Craig Rivet

Anthony Craig Rivet (/ˈrɪvɪt/; born September 13, 1974) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played 18 seasons in the NHL, including 12 with the Montreal Canadiens. He later played for the San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, and Columbus Blue Jackets before finishing his career with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL.

Craig Rivet
Rivet with the San Jose Sharks
Born (1974-09-13) September 13, 1974
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Right
Played for Montreal Canadiens
San Jose Sharks
Buffalo Sabres
Columbus Blue Jackets
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 68th overall, 1992
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 19942012

Playing career

Junior career

Rivet was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft from the Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League. He was drafted in the third round, 68th overall. Upon being drafted, he recorded junior career highs in 1992–93 with 19 goals, 55 assists, and 74 points. He added 12 points in the playoffs as Kingston advanced to the semi-finals but were eliminated by the Peterborough Petes in five games.

Montreal Canadiens

After spending his first few professional seasons with Montreal's AHL affiliate, the Fredericton Canadiens, Rivet earned a full-time roster spot with Montreal in 1997–98 and became an alternate captain to Saku Koivu during his time with the team.[1] After a 25-point season with a career-high 8 goals in 2001–02, he re-signed with the Canadiens to a four-year, $12 million contract extension.[1] In 2005–06, Rivet improved to 34 points, his best offensive output with the Canadiens.

San Jose Sharks

With his contract set to expire at the end of the 2006–07 season, Rivet was traded on February 25, 2007, to the San Jose Sharks with a fifth-round draft pick in 2008 for Josh Gorges and a first-round draft pick in 2007.[2] This pick would later be used to draft former Canadien captain Max Pacioretty (currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes). Before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the off-season, he re-signed with the Sharks to a four-year, US$14 million contract, citing San Jose's fan base and competitiveness as major factors in staying with the club.[3] He reportedly chose that offer over San Jose's offer of $12 million over the same time span, but with a no-trade clause. In the first season of his new contract, he recorded a career-high 30 assists and 35 points, topping all team defencemen in scoring (Brian Campbell finished with more points overall during the season, but only scored 19 of his points with San Jose).[4]

Buffalo Sabres

On July 4, 2008, Rivet was traded to the Buffalo Sabres with a 2010 seventh round draft pick in exchange for two second round selections in the 2009 and 2010 drafts.[5] Before making his 2008–09 debut with the Sabres, he was named team captain on October 8, replacing Jason Pominville, the last to be named captain as part of the Sabres rotating captaincy the previous season.[6] At the end of the 2009-10 season, it was revealed that Rivet's play in the previous two seasons had been hampered by a double labrum tear, for which he would have off-season surgery. Despite initial estimates of 4–6 months for recovery, which would have impinged on the start of the 2010-11 season, he was expected to return for training camp.[7] Despite this, the veteran defenseman announced that the 2010-11 season might be his last in the NHL.[8] Rivet was waived by Buffalo on February 23, 2011.[9]

Portland Pirates

After clearing waivers on February 24, 2011, Rivet was reassigned to the Sabres' American Hockey League farm team, the Portland Pirates.[10][11]

Columbus Blue Jackets

On February 26, 2011, Rivet was claimed on re-entry waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets.[12]

Elmira Jackals

On October 10, 2011, Rivet signed a deal with the Elmira Jackals just 6 months after announcing his retirement. He later revealed the move was necessary to obtain his United States permanent residency. [13]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1990–91 Barrie Colts CJHL 429172655
1991–92 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 665212697
1992–93 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 64195574117 16571239
1993–94 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 61125264100 60336
1993–94 Fredericton Canadiens AHL 40222
1994–95 Fredericton Canadiens AHL 7852732126 1204417
1994–95 Montreal Canadiens NHL 50115
1995–96 Fredericton Canadiens AHL 4951823189 600012
1995–96 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1914554
1996–97 Fredericton Canadiens AHL 233121599
1996–97 Montreal Canadiens NHL 3504454 501114
1997–98 Montreal Canadiens NHL 6102293 50002
1998–99 Montreal Canadiens NHL 66281066
1999–2000 Montreal Canadiens NHL 613141776
2000–01 Montreal Canadiens NHL 2612336
2001–02 Montreal Canadiens NHL 828172576 120334
2002–03 Montreal Canadiens NHL 827152271
2003–04 Montreal Canadiens NHL 80481298 111452
2004–05 TPS SM-l 1831428 600039
2005–06 Montreal Canadiens NHL 8272734109 60222
2006–07 Montreal Canadiens NHL 546101657
2006–07 San Jose Sharks NHL 1717812 1123518
2007–08 San Jose Sharks NHL 7453035104 1306616
2008–09 Buffalo Sabres NHL 6422224125
2009–10 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7811415100 610111
2010–11 Buffalo Sabres NHL 2312312
2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 1410123
2011–12 Elmira Jackals ECHL 6151924102 102350
NHL totals 923501862371171 694192369

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
2003 Canada WC 9 0 1 1 6

International play

Rivet made one international appearance for Team Canada at the 2003 World Championships in Finland. He recorded 1 assist in 9 games as Team Canada captured the gold medal against Sweden 3-2 in the final.

Post-hockey career

Rivet co-hosted "The Instigators" with Andrew Peters on WGR 550 out of Buffalo and MSG Western New York.[14] After stepping down from the show in September 2021, Rivet is currently co-hosting the podcast "After The Whistle" reunited with Andrew Peters.

References

  1. "Habs sign Craig Rivet to extension". CBC. 2002-09-26. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  2. "Canadiens trade Rivet". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  3. "Sharks re-sign D Rivet to four-year deal". ESPN. 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  4. "2007-08 San Jose Sharks (NHL)". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  5. "Sharks deal Rivet to Sabres for draft picks". International Herald-Tribune. 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  6. "Rivet is Sabres' new captain". The Globe and Mail. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  7. "Regier optimistic on Rivet's shoulder rehab". The Buffalo News. 2010-08-21. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
  8. "Sabres Rivet may be playing his last year". WGR550. 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
  9. "Sabres' first roster move: Rivet on waivers ". Buffalo News. 2011-02-23. Archived from the original on 2011-02-26. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  10. Roy, Chris (February 24, 2011). "Dineen not impressed with schedule; Rivet clears waivers". mainehockeyjournal.bangordailynews.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  11. Wrgz.com Buffalo Sabres Captain Craig Rivet Clears Waivers
  12. "Columbus Blue Jackets Claim Defenseman Craig Rivet Off Waivers from the Buffalo Sabres". NHL.com. February 26, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  13. "Ex-Sabres captain Rivet signs in ECHL". National Hockey League. 2011-10-10. Archived from the original on 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  14. "The Instigators". NHL.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
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