Introduction
Craig Harlan Janney (born September 26, 1967) is a retired professional ice hockey center who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League from 1987–88 until 1998–99, when blood clots ended his career prematurely.
Playing career
Known as an excellent puck-distributing center, Janney averaged nearly one point per game in his NHL career. Janney was drafted in the first round, 13th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, and also played in the 1987 World Ice Hockey Championships, 1991 Canada Cup and the 1994 World Ice Hockey Championships for Team USA.
Prior to his NHL career, Janney attended Enfield High School in Enfield, Connecticut before attending Deerfield Academy. Janney played for the Boston College Eagles during his collegiate years, and he also played on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team that finished seventh at the Calgary Olympic Games, where he had six points in five Olympic contests.
His ex-wife, Catherine, is the current spouse of NHL superstar (and former linemate) Brendan Shanahan; it was this that prompted the Blues to trade Shanahan following the 1994-95 season to Hartford for Chris Pronger. In 2004, Craig Janney was honored as having "The Softest Hands in Hockey" by the NHL Alumni Board. On February 13, 2007 Janney was named the interim head coach of the Lubbock Cotton Kings of the CHL. He would finish the season, but the Lubbock Cotton Kings would cease operations at the end of the 2007 season.
In 2016, CJ was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame.
Recently, Janney has been appearing on NESN for Hockey East coverage. He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with his present wife, former model Kim Janney and daughter Barrette Janney.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1985–86 | Boston College | NCAA | 34 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Boston College | NCAA | 37 | 28 | 55 | 83 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 15 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 23 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 11 | ||
| 1988–89 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 62 | 16 | 46 | 62 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 21 | ||
| 1989–90 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 55 | 24 | 38 | 62 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 2 | ||
| 1990–91 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 77 | 26 | 66 | 92 | 8 | 18 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 11 | ||
| 1991–92 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 53 | 12 | 39 | 51 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 25 | 6 | 30 | 36 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1992–93 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 84 | 24 | 82 | 106 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 1993–94 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 69 | 16 | 68 | 84 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 27 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 1995–96 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 71 | 13 | 49 | 62 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 13 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 77 | 15 | 38 | 53 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1997–98 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 68 | 10 | 43 | 53 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1998–99 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 38 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | New York Islanders | NHL | 18 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 760 | 188 | 563 | 751 | 170 | 120 | 24 | 86 | 110 | 53 | ||||
Awards and honors
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| All-Hockey East First Team | 1986–87 | |
| AHCA East First-Team All-American | 1986–87 | |
| Hockey East All-Tournament Team | 1987 |