Brent Ashton
Most-traded player in NHL history; 284 goals in 998 games.
Last updated
Brent Kenneth Ashton, born May 18, 1960, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played 14 NHL seasons from 1979 to 1993. A reliable goal-scorer, he became best known as the most frequently traded player in league history—a record later matched by Mike Sillinger. Ashton played junior hockey for his hometown Saskatoon Blades. After a 119-point season in 1978–79, the Vancouver Canucks selected him 26th overall in the second round of the 1979 NHL entry draft.
Playing career
He joined the Canucks at age 19 for the 1979–80 season. Though he tied an NHL rookie record with four assists in one game against the Atlanta Flames, he saw limited ice time and finished with 5 goals and 19 points in 47 games. The next season, he improved to 18 goals and 29 points, but was traded to the Colorado Rockies in a three-way deal after the year. With the Rockies, Ashton got more playing time and led the team with 36 assists and 64 points in 1981–82.
When the franchise moved to New Jersey and became the Devils for 1982–83, his production dropped to 14 goals and 33 points in 76 games. Traded to the Minnesota North Stars for 1983–84, he struggled for ice time on a deep roster and posted a career-worst 7 goals and 17 points. After starting 1984–85 with just 4 goals in 29 games for Minnesota, he was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques, which revived his career. In 49 games with Quebec, he erupted for 27 goals and 51 points, finishing the season with a career-high 31 goals.
Ashton began 1985–86 with 25 goals in 46 games, but was traded mid-season to the Detroit Red Wings—despite scoring 52 goals in 95 games as a Nordique. He kept scoring in Detroit, finishing the season with a career-best 40 goals and 75 points, and added 13 points in 16 playoff games as the Red Wings reached the Campbell Conference finals. In 1987–88, he had 26 goals and 53 points, plus 7 goals and 12 points in another 16 playoff games as Detroit again made the conference finals. For 1988–89, Ashton was traded to the Winnipeg Jets.
He scored 31 goals—his fifth straight season with at least 25—and added a career-high 37 assists for 68 points. After the season, he helped Canada win a silver medal at the 1989 World Championships. Winnipeg became his longest NHL stop, as he spent three full seasons there. He notched another 20-goal season in 1989–90, but injuries slowed him as he entered his 30s.
Reader's Guide
Brent Ashton's NHL career is defined by his remarkable scoring consistency and his record as the most-traded player in league history, a distinction he shares with Mike Sillinger. Despite being traded nine times, he produced five consecutive seasons of at least 25 goals, peaking with a 40-goal campaign in 1985–86. His time with the Quebec Nordiques was particularly productive: in 172 games he scored 78 goals, and his mid-season trade to Detroit in 1985–86 came despite a blistering 25-goal start.
Ashton's career total of 998 games is the highest for any player who did not reach the 1,000-game milestone. After retiring, he returned to Saskatoon, where he operates Brent Ashton Sportswear and coaches minor hockey. His brother Ron Ashton also played professionally, and his son Carter Ashton is a professional hockey player in the SHL.
Career statistics and honours
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1975–76 | Saskatoon Olympics | SJHL | 47 | 40 | 50 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | Saskatoon Blades | WCHL | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 1976–77 | Saskatoon Blades | WCHL | 54 | 26 | 25 | 51 | 84 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
| 1977–78 | Saskatoon Blades | WCHL | 46 | 38 | 26 | 64 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1978–79 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 62 | 64 | 55 | 119 | 80 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 5 |
| 1979–80 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 47 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 1980–81 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 77 | 18 | 11 | 29 | 57 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981–82 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 80 | 24 | 36 | 60 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1982–83 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 76 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1983–84 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 68 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 54 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 22 |
| 1984–85 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 29 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1984–85 | Quebec Nordiques | NHL | 49 | 27 | 24 | 51 | 38 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 13 |
| 1985–86 | Quebec Nordiques | NHL | 77 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 64 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 1986–87 | Quebec Nordiques | NHL | 46 | 25 | 19 | 44 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1986–87 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 35 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 6 |
| 1987–88 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 73 | 26 | 27 | 53 | 50 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 10 |
| 1988–89 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 75 | 31 | 37 | 68 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1989–90 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 79 | 22 | 34 | 56 | 37 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 1990–91 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 61 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 61 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 26 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 11 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 32 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 41 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 1993–94 | Las Vegas Thunder | IHL | 16 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | 998 | 284 | 345 | 629 | 635 | 85 | 24 | 25 | 49 | 70 | ||
International
Tables copied from the source article, totals included as the source gives them: Wikipedia: Brent Ashton (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wide tables scroll sideways.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Brent Ashton born?
Brent Ashton was born on 18 May 1960 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
What position did Brent Ashton play?
Brent Ashton's position is listed as Left wing.
More in Quebec Nordiques Players
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Brent Ashton (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Statistics, medals and awards: the tables of the source article.
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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