Bill Guerin

Lore & Background

Guerin was drafted fifth overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1989 and played with the team from 1991 to 1998, winning the Stanley Cup in 1995. Midway through the 1997–98 season, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. In November 2001, he was traded to his hometown Boston Bruins. After a 41-goal season in 2001–02, Guerin signed a five-year contract with the Dallas Stars. He performed below expectations, and the Stars bought out the remainder of his contract after a disappointing 2005–06 season in which he recorded just 40 points. The buyout meant $6.7 million over one year became $4.4 million over two years.

Guerin signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues in 2006 and revived his career, earning a spot in the 2007 All-Star Game hosted by the Stars. Despite criticisms of his play in Dallas, he received a standing ovation from Dallas fans. He was later traded to the San Jose Sharks, then signed with the New York Islanders and was named their captain. In 2009, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins and won the Stanley Cup that season. His 14 years between Stanley Cups as a player was the third-longest wait in NHL history. He retired as a Penguin in December 2010.

Reader's Guide

Guerin's career is notable for its longevity and adaptability across seven NHL teams. He became the first player to have a 20-goal season with seven different teams and one of only three to have a 20-goal season with five or more different teams. At retirement, he ranked seventh all-time among Americans in NHL goals with 429. His time with the Dallas Stars was marked by high expectations and a disappointing buyout, yet he remained a fan favorite. After playing, Guerin moved into management, becoming assistant general manager of the Penguins and later general manager of the Minnesota Wild. He was also named general manager of Team USA for the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off and 2026 Winter Olympics. His career includes controversy: a lawsuit alleged he played a role in covering up a sexual assault while general manager of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins; Guerin denied wrongdoing, and an NHL investigation cleared him. A separate verbal abuse complaint against Guerin in 2023 was investigated by the Wild, who declined to comment and announced no sanctions.