Playing Career
Flatley was drafted 21st overall by the New York Islanders in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Picking up where he left off on The Canadian National Team in 1983–84, where he scored 31 goals in 57 games, Flatley had a sensational rookie playoff campaign. Put on a line with Brent Sutter and Clark Gillies, Flatley scored 9 goals through the first three rounds of the playoffs and was a big contributor in the Islanders drive for their fifth consecutive Stanley Cup. However, the Islanders lost in the finals to the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers. Flatley never got another chance to play for the Cup.
Although he never emerged as a top scorer, Flatley did become a highly effective role player, adding smart positional play, strong defense, and grit to the Islanders teams in the late 1980s and 1990s. Flatley was sometimes referred to as "the chairman of the boards" because he rarely failed to dig the puck out in battles in the corners. In 1991 he was named the Islanders' fifth captain. Prior to the 1996-97 season, Flatley signed a one year deal with the New York Rangers.
He played 780 career NHL games, scoring 170 goals and 340 assists for 510 points. His best offensive season, pointswise, was the 1992–93 season when he scored 47 assists and 60 points.
Read more about this topic: Patrick Flatley
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