Alek Stojanov
Encyclopedia
Alexander Stojanov is a retired professional ice hockey
player who spent three seasons in the National Hockey League
. He is best known for his trade from Vancouver to Pittsburgh in exchange for Markus Näslund
, in what is recognized as one of the most lopsided trades in the history of the NHL
. Selected seventh overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
, he is now widely regarded as a draft bust.
in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, chosen one selection after future superstar Peter Forsberg
was taken by the Philadelphia Flyers
. The 6'4" Stojanov had crafted a fearsome reputation in junior hockey, and impressed scouts by pummeling the much-hyped Eric Lindros
in a fight during their draft year. He also possessed a soft pair of hands and a nice scoring touch around the net, scoring 25 goals for the Hamilton Dukes, and earned comparisons to Bob Probert
, considered the NHL's top enforcer at the time.
Stojanov's Duke team then relocated to Guelph and became the Storm where he had an injury-plagued 1991–92 campaign. Stojanov's club went 4–51–11 in what amounted to an expansion team, however, the first rounder only played in 33 of 66 games that season.
In 1992–93, Stojanov was traded mid-way through the season to the Newmarket Royals for RW Ryan Vanden Bussche, Mike Prokopec and a draft choice. Stojanov collected 55 points in 35 games as the rebuilding Storm moved the then 19-year old for youth. He played parts of the 1992–93 season in Guelph with 16-year old rookie, Jeff O'Neill
and sophomore Todd Bertuzzi
.
At the conclusion of the season, he turned pro and joined the Hamilton Canucks
, Vancouver's American Hockey League
affiliate, and impressed by scoring 4 goals in his first 4 games. However, a shoulder injury would require major surgical reconstruction and he missed almost the entire 1993–94 campaign as a result, and never again showed the offensive touch he had earlier in his career.
In 1994–95, Stojanov recorded 18 goals and 270 penalty minutes for the Syracuse Crunch
, and earned himself a four-game callup to the NHL. He was also kept on Vancouver's roster for the NHL playoffs, and appeared in the first 5 playoff games of his career.
For the 1995–96 campaign, Stojanov cracked the Canucks' roster full-time as the team's enforcer, appearing in 58 games and recording a single assist. His highlight as a Canuck was probably an epic fight with Kelly Chase
of the Hartford Whalers
. However, at the trade deadline, Stojanov was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins
in exchange for Markus Näslund
. He scored his first NHL goal in his Penguin debut, and finished the year with a goal and two points in 68 games between Vancouver and Pittsburgh, along with 130 penalty minutes.
In 1996–97, Stojanov spent the entire year in Pittsburgh, but appeared in only 35 games, recording 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points along with 79 penalty minutes. By the 1997–98 season, he found himself back in the AHL, assigned to the Penguins' farm team in Syracuse, and would never play in the NHL again.
Released by Pittsburgh in 1998, Stojanov toiled for two more years in the International Hockey League and then for two years with the New Mexico Scorpions
of the Central Hockey League
before retiring in 2002. He finished his NHL career with totals of 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points in 107 NHL games, along with 222 penalty minutes.
While Stojanov was considered a major disappointment for a 7th overall pick during his time in Vancouver, he is now best known as the player dealt for Markus Näslund
. Näslund would go on to captain the Canucks, and become the club's all-time leading scorer, remaining with the team more than a decade after the trade.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who spent three seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He is best known for his trade from Vancouver to Pittsburgh in exchange for Markus Näslund
Markus Näslund
Sten Markus Näslund is a Swedish ice hockey general manager for Modo Hockey and a retired professional winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey...
, in what is recognized as one of the most lopsided trades in the history of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. Selected seventh overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
1991 NHL Entry Draft
The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...
, he is now widely regarded as a draft bust.
Playing career
Stojanov was a first round selection of the Vancouver CanucksVancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, chosen one selection after future superstar Peter Forsberg
Peter Forsberg
Peter Mattias "Foppa" Forsberg is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player and currently an assistant general manager of Modo Sports. Known for his on-ice vision and physical play, Forsberg is considered one of the most complete players of his generation...
was taken by the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. The 6'4" Stojanov had crafted a fearsome reputation in junior hockey, and impressed scouts by pummeling the much-hyped Eric Lindros
Eric Lindros
Eric Bryan Lindros is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Lindros played junior hockey in the OHL for the Oshawa Generals prior to being selected first overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques...
in a fight during their draft year. He also possessed a soft pair of hands and a nice scoring touch around the net, scoring 25 goals for the Hamilton Dukes, and earned comparisons to Bob Probert
Bob Probert
Robert Alan Probert was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. Probert played for the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks...
, considered the NHL's top enforcer at the time.
Stojanov's Duke team then relocated to Guelph and became the Storm where he had an injury-plagued 1991–92 campaign. Stojanov's club went 4–51–11 in what amounted to an expansion team, however, the first rounder only played in 33 of 66 games that season.
In 1992–93, Stojanov was traded mid-way through the season to the Newmarket Royals for RW Ryan Vanden Bussche, Mike Prokopec and a draft choice. Stojanov collected 55 points in 35 games as the rebuilding Storm moved the then 19-year old for youth. He played parts of the 1992–93 season in Guelph with 16-year old rookie, Jeff O'Neill
Jeff O'Neill
Jeffrey O'Neill is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger in the National Hockey League . During his career, he played for the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs...
and sophomore Todd Bertuzzi
Todd Bertuzzi
Todd Bertuzzi is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
.
At the conclusion of the season, he turned pro and joined the Hamilton Canucks
Hamilton Canucks
The franchise of the Hamilton Canucks was the top minor league affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks for two seasons in the American Hockey League. Today, the franchise is known as the Syracuse Crunch....
, Vancouver's American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, and impressed by scoring 4 goals in his first 4 games. However, a shoulder injury would require major surgical reconstruction and he missed almost the entire 1993–94 campaign as a result, and never again showed the offensive touch he had earlier in his career.
In 1994–95, Stojanov recorded 18 goals and 270 penalty minutes for the Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
, and earned himself a four-game callup to the NHL. He was also kept on Vancouver's roster for the NHL playoffs, and appeared in the first 5 playoff games of his career.
For the 1995–96 campaign, Stojanov cracked the Canucks' roster full-time as the team's enforcer, appearing in 58 games and recording a single assist. His highlight as a Canuck was probably an epic fight with Kelly Chase
Kelly Chase
Kelly Wayne Chase is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current radio sportscaster.-Playing career:...
of the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
. However, at the trade deadline, Stojanov was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in exchange for Markus Näslund
Markus Näslund
Sten Markus Näslund is a Swedish ice hockey general manager for Modo Hockey and a retired professional winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey...
. He scored his first NHL goal in his Penguin debut, and finished the year with a goal and two points in 68 games between Vancouver and Pittsburgh, along with 130 penalty minutes.
In 1996–97, Stojanov spent the entire year in Pittsburgh, but appeared in only 35 games, recording 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points along with 79 penalty minutes. By the 1997–98 season, he found himself back in the AHL, assigned to the Penguins' farm team in Syracuse, and would never play in the NHL again.
Released by Pittsburgh in 1998, Stojanov toiled for two more years in the International Hockey League and then for two years with the New Mexico Scorpions
New Mexico Scorpions
The New Mexico Scorpions were a Central Hockey League team located in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The team was established in 1953 as a part of the Western Professional Hockey League . In 2001, the WPHL merged with the CHL...
of the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
before retiring in 2002. He finished his NHL career with totals of 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points in 107 NHL games, along with 222 penalty minutes.
While Stojanov was considered a major disappointment for a 7th overall pick during his time in Vancouver, he is now best known as the player dealt for Markus Näslund
Markus Näslund
Sten Markus Näslund is a Swedish ice hockey general manager for Modo Hockey and a retired professional winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey...
. Näslund would go on to captain the Canucks, and become the club's all-time leading scorer, remaining with the team more than a decade after the trade.
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90 Hamilton Dukes OHL 37 4 4 8 91 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 Hamilton Dukes OHL 62 25 20 45 179 4 1 1 17 14
1991-92 Guelph Storm OHL 33 12 15 27 91 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Hamilton Canucks AHL 4 4 0 4 0 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Guelph Storm OHL 35 27 28 55 11 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Newmarket Royals OHL 14 9 7 16 21 7 1 3 4 26
1993-94 Hamilton Canucks AHL 4 0 1 1 5 -- -- -- -- --
1994-95 Vancouver Canucks NHL 4 0 0 0 13 5 0 0 0 2
1994-95 Syracuse Crunch AHL 73 18 12 30 270 -- -- -- -- --
1995-96 Vancouver Canucks NHL 58 0 1 1 123 -- -- -- -- --
1995-96 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 10 1 0 1 7 9 0 0 0 19
1996-97 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 35 1 4 5 79 -- -- -- -- --
1997-98 Syracuse Crunch AHL 41 5 4 9 215 3 1 0 1 4
1998-99 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 13 0 1 1 58 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 Detroit Vipers IHL 27 1 3 4 91 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 12 0 1 1 35 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Detroit Vipers IHL 43 4 10 14 135 -- -- -- -- --
2000-01 New Mexico Scorpions WPHL 36 10 16 26 131 -- -- -- -- --
2001-02 New Mexico Scorpions CHL 28 10 6 16 98 -- -- -- -- --
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHL Totals 107 2 5 7 222 14 0 0 0 21