Douglas Weight (born January 21, 1971 in Warren, Michigan) is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He previously played for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks and St. Louis Blues.

Playing career

He has played two seasons with the New York Rangers, nine seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, three seasons with the St. Louis Blues, and currently plays for the New York Islanders. Weight has also played games in the German Elite League during the shortened 1994?95 NHL season and the cancelled 2004?05 NHL season. He is primarily known for his astounding saucer passes.

In the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, Weight and the Carolina Hurricanes suffered a huge blow during Game 5. The player was sandwiched heavily along the boards by Raffi Torres and Chris Pronger of the Edmonton Oilers in the second period of the game, which the Oilers won 4?3 in overtime. Weight missed the rest of the Finals with a shoulder injury. His team, however, won the Stanley Cup anyway on June 19, 2006.

On December 14, 2007, Weight was traded by the St. Louis Blues to the Anaheim Ducks for center Andy McDonald.

On July 2, 2008, Weight was given a one year, $1.75 million contract by the New York Islanders.

Background and early career

Weight graduated in 1989 from Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods, Michigan. He joined the Junior A Compuware Team since his High School did not have a hockey program. Weight played two years in the NCAA with Lake Superior State University, from 1989?91. He was drafted by the New York Rangers in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft with their second pick, 34th overall. After completing his second year with his college team, he played a single playoff game with the Rangers in 1991, then split time between the Rangers and their AHL affiliate the Binghamton Rangers. He played 65 games with the Rangers in his first full NHL season, 1992?93, before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers for forward Esa Tikkanen.

Edmonton Oilers

Weight played eight full seasons and part of another one with the Oilers, serving as their captain from 1999?2001. It was as an Oiler that he earned his reputation as a premiere playmaker, leading Edmonton to five consecutive playoff appearances and scoring a personal-best 104 points during the troubled 1995?96 NHL season. Due to Edmonton's precarious financial situation, Weight was traded to St. Louis (with Michel Riesen for forwards Marty Reasoner and Jochen Hecht and defenceman Jan Horacek.

Notable achievements

Doug Weight has played several times internationally for his country. He was part of the silver medal winning team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, he also played with Team USA at the 1996 and 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. The finest game he has ever played was likely game three of the first round playoff series against the Dallas Stars in 2000, where he scored a hat-trick and led the Oilers to a victory. As well, his greatest ever playoff series was probably the first round against the Vancouver Canucks in 2003, when he led the league in points that round, with thirteen points in seven games.

Doug recently played his 1000th game in the NHL. He played this game for the St. Louis Blues against the Edmonton Oilers.

Doug currently needs 16 points to reach the 1000 point mark in his career.

Awards

• 1990?91: First All-Star Team (CCHA)
• 1990?91: West Second All-American Team (NCAA)
• 1995?96: Played in All-Star Game (NHL)
• 1995?96: World Cup of Hockey Championship (Team USA)
• 1997?98: Played in All-Star Game (NHL)
• 2001?02: Played in All-Star Game (NHL)
• 2001?02: Silver Medal (XIX Olympic Winter Games)
• 2003?04: Played in All-Star Game (NHL)
• 2005?06: Stanley Cup Championship (Carolina Hurricanes)

Career statistics

International play

• 1996 - Played for the United States in the World Cup of Hockey
• 1998 - Played for the United States in the XVIII Olympic Winter Games
• 2002 - Played for the United States in the XIX Olympic Winter Games
• 2004 - Played for the United States in the World Cup of Hockey
• 2006 - Played for the United States in the XX Olympic Winter Games

External links

• Doug Weight-Stars and Stripes In The Great White North
• Doug Weight's U.S. Olympic Team bio
• Doug Weight's Day With the Stanley Cup

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