Phil Esposito's Kevo

There was a section in the old Boston Garden called the Esposito section. The only part of the ice one could see from that area was right in front of the net: the slot area. Phil Esposito made that area his home. He scored more goals standing in front of the net then any player in NHL history. Many called them garbage goals, but they still counted. Esposito grew up in Soo Saint Marie, Ontario. When he was coming up through the hockey system there was not a draft and 16 year olds signed a C-form, giving their rights to a team. Esposito signed with the Chicago Black Hawks. He did not originally impress the management of the Black Hawks. They figured he would be a third line center, maybe second line at best.

In 1967, Esposito's career took a turn for the better when he was traded to the Boston Bruins. All of a sudden, Esposito was at the top of the league in scoring. His second season in Boston, he scored 126 points. Two years later, he led the league in scoring with 152 points and set an NHL record for most goals in a season with 76. The record was later broken by Wayne Gretzky.

Esposito was at home in Boston. He led the league in scoring for four years straight. He also helped the Bruins to two Stanley Cups. In addition to his point scoring in the NHL, Esposito took part in the 1972 Summit Super Series. He scored 13 points in 8 games and assisted on the series-winning goal.

It wasn't just his point production that made him so valuable, it was his leadership. When the entire country of Canada seemed against their team in Vancouver, it was Esposito who lashed out at the press and the nation. He gave with his heart every second of the Super Series. He was on a personal mission to beat the Russians. Esposito took the money NHL players were making seriously, too. He was named President of the National Hockey League Players' Association to fight for the rights of players.. Life was good for Esposito, until one day in Vancouver in 1975 he was traded to the New York Rangers. It was the one team he didn't want to go to. He spent five full seasons in New York. He even led the team to the Stanley Cup finals in 1979. But his point production was not even close to his totals in Boston. In 1981, he decided to retire as a player.

After his retirement, Esposito worked in broadcasting. In 1986, he was named general manager of the New York Rangers. During his tenure he fought with coaches and with the press. He made so many player trades he was nicknamed "Trade'm Phil". His style of management was compared to the way George Steinbrenner micromanage's the Yankees. In 1989, he was fired from the New York Rangers.

That did not keep him out of hockey. Instead he went to work on bringing an expansion team to Tampa Bay. He became the first president and general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 1998, after an ownership change, Esposito was again fired. This time he went to work as a commentator for Fox Sports. He was one of the first to interview Wayne Gretzky after he announced his retirement.

Esposito has not softened much over the years. A few years back, while in Tampa he was accused of making a sexist comment. The one thing he has softened up on is his view of the Russians. The man who was once determined to bring down the entire Soviet Empire with his hockey stick witnessed his daughter marring Russian NHL player Alexander Selivanov. Even old warriors like Esposito realize the Cold War is over.
Work History
(1999) Fox Sports Hockey Expert

(1998) Fired as General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

(1992) General Manager and President of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

(1989) Fired as General Manager of the New York Rangers.

(1986) Named General Manager of the New York Rangers.

(1981) Retired from the NHL.

(1980) Scored 78 points.

(1979) Led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Finals. Scored 78 pt.

(1978) Scored 81 pt.

(1977) Scored 80 pt.

(1976) Scored 83 pt.

(1975) Traded from the Boston Bruins to the New York Rangers. Scored 127 pt. including 61 goals. (1974) Scored a league high 145 pt. including 68 goals.

(1973) Scored a league high 130 pt. including 55 goals.

(1972) Represented Canada in the 1972 Summit Super Series. Won the Stanley Cup. Scored a league high 133 pt. including 66 goals.

(1971) Scored a league high 152 pt. including 76 goals, which at the time was an NHL record. (1970) Won the Stanley Cup. Scored 99 pt including 43 goals. Scored 24 pt in 14 playoff games. (1969) Scored 126 pt including a league high 77 assists.

(1968) Scored 84 pt. including a league high 49 assists. (1967) Traded from the Chicago Black Hawks to the Boston Bruins. Scored 61 pt. (1966) Scored 53 pt. (1965) Scored 55 pt. (1963) Signed with the Chicago Black Hawks
Affiliations
Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
Awards
Phil Esposito has also won numerous Awards