Eric Fehr

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Eric Fehr
Fehr with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016
Born (1985-09-07) September 7, 1985 (age 38)
Winkler, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 208 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 lb)
Position Centre / Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Washington Capitals
Winnipeg Jets
HPK
Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs
San Jose Sharks
Minnesota Wild
Genève-Servette HC
Ak Bars Kazan
NHL Draft 18th overall, 2003
Washington Capitals
Playing career 2005–2022

Eric Fehr (born September 7, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He most recently played under contract with Ak Bars Kazan in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was drafted in the first round, 18th overall, by the Washington Capitals in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. In addition to two separate stints with Washington, Fehr has also played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins (with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2016), Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks and the Minnesota Wild. Fehr initially ended his professional career after having played two seasons with Genève-Servette HC of the National League (NL) before resuming to play in the KHL.

In 2014, Fehr became a published author, writing an anti-bullying children's book titled "The Bulliest Dozer".[1] Proceeds from book sales benefited charity.[1]

In 2022, after a 17-year professional playing career where he won a Calder Cup, Spengler Cup, and Stanley Cup, Fehr returned to his hometown to join the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League as the team's director of player development.

Playing career[edit]

Fehr with the Capitals in 2013.

Fehr was a first-round draft pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, chosen 18th overall.

Fehr played 11 games with the Capitals in the 2005–06 season, going scoreless with two penalty minutes and an even plus-minus rating. He spent the rest of the season with Washington's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hershey Bears, and ultimately returned to Hershey to start the 2006–07 season. He played a brief callup with the Capitals early into the 2006–07 season, and was later recalled again in late January. His first game back with the Capitals came on January 27, 2007; in the same game, Fehr scored his first career NHL goal, which would be the eventual game-winner in the Capitals' 7–3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.[2]

Fehr recovered from a herniated disc injury and was called up to the Capitals on February 4, 2008.[3]

On July 8, 2011, Fehr was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2012 and prospect Danick Paquette.[4] Fehr underwent surgery on his right shoulder in October 2011 and eventually missed the majority of the season due to recurring problems with the shoulder.[5] Fehr was not given a qualifying offer by the Jets at the end of the 2011–12 season, thereby making him an unrestricted free agent.[6]

Due to the 2012–13 NHL lock-out, Fehr signed his first European contract with HPK of the Finnish SM-liiga on October 23, 2012.[7] He then returned to the Capitals organization after signing a one-year, $600,000 contract on January 13, 2013.[8]

At the conclusion of the 2014–15 season, and as an impending free agent, Fehr underwent elbow surgery for a recovery period of 4–6 months. With his injury delaying his involvement for the following season, Fehr was later signed to a three-year, $6 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 28, 2015.[9] Fehr made his debut, after missing the first 10 games of the Penguins season, against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 31, 2015. He scored a shorthanded goal and added an assist in a 4–0 Penguins victory.[10] He scored another shorthanded goal in the next game, a 3–2 win against the Vancouver Canucks, and thus became the first player in NHL history to score a shorthanded goal in his first two games with a team.[11] In 2016, Fehr won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins.

On February 28, 2017, one day before the trade deadline, Fehr was placed on waivers for the purpose of being sent to the American Hockey League.[12] He had largely played on the Penguins' fourth line, and was seen as a player to bench once several injured Penguins' players returned from injury.[12] In the weeks approaching the deadline, Fehr had been a frequent healthy scratch.[12] He cleared the following day, but was then traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, alongside Steven Oleksy and a 2017 fourth-round pick, in exchange for Frank Corrado in an effort to clear cap space for the Penguins.[13] Fehr was a healthy scratch for the Maple Leafs for nine games due to a plethora of forwards, but an injury to Nikita Soshnikov on March 20 allowed Fehr to make his season debut two nights later against the Columbus Blue Jackets.[14] Fehr played adequately in his limited role on the fourth line but broke his left hand in the game, effectively ending his season.[15]

Heading into the 2017–18 season, Fehr battled with Dominic Moore, who was signed by Toronto in the off-season, for the fourth-line centre spot.[16] After appearing in four games for the Maple Leafs, Fehr was placed on waivers on October 23, effectively losing the fourth-line centre role to Moore.[17] On November 7, Fehr was loaned to the San Diego Gulls, AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, by the Toronto Maple Leafs.[18] On February 20, 2018, the Maple Leafs traded Fehr to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2020 draft.[19] On March 12, 2018, Fehr scored his first goal as a San Jose Shark, giving the Sharks a 2–1 lead, in a 5–3 victory against the Detroit Red Wings.[20] Fehr was used in a fourth-line role, adding a physical edge and veteran presence, he appeared in 10 games through the playoffs, posting a goal and assist.

Fehr with the Jets in 2012.

A free agent in the off-season, Fehr left the Sharks and secured a one-year, $1 million contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2018.[21] Playing on the Wild's fourth line, Fehr featured in 72 games during the 2018–19 season, contributing with 7 goals and 15 points as Minnesota missed the playoffs for the first time in 7 seasons.

As a free agent, Fehr returned to Europe, agreeing to a one-year contract with Swiss club Genève-Servette HC of the NL on July 20, 2019.[22] On May 27, 2020, it was officially announced that Fehr would not return to the team for the 2020-21 season. Despite this announcement, Fehr was brought back to the team on July 13, 2020, agreeing to a one-year deal for the 2020–21 season. He made it to the NL final with Genève-Servette but the team was swept by EV Zug, finishing as runner-up. Fehr retired from professional hockey following the 2021 playoffs.[23]

On December 21, 2021, Fehr returned to the professional circuit, signing a contract with Russian KHL club Ak Bars Kazan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[24]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season and playoffs[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000–01 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2001–02 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 63 11 16 27 29 12 1 1 2 0
2002–03 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 70 26 29 55 76 17 4 8 12 26
2003–04 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 71 50 34 84 129 7 5 0 5 16
2004–05 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 71 59 52 111 91 24 16 16 32 47
2005–06 Hershey Bears AHL 70 25 28 53 70 19 8 3 11 8
2005–06 Washington Capitals NHL 11 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2006–07 Hershey Bears AHL 40 22 19 41 63 — — — — —
2006–07 Washington Capitals NHL 14 2 1 3 8 — — — — —
2007–08 Hershey Bears AHL 11 3 4 7 4 2 1 3 4 2
2007–08 Washington Capitals NHL 23 1 5 6 6 5 1 0 1 0
2008–09 Washington Capitals NHL 61 12 13 25 22 9 0 0 0 0
2009–10 Washington Capitals NHL 69 21 18 39 24 7 3 1 4 4
2010–11 Washington Capitals NHL 52 10 10 20 16 5 1 0 1 0
2011–12 Winnipeg Jets NHL 35 2 1 3 12 — — — — —
2012–13 HPK SM-l 21 13 12 25 22 — — — — —
2012–13 Washington Capitals NHL 41 9 8 17 10 7 0 0 0 6
2013–14 Washington Capitals NHL 73 13 18 31 32 — — — — —
2014–15 Washington Capitals NHL 75 19 14 33 20 4 0 0 0 2
2015–16 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 55 8 6 14 19 23 3 1 4 6
2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 52 6 5 11 14 — — — — —
2016–17 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 4 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2017–18 San Diego Gulls AHL 34 17 11 28 33 — — — — —
2017–18 San Jose Sharks NHL 14 3 1 4 0 10 1 1 2 6
2018–19 Minnesota Wild NHL 72 7 8 15 30 — — — — —
2019–20 Genève–Servette HC NL 44 15 19 34 46 — — — — —
2020–21 Genève–Servette HC NL 50 21 21 42 153 11 3 3 6 34
2021–22 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 5 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0
NHL totals 652 113 102 221 217 70 9 3 12 24

International[edit]

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2001 Canada Western U17 6th 5 0 1 1 20
Junior totals 5 0 1 1 20

Awards and honours[edit]

Awards Year
WHL
East First All-Star Team 2005
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2016 [25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Alex Prewitt (October 4, 2014). "Eric Fehr wrote an anti-bullying children's book called "The Bulliest Dozer"". The Washington Post.
  2. ^ "Capitals 7, Hurricanes 3". Yahoo! Sports. January 27, 2007. Retrieved January 30, 2007.
  3. ^ "Finally Fehr". DumpnChase.com. February 4, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
  4. ^ Katie Carrera (July 8, 2011). "Washington Capitals trade Eric Fehr to Winnipeg Jets". washingtonpost.com.
  5. ^ "TSN Eric Fehr Bio – Transactions, Injuries, Suspensions".
  6. ^ Brian Munz (June 25, 2012). "CHEVELDAYOFF HAPPY WITH DRAFT; CUTS TIES WITH FEHR". tsn.ca.
  7. ^ "Eric Fehr signs with Finnish team". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015.
  8. ^ "Capitals Sign Eric Fehr". Washington Capitals. January 13, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  9. ^ "Penguins agree to terms with Eric Fehr on a three-year contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 28, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  10. ^ "3 Impressions: Pens 4, Leafs 0". Pittsburgh Penguins. October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  11. ^ "Eric Fehr scores another shorty, has as many goals as Crosby". russianmachineneverbreaks.com. November 5, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c "NHL Trade Deadline: Fehr on waivers, Penguins clearing salary for a move?". SB Nation. February 28, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  13. ^ "Maple Leafs acquire Fehr, Oleksy and pick from Penguins for Corrado". Sportsnet.ca. March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  14. ^ "Fehr excited to make debut with Leafs". TSN. March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  15. ^ "Leafs' Eric Fehr injured in first game". Toronto Sun. March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  16. ^ "Leaf Dominic Moore's sour mood about sitting could change this week". Toronto Sun. January 18, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  17. ^ "Leafs place forward Eric Fehr on waivers". Sportsnet. October 23, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  18. ^ "Maple Leafs Trade Eric Fehr to San Jose". NHL.com. February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  19. ^ "Sharks Acquire Forward Eric Fehr from Maple Leafs". NHL.com. February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  20. ^ "Fehr's 1st goal for Sharks helps fuel 5–3 win over Red Wings". theScore.com. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  21. ^ "Wild inks Fehr to one-year contract". Minnesota Wild. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  22. ^ "Fourth foreigner signed on a one-year contract with Eric Fehr" (in French). Genève-Servette HC. July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  23. ^ "GSHC's Eric Fehr to retire". swisshockeynews.ch. May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  24. ^ "Ak Bars sign Canadian Eric Fehr" (in Russian). Ak Bars Kazan. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  25. ^ "Penguins win Stanley Cup, defeat Sharks in Game 6". National Hockey League. June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.

External links[edit]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Washington Capitals first round draft pick
2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the WHL Bob Clarke Trophy
2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the WHL Four Broncos Memorial Trophy
2005 		Succeeded by
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