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Daniel Girardi
Daniel Girardi
Daniel Girardi
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Daniel Girardi (born April 29, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Undrafted, Girardi played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning as a stay-at-home defenseman. He is currently a development coach for the Buffalo Sabres.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Girardi was born on April 29, 1984, in Welland, Ontario[1] to Carol and Mark Girardi.[2] He attended Glendale Public School and Welland Centennial Secondary School while competing with the local minor hockey team.[3] As a teenager, Girardi worked as a dishwasher for a local Chinese buffet restaurant.[4]

Playing career

[edit]

Junior

[edit]

Girardi played as a forward at the Atom level but was encouraged to switch to defence once he started Pee-Wee after struggling to score.[5] At the age of 15, Girardi competed with the Junior B Welland Cougars in the Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League.[3] He recorded two goal and 16 assists through 47 games with the Cougars[1] and was drafted by Barrie Colts in the 2000 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection.[3] During his first year with the Colts, Girardi split his time between the OHL and the Jr. A Couchiching Terriers.[6]

During an exhibition game before the 2001–02 season, Girardi suffered a lacerated spleen following a hit along the boards.[7] The injury caused him to become jaundiced and lose weight.[8] Girardi missed two-thirds of the season to recover[6] and was limited to only 21 games with the Colts.[1] His injury and limited playing time severely impacted his prospects in the NHL entry draft.[7] Girardi began the 2002–03 season with the Colts but was traded to the Guelph Storm after recording 16 points through 31 games.[9][10] He spent the remainder of the season with the Storm and was honoured with their Most Improved Player award.[11]

In the 2003–04 season, Girardi was named an assistant captain for Guelph[12] and set new career highs with eight goals and 39 assists.[1] His shutdown defensive methods in the OHL playoffs earned him the attention of New York Rangers scout Rich Brown. Brown was specifically impressed by Girardi's ability to defend against Corey Perry and the London Knights in the Finals.[13] Girardi recorded two goals and 17 assists in the playoffs en route to his first J. Ross Robertson Cup.[10]

Despite impressing the Rangers scout, Girardi went undrafted for a third time and returned to the Storm for the 2004–05 season. He recorded five goals and 20 assists with the Storm before being traded to the Knights[10] in exchange for left winger Rick Steadman and a 2nd round pick in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection.[14] After Girardi and the Knights won the for J. Ross Robertson Cup, Brown invited Rangers director of player personnel to watch his performance against Sidney Crosby in the 2005 Memorial Cup tournament.[13] Brown was further impressed after learning Girardi played the entire playoffs with a broken hand.[7]

Professional

[edit]

ECHL and AHL

[edit]

Following the Memorial Cup, Girardi was invited to the Rangers 2005 training camp as a free agent. He spent six days at the camp before being cut from the team.[15] Despondent by his lack of success, Girardi considered enrolling at Brock University and playing for the Brock Badgers ice hockey team.[7] However, he was then offered a two-way contract with the Rangers American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, and the team's ECHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.[15] He started the 2005–06 season with the Checkers but only played seven games before being recalled to the AHL as an injury replacement.[16] Between February 24 and March 4, Girardi maintained a six-game scoring streak, including four multiple-point games. He spent the remainder of the season in the AHL and finished with eight goals and 30 assists over 63 games. As such, he was named to the American Hockey League All-Rookie Team at the conclusion of the season.[17] As a free agent, Girardi signed a two-way NHL contract with the Rangers on July 1, 2006.[18]

New York Rangers (2006–2017)

[edit]

Girardi began the 2006–07 season with the Wolf Pack in the AHL after playing in two exhibition games with the Rangers.[19] By January, Girardi ranked second among all AHL defensemen with 21 points and was named to the 2007 AHL All-Star Classic.[20] However, he was unable to participate in the All-Star Game as he was called up by the Rangers on January 25, following an injury to Darius Kasparaitis.[21] Girardi subsequently made his NHL debut on January 27, in a 2–1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. He played 11:58 minutes of ice time in the game and earned a minor penalty for interference.[12] Following his debut, Girardi remained in the NHL and was often paired with Wolf Pack teammate Fedor Tyutin as his defensive partner.[22][23] He recorded his first two NHL points, both assists, on February 17 against the Flyers.[24][25] Girardi spent the remainder of the regular season with the Rangers and tallied six assists through 34 NHL games. His defensive efforts were recognised by fans who voted him the Rangers' rookie of the year.[26] He also represented the Rangers in the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs but remained pointless through 10 games.[1] Girardi's defensive efforts were recognized by various teammates,[23] including Brendan Shanahan who described him as one of the team's best defensemen.[27]

Girardi as a member of the New York Rangers in January 2011.

Shortly after rejoining the Rangers for their 2007–08 season, Girardi scored his first NHL goal on October 18, 2007, against the Atlanta Thrashers.[28] After tallying eight goals and 14 assists through 60 games, Girardi signed a two-year, $3.1 million contract extension with the Rangers on February 17, 2008.[29][30] He finished the season with 10 goals and 18 assists to rank second among Rangers defencemen in points.[31]

Girardi and the Rangers began the 2008–09 season with a winning 7–2–1 record.[32] By mid-November, Girardi was tied for fifth in points and third in assists among all NHL defencemen.[33] However, the Rangers struggled as the season continued and they fell out of a playoff position with 21 games left in the season. As such, head coach Tom Renney was replaced with John Tortorella in February 2009.[34] Under Tortorella, Girardi shifted away being used in a more offensive role to being used in more "defense-minded" situations.[35] With this method, the Rangers qualified for the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs[36] and Girardi finished the regular season with four goals and 18 assists.[1] While Girardi and his defensive partner Marc Staal struggled in the playoffs, Tortorella reiterated his confidence in them and described the duo as "the foundation of our back end in the future."[37]

Girardi's defensive struggles continued into the 2009–10 season and he was publicly criticised by Tortorella for his lack of consistency.[38][39] While Girardi's play began to improve through November,[40] Tortorella split him up from Staal in December.[41] Girardi signed a four-year, $13.3 million contract with the Rangers on July 9, 2010.[42]

Girardi with the Rangers in October 2014.

For the 2011–12 season, Girardi was named an interim alternate captain for the Rangers while Staal was recovering from post-concussion syndrome.[43] In Staal's absence, Girardi led all NHL skaters in average ice-time, averaging nearly 28 minutes per game.[13] He also mentored sophomore Ryan McDonagh, who replaced Staal as his defensive partner.[7] Although he was originally left off of the 2012 National Hockey League All-Star Game roster,[44] Rangers fans launched a write-in campaign and earned him a roster spot.[7] Girardi scored his first playoff goal on April 26, 2012, against the Ottawa Senators in Game 7 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals.[45]

During the 2012–13 lockout-shortened season, Girardi was named an interim alternate captain for the Rangers a second time while Marc Staal was recovering from an injury.

During the 2013–14 season, on February 28, Girardi signed a six-year, $33 million extension with the Rangers. He was named an alternate captain for the Rangers for the remainder of the season when captain Ryan Callahan was traded at the NHL trade deadline to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Girardi's solid defensive play in the playoffs was a key part in the Rangers' run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost in five games to the Los Angeles Kings.

Girardi became a permanent alternate captain during the 2014–15 season, and spent most of the season on the Rangers' top defensive pairing with his former partner Ryan McDonagh. Girardi's solid defensive play that season led to the Rangers winning the Presidents' Trophy, as well as a run to the Eastern Conference Final, where the Rangers lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. Girardi suffered an injury in Game 1 of the first round series after taking a puck to the face.[46] In the offseason, Girardi and Staal underwent ankle surgery but were expected to recover in time for the 2015–16 season.[47]

Girardi started the 2015–16 season strong, contributing to a 14–2–2 start to the 2015–16 season for the Rangers. Midway through the season, however, the Rangers production began declining, with many critics blaming Girardi for the slump.[48] He missed the final five games before the NHL paused for the holiday break, and later revealed it was due to a crack in his right kneecap.[49] Although the Rangers qualified for the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, they were eliminated in the first round after five games.[50] Girardi played Game 1 of their first round series, but sat out of the next game due to a "whole body injury."[51] Girardi returned to the Rangers lineup for Game 5, where he recorded his only point of the playoffs.[50] Following their elimination, Girardi underwent ankle surgery to fix a bursa excision but was expected to recover in time to participate in the Rangers' 2015 training camp.[52]

Girardi returned to the Rangers lineup for the 2016–17 season but was swiftly reinjured in a mid-October game against the St. Louis Blues.[53] Shortly after recovering, Girardi suffered an illegal hit to the head during a contest against the Boston Bruins but remained in the game. Bruins forward David Pastrňák was later suspended two games for the hit.[54] Due to a decline in play and salary cap considerations, Girardi's contract was bought out by the Rangers on June 14, 2017.[55]

Tampa Bay Lightning (2017–2019)

[edit]

On July 1, 2017, Girardi signed as a free agent a two-year, $6 million deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning.[56] Girardi finished the 2017–18 season playing in 77 contests with six goals and 12 assists for 18 points. In game 4 of the second round in the 2018 playoffs against the Boston Bruins, Girardi scored an overtime goal on Bruins' goaltender Tuukka Rask to give the Lightning the win and a 3–1 series lead over the Boston Bruins.[57] The Lightning would eventually defeat the third-seeded Bruins in game five for a 4–1 series victory before getting defeated in seven games by the second-seeded and eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals in the third round, one win short from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals after initially building a 3–2 series lead along the way. Girardi would end the playoffs playing in all 17 games with two goals and an assists for three points recorded.

Girardi recorded four goals and 12 assists for 16 points in 62 games for the 2018–19 season as the Lightning would end the season winning their first Presidents' Trophy as the regular season champions for the first time in franchise history. In the 2019 playoffs, Girardi was held pointless in all four games played as the Lightning would unexpectedly get swept in the first round by the eighth seeded Columbus Blue Jackets.[58]

After going unsigned through the 2019 off-season, Girardi announced his retirement from hockey on September 20, 2019. Girardi retired 30th in playoff games played by a defenceman, and as the all-time leader in shots blocked, having blocked nearly 2,000 shots in his career (the league did not begin tracking blocked shots until 2005).[59]

Personal life

[edit]

Girardi and his wife Pam have two children together – a son and a daughter.[60]

Career statistics

[edit]
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–2000 Welland Cougars GHL 47 2 16 18 14 — — — — —
2000–01 Couchiching Terriers OPJHL 27 1 11 12 27 — — — — —
2000–01 Barrie Colts OHL 6 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2000–01 Welland Cougars GHL 11 1 4 5 4 9 1 3 4 8
2001–02 Barrie Colts OHL 21 0 1 1 0 20 0 0 0 0
2002–03 Barrie Colts OHL 31 3 13 16 24 — — — — —
2002–03 Guelph Storm OHL 36 1 13 14 20 11 0 9 9 14
2003–04 Guelph Storm OHL 68 8 39 47 55 22 2 17 19 10
2004–05 Guelph Storm OHL 38 5 20 25 24 — — — — —
2004–05 London Knights OHL 31 4 10 14 14 18 0 6 6 10
2005–06 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 7 1 4 5 6 — — — — —
2005–06 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 66 8 31 39 44 13 4 5 9 8
2006–07 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 45 2 22 24 16 — — — — —
2006–07 New York Rangers NHL 34 0 6 6 8 10 0 0 0 4
2007–08 New York Rangers NHL 82 10 18 28 14 10 0 3 3 6
2008–09 New York Rangers NHL 82 4 18 22 53 7 0 0 0 6
2009–10 New York Rangers NHL 82 6 18 24 53 — — — — —
2010–11 New York Rangers NHL 80 4 27 31 37 5 0 0 0 0
2011–12 New York Rangers NHL 82 5 24 29 20 20 3 9 12 2
2012–13 New York Rangers NHL 46 2 12 14 16 12 2 2 4 2
2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 81 5 19 24 16 25 1 6 7 10
2014–15 New York Rangers NHL 82 4 16 20 22 19 0 4 4 4
2015–16 New York Rangers NHL 74 2 15 17 20 2 0 1 1 0
2016–17 New York Rangers NHL 63 4 11 15 16 12 0 2 2 2
2017–18 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 77 6 12 18 27 17 2 1 3 2
2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 62 4 12 16 12 4 0 0 0 4
NHL totals 927 56 208 264 314 143 8 28 36 42

Awards and honours

[edit]
Award Year Ref
NHL
NHL All-Star 2012
AHL
AHL All-Rookie team 2006 [17]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Daniel Girardi

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Daniel Girardi (born April 29, 1984) is a Canadian former who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2006 to 2019, amassing 927 regular-season games with the and . Undrafted out of junior hockey, where he played for teams including the , , and of the (OHL), Girardi signed as a with the Rangers on , 2006 following a standout rookie season in the (AHL) with the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he earned All-Rookie Team honors. Over his career, he recorded 56 goals and 208 assists for 264 points, along with a +78 plus-minus rating, and appeared in 143 playoff games, tallying 8 goals and 28 assists for 36 points. Renowned for his defensive reliability and shot-blocking prowess—he once blocked 10 shots in a single game—Girardi was selected to the 2012 NHL and finished sixth in voting for the as the league's top during the 2011–12 season. Girardi spent the bulk of his career with the Rangers, playing 788 regular-season games and serving as an alternate captain from 2010 to 2017, during which he helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals three times and the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the . Bought out by the Rangers in June 2017, he signed as a with on July 1, 2017, and contributed to the Lightning's 2018 Eastern Conference Finals appearance before announcing his retirement on September 20, 2019, at age 35, citing a desire to prioritize family after a distinguished career marked by leadership and toughness.

Early life and junior career

Early life

Daniel Girardi was born on April 29, 1984, in , , , to parents Carol and Mark Girardi. Growing up in the close-knit industrial community of , a city of about 50,000 residents, Girardi was exposed to hockey from a young age, starting to play at five years old on a frozen outdoor pond with his father and friends. His family emphasized values of hard work and support, with his parents attending games and cheering him on regardless of outcomes, fostering a strong foundation for his dedication to the sport. Girardi attended Glendale Public School for his elementary education and later Welland Centennial . As a teenager, he took on a as a at Kimono’s Chinese Buffet and Restaurant in , working there for four years to help fund his hockey aspirations and equipment needs. This role instilled a profound in him, as he managed high-pressure shifts during busy dinners, learning to stay calm and efficient under demands that mirrored the discipline required in hockey. The supportive environment of , combined with his family's influence, shaped Girardi's approach to perseverance and community ties before he transitioned to organized junior hockey teams.

Junior career

Girardi began his organized junior hockey career with the Welland Cougars of the Junior B Hockey League, where he recorded 2 goals and 16 assists in 47 games during the 1999–2000 season. Selected by the in the third round (59th overall) of the 2000 (OHL) Priority Selection, Girardi made his OHL debut in the 2000–01 season, appearing in 6 games without recording a point. In the 2001–02 season, he suffered a lacerated in a preseason after being checked into the boards, an injury that sidelined him for two-thirds of the campaign; he returned to play 21 games for , earning 1 assist. Traded to the midway through the 2002–03 season, Girardi split the year between (31 games, 3 goals, 13 assists) and (36 games, 1 goal, 13 assists), finishing with 4 goals and 26 assists overall. He remained with for the 2003–04 season, serving as an alternate captain and posting career highs of 8 goals and 39 assists in 68 regular-season games; in the , he added 2 goals and 17 assists over 22 contests as the Storm captured the as OHL champions. During the 2004–05 season, after registering 5 goals and 20 assists in 38 games with , Girardi was traded to the Knights, where he contributed 4 goals and 10 assists in 31 regular-season outings. He recorded 6 assists in 18 playoff games to help London win the , and the Knights went on to claim the , with Girardi playing a key defensive role in the tournament. Over his OHL tenure spanning 2000–05 with the Colts, , and Knights, Girardi appeared in 231 regular-season games, tallying 21 goals and 96 assists for 117 points. Undrafted in the NHL Entry Draft, Girardi was invited to the ' training camp in 2005.

Professional career

Development in minor leagues

After going undrafted in the 2003 and 2004 NHL Entry Drafts, Girardi signed a minor league contract with the organization in 2005, beginning his professional career with their affiliate, the , during the 2005–06 season. In seven games with Charlotte, he tallied one goal and four assists, showcasing his defensive reliability and transition to professional play before earning a promotion to the (AHL). Girardi made his AHL debut with the Rangers' affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, later in the 2005–06 season, where he quickly adapted to the higher level of competition. Over 66 regular-season games, he contributed eight goals and 31 assists for 39 points, ranking second among team defensemen in scoring and establishing himself as a steady, two-way presence on the blue line. His performance earned him a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team at the conclusion of the season, recognizing his impact as an undrafted rookie. In the 2006–07 season, Girardi signed a two-way entry-level contract with the Rangers on July 1, 2006, and returned to for further development. He appeared in 45 AHL games that year, recording two goals and 22 assists for 24 points while leading the team in assists among defensemen and demonstrating improved puck-moving ability. By mid-season, his consistent play prompted his first NHL call-up to the Rangers on January 24, 2007, setting the stage for his transition to the big leagues with brief appearances before a more permanent role.

New York Rangers (2006–2017)

Girardi was called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the to make his NHL debut with the on January 27, 2007, against the . He appeared in 34 games during the 2006–07 season, recording six assists. In his first full NHL season of 2007–08, Girardi established himself as a reliable defenseman, playing all 82 games and contributing 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points. Girardi solidified his role on the Rangers' blue line over the following years, signing a two-year, $3.1 million contract extension on February 17, 2008, and a four-year, $13.3 million deal on July 9, 2010. Beginning in the 2009–10 season, he formed a shutdown defensive pairing with after the latter's call-up, a duo recognized for its physicality and ability to neutralize top opponents, often logging heavy minutes against elite forwards. On February 28, 2014, amid the Rangers' push for the playoffs, Girardi secured a six-year, $33 million extension with an annual average value of $5.5 million, including a full no-move clause for the first three years. Girardi played a pivotal role in the Rangers' run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals, appearing in 25 playoff games with one goal and six assists while providing stout defensive coverage. Over his 11 seasons with the Rangers from 2006 to 2017, he amassed 788 regular-season games, 46 goals, 184 assists, and 230 points, becoming a of the team's defense. However, as his performance declined in later years amid the Rangers' rebuilding efforts, the team bought out the remaining three years of his contract on June 14, 2017, freeing him to become an unrestricted .

Tampa Bay Lightning (2017–2019)

Following a buyout from the New York Rangers, Girardi signed a two-year, $6 million contract as an unrestricted free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1, 2017. In his first season with the Lightning during 2017–18, Girardi established himself as a steady veteran presence on the blue line, appearing in 77 regular-season games and recording 6 goals along with 12 assists for 18 points while posting a plus-18 rating. The Lightning advanced to the Eastern Conference Final that postseason, where Girardi contributed 2 goals and 1 assist in 17 playoff games, including an overtime winner 3:18 into Game 4 against the Boston Bruins on May 4, 2018, helping secure a 4–3 victory and a 3–1 series lead. Girardi's role in 2018–19 was impacted by the Lightning's deep defensive corps, including stars like and , which limited him to a more rotational position as the seventh defenseman. He appeared in 62 regular-season games, tallying 4 goals and 12 assists for 16 points with a plus-6 rating. As winners with the NHL's best regular-season record, the Lightning were upset and swept in the first round of the playoffs by the , with Girardi offering mentorship and reliability in his limited minutes. Over his two seasons in , Girardi played 139 regular-season games, accumulating 10 goals, 24 assists, and 34 points. After the 2018–19 campaign, he opted to retire at age 35, citing the importance of family priorities as he transitioned away from playing professional hockey.

Retirement

On September 20, 2019, Dan Girardi announced his retirement from the National Hockey League after 13 seasons, having played 927 regular-season games with the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Girardi cited the physical toll of his career as a primary factor, stating that his body was ready to move on after giving his all each night, while also emphasizing the desire to prioritize family life following years of demanding travel and absences from home. He noted that his family had enjoyed their time in Tampa Bay but that continuing to play would mean further sacrifices they were no longer willing to make, reflecting on the challenges of the hockey lifestyle for loved ones. At the time of his retirement, Girardi held the NHL record for most blocked shots in the regular season since official tracking began in the 2005–06 season, with 1,954. Following his retirement, Girardi transitioned into a role, joining the as a player development coach in December 2020. He later served as an interim assistant coach and has continued in development and capacities with the organization as of 2025. In reflections shared upon retiring, Girardi expressed deep satisfaction with his career, toward the Rangers for launching his NHL journey, and appreciation for the organization and its supportive environment for his .

Personal life and legacy

Personal life

Girardi has been married to his wife, Pam, since the early 2010s. The couple has two children: a son named and a named Shaye. Following his retirement from professional hockey in 2019, Girardi and his family relocated from back to the Niagara region in , settling in the area to stay close to extended family and his hometown roots. This move allowed him greater involvement in his children's activities, such as attending school events and sports. Since 2020, Girardi has served as a development coach for the , contributing to player development while based in the Niagara region. Girardi maintains active philanthropic involvement in the Niagara community, particularly through support for local youth hockey programs. He has participated in charity hockey events benefiting organizations like Community Care of West Niagara and expressed enthusiasm for mentoring young players to pursue their NHL aspirations. Beyond family commitments, Girardi enjoys community engagement and spending quality time with his loved ones, a priority shaped by the travel-intensive nature of his NHL career. His decision was largely driven by a wish to focus on these personal aspects of life.

Legacy

Girardi earned a reputation as one of the NHL's premier shutdown defensemen, distinguished by his fearless shot-blocking, physical presence on the ice, and steadfast reliability during penalty-kill situations. Throughout his career, he exemplified a defensive style that prioritized team protection over personal statistics, often sacrificing his body to deny scoring chances and delivering hits to disrupt opponents. This approach made him a cornerstone of defensive units, particularly in high-pressure scenarios where his positioning and toughness were invaluable. At the time of his retirement in 2019, Girardi stood as the NHL's all-time leader in blocked shots since the league began tracking the statistic in 2005–06, amassing 1,954 in the regular season. His partnership with on the ' blue line further solidified his impact, forming one of the league's most effective defensive pairings that emphasized complementary strengths—McDonagh's skating and puck-moving ability paired with Girardi's blocking and physicality—to elevate the Rangers' defensive standard during the early . Girardi's journey as an undrafted from the small town of , , underscored his remarkable and determination, rising from junior hockey obscurity through relentless effort and early jobs like dishwashing to sustain his ambitions. This blue-collar ethos defined his career, transforming him into a reliable NHL regular without the hype of high draft status. In the years following his retirement, Girardi has been increasingly recognized as an underrated figure in an era favoring offensively skilled defensemen, yet his unyielding commitment endeared him to New York fans as a true team player and symbol of resilience. His key contributions during the Rangers' 2014 Final run highlighted his clutch defensive play in pivotal moments.

Career statistics and awards

Career statistics

Girardi began his professional career after a junior stint in the (OHL), where he played 231 regular-season games across teams including the , , and , recording 21 goals, 96 assists, 117 points, and 137 penalty minutes. In the minor leagues, Girardi appeared in 7 ECHL games with the during the 2005–06 season, accumulating 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, and 6 penalty minutes. He also logged 111 (AHL) regular-season games, primarily with the Hartford Wolf Pack from 2005 to 2007, totaling 10 goals, 53 assists, 63 points, and 60 penalty minutes. Girardi's NHL career spanned 13 seasons from 2006 to 2019 with the and , during which he played 927 regular-season games and tallied 56 goals, 208 assists, 264 points, and 314 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he appeared in 143 games, contributing 8 goals, 28 assists, 36 points, and 42 penalty minutes. Girardi established himself as one of the league's top shot-blockers, recording 1,954 blocked shots in the , which was the all-time NHL record since tracking began in 2005–06 at the time of his retirement, and 383 in the .

NHL Regular Season Statistics

SeasonTeamGPGAPtsPIM
2006–07NYR340668
2007–08NYR8210182814
2008–09NYR824182253
2009–10NYR826182453
2010–11NYR804273137
2011–12NYR825242920
2012–13NYR462121416
2013–14NYR815192416
2014–15NYR824162022
2015–16NYR742151720
2016–17NYR634111516
2017–18TBL776121827
2018–19TBL624121612
Career92756208264314
Source: Hockey-Reference.com

NHL Playoff Statistics

SeasonTeamGPGAPtsPIM
2006–07NYR100004
2007–08NYR100336
2008–09NYR70006
2010–11NYR50000
2011–12NYR2039122
2012–13NYR122242
2013–14NYR2516710
2014–15NYR190444
2015–16NYR20110
2016–17NYR120222
2017–18TBL172132
2018–19TBL40004
Career1438283642
Source: Hockey-Reference.com

Awards and honors

During his junior career with the London Knights of the (OHL), Girardi was part of the team that won the as OHL champions in 2005. The Knights went on to defeat the in the final that year, earning the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) championship. In the (AHL), Girardi was selected to the All-Rookie Team following the 2005–06 season, recognizing his strong debut with the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he recorded 39 points in 66 games. Girardi's defensive prowess earned him a spot in the 2012 , representing the in . That season, he also finished sixth in voting for the , awarded to the league's top defenseman. With the Rangers, Girardi received the John Halligan Good Guy Award from the New York chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association (PHWA) in 2013, honoring his cooperation and accessibility to the media. He was twice nominated by the Rangers' PHWA chapter for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, in 2011–12 and 2016–17, for his perseverance and dedication to hockey. Upon his retirement in 2019, Girardi was recognized as the NHL's all-time leader in blocked shots since official tracking began in the 2005–06 season, with 1,954 blocks over his career. This honor underscored his reputation as one of the league's most selfless defenders, exemplified by his contributions to the Rangers' run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals.

References

  1. https://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3423/dan-girardi
  2. https://www.nhl.com/player/dan-girardi-8471958
  3. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=55192
  4. https://www.espn.com/nhl/player/stats/_/id/3423/dan-girardi
  5. https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/g/girarda01.html
  6. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/27661586/ex-rangers-d-girardi-retires-13-seasons
  7. https://tampabayparenting.com/dan-girardi/
  8. https://www.nhlpa.com/news/girardi-credits-roots-for-work-ethic/
  9. https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/news/niagara-region/retired-nhlers-thankful-for-what-they-gained-from-welland-minor-hockey/article_09f8c841-4a35-5ceb-8683-75d85223fd60.html
  10. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/sports/hockey/bruins-daniel-paille-and-rangers-dan-girardi-divide-their-hometown.html
  11. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/11025/dan-girardi
  12. https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/dan-girardi-rangers-lightning-retirement/
  13. http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=79573
  14. https://chl.ca/ohl/prospects/ohl/2000/312712
  15. https://chl.ca/ohl-storm/ohl-graduate-dan-girardi-announces-retirement/
  16. https://www.nhlpa.com/news/dan-girardi-undrafted-and-unrelenting/
  17. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/sports/hockey/rangers-girardi-gathers-motivation-from-slights.html
  18. https://theahl.com/news/girardi-glad-to-be-an-all-star
  19. https://puckpedia.com/signing/789
  20. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capitals-insider/wp/2015/04/30/capitals-face-another-stout-defensive-pair-in-rangers-mcdonagh-and-girardi/
  21. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/sports/hockey/rangers-re-sign-dan-girardi-as-trade-deadline-looms.html
  22. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/sports/hockey/rangers-dan-girardi.html
  23. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/19782958/dan-girardi-signs-two-year-contract-tampa-bay-lightning
  24. https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/player/_/id/1933/dan-girardi
  25. https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TBL/2018.html
  26. https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-boston-bruins-game-4-recap-298462536
  27. https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/teams/tampa-bay-lightning-defensemen-2017-18-playoff-nhl-stats.html
  28. https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TBL/2019.html
  29. https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/2019-columbus-blue-jackets-vs-tampa-bay-lightning-eastern-first-round.html
  30. https://www.tampabay.com/sports/lightning/2019/09/20/former-lightning-defenseman-dan-girardi-announces-his-retirement/
  31. https://nypost.com/2019/09/20/rangers-great-dan-girardi-retires-from-nhl/
  32. https://records.nhl.com/records/skater-records/real-time-since-2005-06/most-blocked-shots-career
  33. https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/68581/dan-girardi
  34. https://elitesportsny.com/2020/12/31/dan-girardi-hired-by-buffalo-sabres/
  35. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1593550/2020/02/12/dan-girardis-next-chapter-playing-coach-dan-with-former-lightning-star-vinny-lecavalier/
  36. https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/its-all-wellandgood-for-girardi/
  37. https://www.niagarathisweek.com/life/nhl-players-lace-up-for-charity/article_1adda369-9fbd-5983-a229-b33d96e3f5b7.html
  38. https://www.niagarathisweek.com/life/support-local-charities-win-chance-to-play-with-the-pros/article_acd769c3-e689-563a-808c-f75f18677034.html
  39. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1271793-10-best-shutdown-defensemen-in-the-nhl
  40. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1834844-ranking-the-top-penalty-killers-among-nhl-defensemen-today
  41. https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/hockey/post/_/id/3154/blocking-shots-no-sacrafice-for-girardi
  42. https://thehockeywriters.com/is-dan-girardi-a-first-pairing-defenseman/
  43. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/dan-girardi-retirement-1.5291473
  44. https://bluelinestation.com/2015/09/21/new-york-rangers-daily-dose-mcdonagh-and-girardi-among-the-best-defensive-pairings/
  45. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/makeshift-defence-pair-turns-into-gem-for-rangers/article4179163/
  46. https://nypost.com/2015/05/17/how-undrafted-reliable-dan-girardi-saved-rangers-failed-draft/
  47. https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/game-day/dan-girardi-deserves-more-credit-for-all-that-he-did-as-a-new-york-ranger
  48. https://thehockeywriters.com/ny-rangers-girardi-deserves-respect/
  49. https://theahl.com/news/2006-07-ahl-all-rookie-team-announced
  50. https://theahl.com/stats/player/822
  51. https://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/dan-girardi-wins-halligan-good-guy-award-r47498
  52. https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-to-buy-out-defenseman-dan-girardi-289924818
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