Deryk Engelland
Deryk Engelland | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 3, 1982 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey defenseman (retired) |
| Years active | 2003–2020 |
| Known for | NHL player for Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, Vegas Golden Knights |
Deryk Engelland (born April 3, 1982) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman. Throughout his eleven seasons in the NHL, Engelland represented the Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, and Vegas Golden Knights. He gained recognition for his aggressive style of play and fighting prowess.
Drafted in the sixth round, 194th overall, by the New Jersey Devils during the 2000 NHL entry draft, Engelland made his NHL debut with the Penguins in 2009 after spending six years competing in the minor leagues.
Early career
Engelland competed for five seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Moose Jaw Warriors. After appearing in two games during the 1998–99 WHL season, he secured a regular spot on defense, reaching a peak of 17 points in the 2001–02 WHL season and accumulating 199 penalty minutes in the 2002–03 WHL season. Although selected by New Jersey in 2000, he never suited up for them professionally. He began his pro career in 2003–04, splitting time between the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) and the Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL).
In the entire 2004–05 ECHL season, Engelland remained with Las Vegas, tallying 5 goals, 16 assists, and amassing 138 penalty minutes. Over subsequent seasons, he alternated between ECHL and AHL teams such as the South Carolina Stingrays, Hershey Bears, and Reading Royals. His standout performance with Hershey during the 2007 Calder Cup playoffs earned him an NHL contract with Pittsburgh.
For the 2007–08 AHL season, Engelland joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, playing all 80 regular-season games plus 23 playoff matches as his team advanced to the Calder Cup final. He again participated in all 80 games during the 2008–09 AHL season. Beginning the 2009–10 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he was called up to Pittsburgh on November 6, 2009, ending a streak of 171 consecutive games.
Pittsburgh Penguins (2007–2014)
After over six years in minor leagues, Engelland made his NHL debut at age 27 on November 10, 2009, facing off against the Boston Bruins. That season, he appeared in nine games for Pittsburgh, registering two assists, while also playing 71 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and scoring 11 points.
Engelland acknowledged that Pittsburgh helped refine his physical defensive abilities; his first complete NHL campaign occurred during the 2010–11 season. He participated in 63 games and netted his inaugural NHL goal on November 12, 2010, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. During this period, Pittsburgh secured him with a three-year contract extension through the 2013–14 season, worth an average annual value of $566,700.
On December 20, 2011, Engelland received a three-game suspension following a hit that caused a concussion to Chicago Blackhawks forward Marcus Krüger. He concluded the 2011–12 NHL season having played in 73 games and achieving personal bests of four goals and thirteen assists (totaling seventeen points).
Amidst the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Engelland signed with Norway's Rosenborg IHK competing in the GET-ligaen. He recorded nine points over fifteen games before returning to Pittsburgh once NHL play resumed. That season, he contributed six assists across forty-two games.
During the 2013–14 campaign, Engelland reached career highs with six goals and six assists while occasionally being deployed as a forward. Although regularly included in game lineups, he was generally assigned a limited role.
Calgary Flames (2014–2017)
Following the conclusion of his tenure with the Penguins, Engelland committed to the Calgary Flames via a three-year contract valued at $8.7 million, seeking a more prominent role within the franchise undergoing reconstruction. His annual earnings of $2.9 million represented a fivefold increase compared to his prior salary and attracted criticism as one of the least cost-effective deals during the 2014 free agency period.
During the early months of 2017, Engelland assumed the position of alternate captain while Troy Brouwer was sidelined due to injury.
Vegas Golden Knights (2017–2020)
Upon completing his third season with Calgary, Engelland was made available in the 2017 NHL expansion draft and was subsequently selected by the Vegas Golden Knights on June 21, 2017. Returning to his hometown, he agreed to a one-year contract worth $1 million. On January 15, 2018, he extended his stay with a one-year deal valued at $1.5 million for the 2018–19 season.
On April 23, 2018, Engelland earned a nomination for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy recognizing leadership and community involvement, and additionally became a finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership Award, which he ultimately received on June 20.
The Golden Knights secured his services again on July 23, 2019, with a one-year contract for $700,000.
After three seasons as an original member of Vegas and completing an 11-year NHL career, Engelland announced his retirement on December 22, 2020. He transitioned into a position within the Golden Knights Foundation as Special Assistant to the Owner.
Personal life
Born on April 3, 1982, in Edmonton, Alberta, Engelland's father worked as a welder. The family relocated multiple times within the Edmonton vicinity before settling in Chetwynd, British Columbia. He met his wife Melissa while competing in minor leagues in Las Vegas, where they continue to reside with their sons. Currently, Engelland contributes as an analyst during intermission and post-game broadcasts for the Knights.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1998–99 | Sicamous Eagles | KIJHL | 51 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 55 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 62 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 65 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 157 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
| 2001–02 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 56 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 102 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 27 | ||
| 2002–03 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 65 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 199 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 20 | ||
| 2003–04 | Las Vegas Wranglers | ECHL | 35 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 63 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | |||||||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| AHL | ||
| Calder Cup (Hershey Bears) | 2006 | |
| NHL | ||
| Mark Messier Leadership Award | 2018 | |