Justin Williams

Lore & Background

Williams was drafted in the first round, 28th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2000 NHL entry draft. In four seasons with the Flyers, he struggled to live up to expectations under three separate coaches and was frequently injured, including a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee in 2003. On January 20, 2004, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenceman Danny Markov. He set career-highs in games played (82), goals (31), assists (45), points (76) and penalty minutes (60) during the 2005–06 season, and scored the final goal of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, an empty net goal at 18:59 of the third period of game seven. On March 4, 2009, Williams was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Patrick O'Sullivan and a second-round draft pick. He scored 15 points in the 2012 playoffs, helping the Kings win their first Stanley Cup. In 2014, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs, scoring nine goals and 15 assists, including the game-winning goal in game one of the Final against the New York Rangers. Williams also had points in all three game seven matches the Kings had en route to the Final. He later played for the Washington Capitals and returned to the Hurricanes, where he was named captain on September 13, 2018. He retired on October 8, 2020, after a 19-season NHL career.

Reader's Guide

Justin Williams is notable for his exceptional performance in game seven playoff contests, earning the nickname 'Mr. Game seven'. His 8–1 record in such games, along with his seven goals (tied with Glenn Anderson) and record 15 points, underscore his reputation as a clutch performer. His three Stanley Cup victories—with the Hurricanes in 2006 and the Kings in 2012 and 2014—demonstrate his ability to contribute to championship teams. The Conn Smythe Trophy in 2014 further solidifies his legacy as a playoff MVP. Despite early career struggles with injuries and coaching changes in Philadelphia, Williams developed into a reliable scorer and leader, eventually captaining the Hurricanes in 2018. His career spanned 19 seasons, and he played his 1,000th NHL game on April 10, 2016. After retiring, he was hired as a special advisor to Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell in 2021, and in 2026 he won his fourth Stanley Cup as team staff. Since the 2023–24 season, he has been a studio analyst for Sportsnet Monday Night Hockey.

Did You Know?

• Williams is tied with Glenn Anderson for most goals in game seven playoff games, with seven.
• He holds the outright record for most game seven points in NHL history, with 15.
• Williams won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2014 with the Los Angeles Kings.
• He was named captain of the Carolina Hurricanes on September 13, 2018.