Stéphane Veilleux
Stéphane Veilleux | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 16, 1981 Canada |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey player (retired) |
| Years active | 2001–2012 |
| Known for | Playing in the NHL for Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils |
Stéphane Veilleux (born November 16, 1981) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played as a left winger. His National Hockey League (NHL) career included stints with the Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning, and New Jersey Devils.
Playing career
Selected in the third round as the 93rd overall pick by the Minnesota Wild during the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Veilleux spent six seasons with the Wild organization. During this period, he frequently shared the ice with prominent forward Marián Gáborík. Upon the conclusion of the 2008–09 season, Minnesota chose not to extend his contract, thereby granting him unrestricted free agent status. Subsequently, on July 7, 2009, he secured a one-year agreement with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Veilleux reached a milestone on December 28, 2009, when he participated in his 400th NHL match facing the Boston Bruins.
In October 2010, Veilleux joined Espoo Blues competing in Finland's SM-liiga but departed mid-season in January to sign with HC Ambrì-Piotta of Switzerland’s National League A. On July 29, 2011, he agreed to a one-year contract with the New Jersey Devils.
On February 24, 2012, a trade sent Veilleux back to the Minnesota Wild along with Kurtis Foster, Nick Palmieri, and a second-round selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. In return, the Devils acquired defenseman Marek Židlický.
Personal life
Veilleux is passionate about table tennis, frequently utilizing it as part of his pre-game warm-up routine.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1997–98 | Lévis Commandeurs | QMAAA | 14 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1998–99 | Victoriaville Tigres | QMJHL | 65 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 35 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Victoriaville Tigres / Val–d'Or Foreurs | QMJHL | 72 | 15 | 32 | 47 | 117 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Val–d'Or Foreurs | QMJHL | 68 | 48 | 67 | 115 | 90 | 21 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 42 | ||
| 2001–02 | Houston Aeros | AHL | 77 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 113 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 20 | ||
| 2002–03 | Houston Aeros / Minnesota Wild | AHL / NHL | 29 / 38 | 8 / 3 | 4 / 2 | 12 / 5 | 43 /23 | 23 / — | 7 / — | 11 / — | 18 / — | 12 / — | ||
| (Subsequent seasons combined for brevity) | ||||||||||||||
| AHL totals | 396 | 73 | 115 | 188 | 469 | 42 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 40 | ||||
| NHL totals | 506 | 50 | 56 | 106 | 348 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | ||||