Jordin Tootoo

Lore & Background

Tootoo was 13 years old when he moved from Rankin Inlet to go play Bantam AAA hockey in Spruce Grove, Alberta. The Brandon Wheat Kings selected him in the 3rd round of the 1998 WHL Bantam Draft. Tootoo played for the Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1999 to 2003 and was selected 98th overall in the 2001 NHL entry draft as the sixth choice of the Nashville Predators. He became the first player of Inuit descent to play in a regular-season NHL game when he suited up against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Opening Night October 9, 2003. He was also the first person of Inuit descent to be drafted by an NHL team. Tootoo wears the number '22' as a play on words of his name. Tootoo got his first NHL point with an assist on a Dan Hamhuis goal against the St. Louis Blues on October 16, 2003 and scored his first NHL goal against the Atlanta Thrashers on October 23. Tootoo has also earned two 'Gordie Howe hat tricks' on January 10, 2004, and December 8, 2007 when he notched a goal, an assist, and a fighting major in each game. He spent the 2005–06 season between the Nashville Predators and the Predators' minor league affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, where he played during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. On July 21, 2006, he was re-signed by the Predators to a two-year contract. On January 31, 2008, he was re-signed to another two-year contract extension. Tootoo scored his first playoff goal on April 10, 2008, against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of Game 1 of the 2008 Western Conference Quarter Finals in a 3–1 loss. Tootoo currently holds the franchise record for total penalty minutes (725) with Nashville. Over his 486 games with the Predators, Tootoo recorded 46 goals and 79 assists for a combined total of 125 points during his eight years (2003—2012) with the Predators. On February 2, 2019, the Nashville Predators held Jordin Tootoo Night at Bridgestone Arena, hosting the Dallas Stars. Tootoo spoke with the media and participated in the pregame puck drop.

Reader's Guide

Tootoo was designated an unrestricted free agent after the 2011–12 season. He signed a three-year, $5.7 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings, Nashville's Central Division rival on July 1, 2012. He scored his first goal as a Red Wing against his former team, the Predators on February 19, 2013. On June 18, 2014, the Red Wings placed Tootoo on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a compliance buyout. Tootoo attended the training camp for the New Jersey Devils on a tryout basis and signed a one-year contract with the team on October 7, 2014. He played with the team for 68 games during the 2014–15 season. He scored 10 goals, had 5 assists, and sat for 72 PIM ranking 55th most penalty minutes in the NHL. On May 8, 2015, he was re-signed to a second one-year $825,000 contract. As a free agent on July 5, 2016, Tootoo left the Devils to sign a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. On February 28, 2017, Chicago agreed to extend Tootoo's contract through the 2017–2018 season. In his year with the Chicago Blackhawks, he was nursing an upper body injury and placed on long term injury reserve which resulted in him being waived in November 2017. On October 19, 2018, Tootoo retired from hockey after playing 723 NHL games. Despite his retirement, Tootoo said he plans to 'continue to work to enhance life for Native children who are suffering.'

Did You Know?

• Tootoo's middle name, Kudluk, means 'thunder' in Inuktitut.
• Tootoo's older brother Terence died by suicide in August 2002 at age 22.
• In 2012 during the NHL lockout, Tootoo hosted the first Team Tootoo hockey camp in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
• His book 'All The Way: My Life on Ice' was published on October 21, 2014.