Boyd Devereaux - Playing Career

Playing Career

Devereaux spent his junior hockey career playing for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was drafted 6th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft and has, as of 2009, played 604 career NHL games, scoring 61 goals and 107 assists for 168 points.

In the summer of 2000, he signed with the Detroit Red Wings, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2002 In 2004, he signed with the Phoenix Coyotes, where he played for one season. In October 2006, after failing to make the Red Wings roster on a tryout basis, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed him. He began the season in the American Hockey League with the Toronto Marlies but quickly worked his way back to the NHL. After a season and a half with the Maple Leafs, Devereaux cleared waivers and was sent back to the Marlies for the 2008-09 season.

On February 14, 2009, Devereaux was recalled to play for the Maple Leafs again after he was put on re-entry waivers and no other team opted to claim him. In the final game of the season, against the Ottawa Senators, Devereaux recorded his second career hat-trick, scoring all three goals against Brian Elliott.

While competing in the Spengler Cup in Switzerland on 28 December 2009, Devereaux was collecting a loose puck from the offensive zone when he was caught with his head down and checked by HC Davos defenceman Beat Forster. After being helped from the ice, Devereaux noticed tingling sensations in his limbs and was rushed to hospital. X-rays revealed fractured vertebra. After an MRI, it was decided by the medical staff that surgery was not an option, and that the best course of action was to allow the break to attempt to heal on its own. Devereaux's neck was braced and he was allowed home. Devereaux is currently living in Kitchener, ON Canada. He eventually contacted the Leafs medical staff and has had surgery for his neck injury.

Devereaux is a participant in the current (as of October 2011) season of Battle of the Blades.