Nate Guenin Explained

Played For:Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Columbus Blue Jackets
Anaheim Ducks
Colorado Avalanche
Position:Defense
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:211
Birth Date:10 December 1982
Birth Place:Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Draft:127th overall
Draft Year:2002
Draft Team:New York Rangers
Career Start:2006
Career End:2017

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

Playing career

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]

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

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1999–2000Pittsburgh Hornets 18U AAA18U AAA4031013122
2000–01Green Bay GamblersUSHL54211137041126
2001–02Green Bay GamblersUSHL5641115150733610
2002–03Ohio State BuckeyesCCHA42291175
2003–04Ohio State BuckeyesCCHA292151792
2004–05Ohio State BuckeyesCCHA4121214136
2005–06Ohio State BuckeyesCCHA390111187
2006–07Philadelphia PhantomsAHL68391292
2006–07Philadelphia FlyersNHL90224
2007–08Philadelphia PhantomsAHL77413171461201118
2007–08Philadelphia FlyersNHL20002
2008–09Philadelphia PhantomsAHL620141495400010
2008–09Philadelphia FlyersNHL10000
2009–10Wilkes–Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL4132563
2009–10Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL20000
2009–10Peoria RivermenAHL272111335
2010–11Springfield FalconsAHL3005521
2010–11Columbus Blue JacketsNHL30002
2010–11Syracuse CrunchAHL422101244
2011–12Anaheim DucksNHL152026
2011–12Syracuse CrunchAHL2705516400014
2012–13Norfolk AdmiralsAHL664202438
2013–14Colorado AvalancheNHL681894670114
2014–15Colorado AvalancheNHL762131532
2015–16Colorado AvalancheNHL290002
2015–16San Antonio RampageAHL24291114
2016–17San Diego GullsAHL562101228101120
AHL totals521221081305923012342
NHL totals205523289470114

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
CCHA All-Academic Team2004
All-CCHA Second Team2005
CCHA Champion2004

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NHL Hockey Players from Western Pennsylvania . . 2010-05-26 . 2010-05-26.
  2. Web site: Penguins deal Western Pennsylvania native Guenin . Post-gazette.com . 2010-02-11 . 2010-02-11.
  3. News: Blue Jackets minor moves . . 2010-07-02 . 2010-07-02 .
  4. Web site: Blue Jackets 3, Wild 2 . . 2010-10-16 . 2011-01-04.
  5. Web site: Ducks acquire Guenin from Blue Jackets for Trevor Smith . . 2011-01-04 . 2011-01-04.
  6. Web site: Ducks sign Guenin to two-year extension . . 2011-06-17 . 2011-06-17.
  7. Web site: Avalanche announce signings . . 2013-07-05 . 2013-07-05.
  8. News: Avalanche's Nate Guenin took long, hard road to reach NHL . . 2013-10-24 . 2013-11-11.
  9. News: Nate Guenin signed by Avs to two-year extension . . 2014-01-07 . 2014-01-07.
  10. News: Avs place Nate Guenin on waivers . . 2016-01-13 . 2016-01-13.
  11. Web site: Ducks sign Guenin to one-year contract . . 2016-07-02 . 2016-07-02.