2	3	2
2008	Canada	WC			9	1	1	2	8
2009	Canada	WC			9	2	2	4	16
2013	Canada	WC	5th		3	0	1	1	2
2014	Canada	OG			5	0	0	0	0
2015	Canada	WC			10	0	6	6	8
Junior totals					13	0	4	4	16
Senior totals					52	5	16	21	44

Awards

WHL and CHL

AHL