Braydon Coburn
Canadian defenceman who won the Stanley Cup in 2020.
Braydon Coburn, a Canadian defenceman, played his final NHL game in 2021 before retiring. He was taken eighth overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2003 draft, and his career included stops in Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Ottawa, and with the New York Islanders. In 2020, he was part of the Lightning team that won the Stanley Cup.
Coburn was born in Calgary but grew up in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. After his bantam season, the Portland Winter Hawks picked him first overall in the WHL Bantam Draft. He then played midget AAA for the Notre Dame Hounds. In the WHL with Portland, he won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2001–02, and despite a drop in points the next season, he remained a top prospect. After being drafted, he spent two more years in the WHL, earning the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy as Humanitarian of the Year in 2003–04. On February 4, 2005, he tied a WHL record for a defenceman by scoring four goals in a game against Seattle. He finished his junior career with a personal-best 44 points in 2004–05.
Coburn also played for Canada at two World Junior Championships, winning silver in 2004 and gold in 2005. The 2004 gold-medal game against the United States was tied 3–3 late in the third period when Canadian goalie Marc-André Fleury tried to clear the puck to stop a breakaway. The clearing attempt hit Coburn and went into his own net, giving the Americans a 4–3 lead and the gold medal.
In the NHL, Coburn split time between Atlanta and their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on February 24, 2007, for defenceman Alexei Zhitnik. The trade is often seen as lopsided: Coburn became a top defender for the Flyers, while Zhitnik was bought out a year later. In 2007–08, Coburn had 8 goals and 36 points. During the 2008 playoffs, he was injured two minutes into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final when a deflected puck hit him above the eye, requiring 50 stitches and ending his postseason.
Coburn signed a two-year extension with the Flyers on July 1, 2010, and later a four-year, $18 million deal on November 9, 2011. On March 2, 2015, with the Flyers out of playoff contention, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Radko Gudas and two draft picks. Tampa Bay extended his contract on February 26, 2016, for three years and $11.1 million.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1985-02-27
- Birth Place
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 5
- Weight Lb
- 224
- Position
- Defence
- Shoots
- Left
- Played For
- Atlanta Thrashers / Philadelphia Flyers / Tampa Bay Lightning / Ottawa Senators / New York Islanders
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Draft
- 8th overall
- Draft Year
- 2003
- Draft Team
- Atlanta Thrashers
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Coburn grew up in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, and played minor hockey there. He was selected first overall in the WHL Bantam Draft by the Portland Winter Hawks and later played major junior hockey with the Winter Hawks, winning the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2001–02. He tied a WHL record for most goals by a defenceman in a game with four on February 4, 2005. Coburn also competed in two World Junior Championships for Canada, winning silver in 2004 and gold in 2005; during the 2004 gold medal game, a clearing attempt by goaltender Marc-André Fleury deflected off Coburn into his own net, giving the United States a 4–3 lead that led to the American victory.
Coburn began his NHL career with the Thrashers, splitting time between the NHL and the AHL's Chicago Wolves. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on February 24, 2007, in exchange for Alexei Zhitnik, a trade often considered lopsided as Coburn became a top defender while Zhitnik was bought out after one year. In the 2008 playoffs, Coburn suffered a gash above his eye from a deflected puck that required 50 stitches, ending his postseason. He signed a two-year extension with the Flyers in 2010 and later a four-year, $18 million extension in 2011.
On March 2, 2015, Coburn was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Radko Gudas and first- and third-round draft picks. He signed a three-year, $11.1 million extension in 2016 and a two-year, $3.4 million extension in 2019. With a reduced role in 2019–20, he appeared in 40 regular-season games and 3 playoff games, winning the Stanley Cup. On December 27, 2020, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators along with Cédric Paquette and a 2022 second-round pick. He was later traded to the New York Islanders on April 11, 2021, and announced his retirement on November 12, 2021.
Reader's Guide
Braydon Coburn's career spanned 16 NHL seasons, during which he played for five organizations and won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020. Originally a first-round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers, he developed into a reliable defenceman after a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers that is remembered as one-sided in his favor. Coburn's tenure with the Lightning included multiple contract extensions and a championship despite a reduced role in the final season. His WHL record for most goals by a defenceman in a game (four) and his participation in two World Junior Championships (silver in 2004, gold in 2005) highlight his junior achievements. The 2004 World Junior gold medal game featured an unfortunate own-goal off Coburn that decided the outcome. After his NHL retirement in 2021, Coburn's legacy includes consistent defensive play and a championship ring.
Did You Know?
- A clearing attempt by Marc-André Fleury deflected off Coburn into his own net in the 2004 World Junior gold medal game, giving the United States the win.
- Coburn required 50 stitches after a deflected puck hit him above the eye during the 2008 Eastern Conference Final.
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