Drew Stafford

Lore & Background

Stafford grew up in Faribault, Minnesota, and played AAA hockey with the Milwaukee Jr Admirals as a teenager. His father, Gordie, played professional hockey in the International Hockey League and is the director of girls hockey at Shattuck-Saint Mary's, where Drew also played high school hockey. His uncle, Barrie Stafford, was the head equipment manager for the Edmonton Oilers for 28 years before retiring in 2012. Stafford played for the St. Albert Bantam AA Flyers in 1999–2000, finishing third in league scoring with 26 goals and 47 points in 30 games.

He later played at Shattuck-Saint Mary's for two years and represented the US national team at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships. He then played three seasons at the University of North Dakota, finishing his collegiate career with 118 points (48 goals and 70 assists), and also played on the US national team at the 2004 and 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Stafford began his professional career with Buffalo's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, and made his NHL debut on November 5 against the New York Rangers, assisting on a game-winning overtime goal by Daniel Brière. He won NHL Rookie of the Month honors for March 2007.

Over his career, Stafford scored six NHL hat-tricks, including four in the 2010–11 season. He was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in February 2015 as part of a multi-player deal, and later to the Boston Bruins in March 2017. He signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the New Jersey Devils on August 25, 2017, and later signed a one-year, $810,000 contract on October 5, 2018. On January 4, 2019, Stafford scored the game-winning shootout goal in his 800th regular season NHL game.

Reader's Guide

Drew Stafford's tenure with the New Jersey Devils spanned two seasons, during which he played 59 games and recorded eight goals and 15 points. He initially signed a one-year, $800,000 contract on August 25, 2017, and after attending training camp on a professional tryout agreement in September 2018, he signed another one-year contract worth $810,000 on October 5, 2018. A notable moment came on January 4, 2019, when Stafford scored the game-winning shootout goal in his 800th regular season NHL game.

His time with the Devils was part of the latter stage of a career that included being a first-round draft pick, playing for four NHL teams, and achieving six career hat-tricks. Stafford's legacy includes his collegiate success at the University of North Dakota and his representation of the United States at multiple international junior tournaments. After his stint with the Devils, he attended the Minnesota Wild's training camp on a professional tryout in September 2019.

Did You Know?

• He formed a band called Red Seal Peach while at the University of North Dakota with goaltender Jordan Parise.
• Stafford appears in the Every Time I Die video for 'Decayin with the Boys,' playing jenga at a party in full hockey uniform.