Espen Knutsen
Encyclopedia
Kjell Espen Knutsen is a Norwegian
former professional ice hockey
player and currently the head coach of Vålerenga
in the Norwegian GET-ligaen
. He played five seasons in the National Hockey League
(NHL), and is to date the only Norwegian to have played in the NHL All-Star Game. In his native Norway, Knutsen is also known by the nickname "Shampoo" because his father is a hairdresser, and also a former hockey player whose nickname was "Soap" (Såpe in Norwegian
).
in the 10th round (204th overall) in 1990
, Knutsen remained in Europe until 1997, playing for his hometown team Vålerenga
, and later Djurgården
of the Swedish
Elitserien
. In 1996, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
acquired his rights, and he made his debut with the Ducks in 1997. After a disappointing season (playing in part for the American Hockey League
(AHL) Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
), Knutsen returned to Djurgården. During the 1999–00 season, he was the highest paid player in the Elitserien, earning a salary of $280,000.
on the recommendation of assistant coach George Kingston
, who had previously coached the Norwegian national team. In a very good first season, Knutsen tallied 53 points (11 goals, 42 assists) in 66 games. His numbers dropped a little the next season, but he was nonetheless named to the World Team (as an injury replacement) in the 2002 All-Star Game
(making him the first Norwegian ever to play in the NHL All-Star Game). The 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons were disappointing for Knutsen, who spent large parts of the seasons on the injured list. He left the NHL in early 2005, shortly after being assigned to Columbus' AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch
, and once again returned to Djurgården.
in Nationwide Arena
, Knutsen took a shot that deflected off of Flames defenseman Derek Morris
' stick and struck 13-year old Brittanie Cecil in the head, resulting in her death.
Knutsen later helped set up a charity in Columbus to honor Cecil's memory. Also as a result of the tragedy, the NHL made it mandatory to install protective nylon mesh nets above the glass behind both goals.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
former professional ice hockey
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 and currently the head coach of Vålerenga
Vålerenga Ishockey
Vålerenga Ishockey is an Oslo-based ice hockey club, and a part of the Vålerenga IF multi-sports club. Their home arena is Jordal Amfi, located in eastern Oslo. Jordal Amfi was built for the 1952 Winter Olympics. The mother club was founded in 1913, but the did not take up ice hockey until the late...
in the Norwegian GET-ligaen
GET-ligaen
GET-ligaen is the premier Norwegian ice hockey league, organised by the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation. The league was known as 1. divisjon until 1990, when it was reorganized and named Eliteserien . That name was held until 2004 when cable TV company UPC became main sponsor...
. He played five 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...
(NHL), and is to date the only Norwegian to have played in the NHL All-Star Game. In his native Norway, Knutsen is also known by the nickname "Shampoo" because his father is a hairdresser, and also a former hockey player whose nickname was "Soap" (Såpe in Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
).
Early career
After being drafted by the Hartford WhalersHartford 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...
in the 10th round (204th overall) in 1990
1990 NHL Entry Draft
The 1990 National Hockey League Entry Draft was the 28th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Vancouver Canucks at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on June 16, 1990...
, Knutsen remained in Europe until 1997, playing for his hometown team Vålerenga
Vålerenga Ishockey
Vålerenga Ishockey is an Oslo-based ice hockey club, and a part of the Vålerenga IF multi-sports club. Their home arena is Jordal Amfi, located in eastern Oslo. Jordal Amfi was built for the 1952 Winter Olympics. The mother club was founded in 1913, but the did not take up ice hockey until the late...
, and later Djurgården
Djurgårdens IF Hockey
Djurgårdens IF Hockey are a professional ice hockey team based in Stockholm, Sweden. They are the ice hockey department of the sports club Djurgårdens IF. The department was formed in 1922 with the help of Wilhelm Arwe and have since then become Sweden's most successful team, having won the Swedish...
of the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
. In 1996, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
acquired his rights, and he made his debut with the Ducks in 1997. After a disappointing season (playing in part for the 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...
(AHL) Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, at the Cincinnati Gardens.-History:...
), Knutsen returned to Djurgården. During the 1999–00 season, he was the highest paid player in the Elitserien, earning a salary of $280,000.
NHL career
Knutsen got a second chance in the NHL in 2000, when he signed with the Columbus Blue JacketsColumbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on the recommendation of assistant coach George Kingston
George Kingston (hockey)
George Kingston is a Canadian ice hockey coach. He is best known as the long-time coach of the University of Calgary hockey team, as well as coaching the Canadian national team at the 1994 Ice Hockey World Championships and being the first head coach of the San Jose Sharks.Kingston started his...
, who had previously coached the Norwegian national team. In a very good first season, Knutsen tallied 53 points (11 goals, 42 assists) in 66 games. His numbers dropped a little the next season, but he was nonetheless named to the World Team (as an injury replacement) in the 2002 All-Star Game
52nd National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 52nd National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on February 2, 2002, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The final score was World 8, North America 5. This was the last National Hockey League All-Star Game to have the North America vs...
(making him the first Norwegian ever to play in the NHL All-Star Game). The 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons were disappointing for Knutsen, who spent large parts of the seasons on the injured list. He left the NHL in early 2005, shortly after being assigned to Columbus' AHL affiliate, 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 once again returned to Djurgården.
Retirement
Knutsen retired because of injury in July 2005. At the news of his retirement, the general manager of Djurgården, Tommy Engström, called him one of the greatest players in the history of the club. After his retirement, Knutsen moved back to his native Oslo, where he lives with his family. He is currently head coach at Vålerenga, the team where he started his career.Fan death
In a 2002 game against the Calgary FlamesCalgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
in Nationwide Arena
Nationwide Arena
Nationwide Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Columbus, Ohio, USA. It opened in 2000 and is the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, of the NHL....
, Knutsen took a shot that deflected off of Flames defenseman Derek Morris
Derek Morris (hockey player)
Derek Morris is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, currently a member of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
' stick and struck 13-year old Brittanie Cecil in the head, resulting in her death.
Knutsen later helped set up a charity in Columbus to honor Cecil's memory. Also as a result of the tragedy, the NHL made it mandatory to install protective nylon mesh nets above the glass behind both goals.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1988–89 | Vålerenga Vålerenga Ishockey Vålerenga Ishockey is an Oslo-based ice hockey club, and a part of the Vålerenga IF multi-sports club. Their home arena is Jordal Amfi, located in eastern Oslo. Jordal Amfi was built for the 1952 Winter Olympics. The mother club was founded in 1913, but the did not take up ice hockey until the late... |
NOR GET-ligaen GET-ligaen is the premier Norwegian ice hockey league, organised by the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation. The league was known as 1. divisjon until 1990, when it was reorganized and named Eliteserien . That name was held until 2004 when cable TV company UPC became main sponsor... |
36 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 18 | |||||||
| 1989–90 | Vålerenga | NOR | 40 | 25 | 28 | 53 | 44 | |||||||
| 1990–91 | Vålerenga | NOR | 31 | 30 | 24 | 54 | 42 | |||||||
| 1991–92 | Vålerenga | NOR | 30 | 28 | 26 | 54 | 37 | |||||||
| 1992–93 | Vålerenga | NOR | 13 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 4 | |||||||
| 1993–94 | Vålerenga | NOR | 38 | 32 | 26 | 58 | 20 | |||||||
| 1994–95 1994–95 Elitserien season - First round:- Final round :-Playoffs:... |
Djurgården Djurgårdens IF Hockey Djurgårdens IF Hockey are a professional ice hockey team based in Stockholm, Sweden. They are the ice hockey department of the sports club Djurgårdens IF. The department was formed in 1922 with the help of Wilhelm Arwe and have since then become Sweden's most successful team, having won the Swedish... |
SEL Elitserien Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden... |
30 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1995–96 1995–96 Elitserien season - First round :- Final round :-Playoffs:... |
Djurgården | SEL | 32 | 10 | 23 | 33 | 50 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1996–97 1996–97 Elitserien season -Standings:-Playoffs:... |
Djurgården | SEL | 39 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1997–98 1997–98 AHL season The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western... |
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Cincinnati Mighty Ducks The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, at the Cincinnati Gardens.-History:... |
AHL 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... |
41 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 18 | |||||||
| 1997–98 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 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... |
19 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | |||||||
| 1998–99 1998–99 Elitserien season -Standings:-Playoffs:... |
Djurgården | SEL | 39 | 18 | 24 | 42 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1999–00 1999–2000 Elitserien season -Standings:-Playoffs:... |
Djurgården | SEL | 48 | 18 | 35 | 53 | 65 | 13 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 2 | ||
| 2000–01 | Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 66 | 11 | 42 | 53 | 30 | |||||||
| 2001–02 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 77 | 11 | 31 | 42 | 47 | |||||||
| 2002–03 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 31 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 20 | |||||||
| 2003–04 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | |||||||
| 2003–04 2003–04 AHL season The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer.... |
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... |
AHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |||||||
| 2003–04 | Vålerenga | NOR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||||||
| 2003–04 2003–04 Elitserien season The 2003–04 Elitserien season was the 29th season of Elitserien. It started in September 2003, with the regular season ending February 2004.-Final standings:- Scoring leaders :-Playoff bracket:... |
Djurgården | SEL | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 Elitserien season The 2004–05 Elitserien season was the 30th season of Elitserien. It started on September 20, 2004, with the regular season ending March 1, 2005. The playoffs of the 81st Swedish Championship ended on April 11, with Frölunda HC taking the championship.... |
Djurgården | SEL | 15 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 12 | |||||||
| NHL totals | 207 | 30 | 81 | 111 | 105 | |||||||||