Nathaniel Lawrence Guenin (born December 10, 1982) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Nate Guenin
Guenin with the Colorado Avalanche in 2014
Born (1982-12-10) December 10, 1982 (age 41)
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Right
Played for Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Columbus Blue Jackets
Anaheim Ducks
Colorado Avalanche
NHL draft 127th overall, 2002
New York Rangers
Playing career 2006–2017

Playing career

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Guenin played high school hockey in the Pittsburgh suburb of Hopewell. He was drafted 127th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. After completing a four-year collegiate career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Guenin was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers on August 16, 2006. Nate made his professional debut in the 2006–07 season with the Flyers affiliate the Phantoms of the American Hockey League. Later in the season Guenin made his NHL debut with the Flyers. Guenin recorded his first and second assists on March 31, 2007 vs. the New Jersey Devils.[1]

After spending the next two seasons primarily with the Phantoms, Guenin signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 3, 2009. On February 11, 2010, Guenin was traded by the Penguins to the St. Louis Blues for Steven Wagner.[2]

 
Guenin with the Anaheim Ducks in 2012

On July 2, 2010, Guenin signed a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.[3] He was assigned to start the 2010–11 season with AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, but was later recalled and made his Blue Jackets debut in a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on October 16, 2010.[4] After 3 games with Columbus, Guenin was returned to the Falcons and on January 4, 2011, was traded by the Blue Jackets to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Trevor Smith.[5]

Guenin was signed to two-year extension with Anaheim on June 17, 2011.[6] In the following 2011–12 season, Guenin made the Ducks opening night roster. His first NHL goal was scored on October 7, 2011 as a member of the Ducks against Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres. Guenin played in 15 games with the Ducks before he was reassigned to the Syracuse Crunch.

With the NHL lockout in effect, Guenin was directly assigned to captain new Ducks AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals for the 2012–13 season. On January 13, 2013, he was waived by the Anaheim Ducks in preparation of the shortened NHL season before returning to the Admirals. In 66 games, Guenin contributed with 4 goals and 24 points.

On July 5, 2013, Guenin was signed to a one-year, two way contract as a free agent with the Colorado Avalanche.[7] Guenin impressed Avalanche coach Patrick Roy with his performance in the training camp before the season which led to him staying up with the NHL team for the start of the season. After playing the first 9 games with the Avalanche, Roy told Guenin he would be staying in the NHL for the rest of the season.[8] Midway through the season, having held down his position among the Colorado blueline, Guenin was signed to a two-year contract extension on January 7, 2014.[9]

In the 2015–16 season, Guenin struggled to reproduce his previous season form and was healthy scratched after going scoreless in 29 games. He was waived by the Avalanche on January 13, 2016 in order to bring up rookie defenseman Chris Bigras and Nikita Zadorov.[10] Unclaimed, Guenin remained with the Avalanche as a reserve defenseman before he was again placed on waivers and assigned to AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, on February 18, 2016.

At the conclusion of his contract and tenure with the Avalanche, Guenin signed a one-year, two-way contract to return for a second stint with the Anaheim Ducks on July 2, 2016. He is also a distant relative of Binghamton Bearcats defenseman, Nick Perry.[11]

Career statistics

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Guenin with the Colorado Avalanche in 2013
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–2000 Pittsburgh Hornets 18U AAA 18U AAA 40 3 10 13 122
2000–01 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 54 2 11 13 70 4 1 1 2 6
2001–02 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 56 4 11 15 150 7 3 3 6 10
2002–03 Ohio State Buckeyes CCHA 42 2 9 11 75
2003–04 Ohio State Buckeyes CCHA 29 2 15 17 92
2004–05 Ohio State Buckeyes CCHA 41 2 12 14 136
2005–06 Ohio State Buckeyes CCHA 39 0 11 11 87
2006–07 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 68 3 9 12 92
2006–07 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 9 0 2 2 4
2007–08 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 77 4 13 17 146 12 0 1 1 18
2007–08 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 2 0 0 0 2
2008–09 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 62 0 14 14 95 4 0 0 0 10
2008–09 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2009–10 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 41 3 2 5 63
2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 2 0 0 0 0
2009–10 Peoria Rivermen AHL 27 2 11 13 35
2010–11 Springfield Falcons AHL 30 0 5 5 21
2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 3 0 0 0 2
2010–11 Syracuse Crunch AHL 42 2 10 12 44
2011–12 Anaheim Ducks NHL 15 2 0 2 6
2011–12 Syracuse Crunch AHL 27 0 5 5 16 4 0 0 0 14
2012–13 Norfolk Admirals AHL 66 4 20 24 38
2013–14 Colorado Avalanche NHL 68 1 8 9 46 7 0 1 1 4
2014–15 Colorado Avalanche NHL 76 2 13 15 32
2015–16 Colorado Avalanche NHL 29 0 0 0 2
2015–16 San Antonio Rampage AHL 24 2 9 11 14
2016–17 San Diego Gulls AHL 56 2 10 12 28 10 1 1 2 0
AHL totals 521 22 108 130 592 30 1 2 3 42
NHL totals 205 5 23 28 94 7 0 1 1 4

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
CCHA All-Academic Team 2004
All-CCHA Second Team 2005
CCHA Champion 2004

References

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  1. ^ "NHL Hockey Players from Western Pennsylvania". Pittsburgh Penguins. May 26, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  2. ^ "Penguins deal Western Pennsylvania native Guenin". Post-gazette.com. February 11, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  3. ^ "Blue Jackets minor moves". The Columbus Dispatch. July 2, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  4. ^ "Blue Jackets 3, Wild 2". CBS Sports. October 16, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  5. ^ "Ducks acquire Guenin from Blue Jackets for Trevor Smith". The Sports Network. January 4, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  6. ^ "Ducks sign Guenin to two-year extension". Anaheim Ducks. June 17, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  7. ^ "Avalanche announce signings". Colorado Avalanche. July 5, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  8. ^ "Avalanche's Nate Guenin took long, hard road to reach NHL". The Denver Post. October 24, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  9. ^ "Nate Guenin signed by Avs to two-year extension". Denver Post. January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Avs place Nate Guenin on waivers". Denver Post. January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  11. ^ "Ducks sign Guenin to one-year contract". Anaheim Ducks. July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
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