Chris Driedger

Chris Driedger (born May 18, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Driedger was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the third round (76th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and previously played in the NHL with the Senators.

Chris Driedger
Dreidger with the Ottawa Senators in 2016
Born (1994-05-18) May 18, 1994
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Florida Panthers
Ottawa Senators
NHL Draft 76th overall, 2012
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2014–present

Playing career

Driedger played the 2010–11 season with the Tri-City Americans, before being acquired by the Calgary Hitmen in an off-season trade prior to the start of the 2011–12 season.[1] In his first season with the Hitmen, his outstanding play was recognized when he was invited to play in the 2012 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.[2]

Drafted in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators, Driedger continued to play with the Calgary Hitmen though to the end of the 2013–14 season. During his final season in the WHL, on February 1, 2014, Driedger was the last member of the Calgary Hitmen to play the puck before it was inadvertently put into the empty net of the Kootenay Ice, becoming the sixth goaltender in WHL history,[3] and the first in the Hitmen franchise history,[4] to be credited with scoring a goal.[5] He also became the Hitmen's all-time saves leader, surpassing Martin Jones mark of 3,374 saves.[6] Driedger completed his major junior career with 170 regular-season WHL games played and a win-loss-tie record of 94–46–15 including eight shutouts.

On April 1, 2014, the Ottawa Senators signed Driedger to a three-year entry-level contract.[7] On March 26, 2015, Driedger made his NHL debut with Ottawa, entering a game against the New York Rangers.

After five seasons within the Senators organization, Driedger was released as a free agent. On July 3, 2018, he agreed to a one-year AHL contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the primary affiliate to the Florida Panthers.[8] In the 2018–19 season, Driedger initially split his time between the Thunderbirds and Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL, before solidifying his role in the AHL. He made 16 appearances with Springfield before he was signed to a two-way NHL contract with the Florida Panthers for the remainder of the season on February 24, 2019.[9] On April 30, 2019, Driedger signed a two-year contract extension with the Panthers.[10] Towards the beginning of the 2019–20 season, on November 30, 2019, Driedger made his first career start against the Nashville Predators, in which he recorded a 27 save, 3–0 shutout win.[11]

Career statistics
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2010–11Tri-City AmericansWHL 226619775703.50.881 ————————
2011–12Calgary HitmenWHL 4424123229410732.80.896 20282906.59.812
2012–13Calgary HitmenWHL 5436144319913422.51.915 1711610064012.39.931
2013–14Calgary HitmenWHL 5028147289212732.64.918 6233282414.39.870
2013–14Elmira JackalsECHL 41201991303.92.893 ————————
2013–14 Binghamton Senators AHL 100026204.58.909 ————————
2014–15Evansville IceMenECHL 408274225314223.78.885 ————————
2014–15Binghamton SenatorsAHL 86004011702.55.923 ————————
2014–15Ottawa SenatorsNHL 100023000.001.000 ————————
2015–16Binghamton SenatorsAHL 3918154222810512.83.912 ————————
2015–16Ottawa SenatorsNHL 100032000.001.000 ————————
2016–17Binghamton SenatorsAHL 3412192191810313.22.900 ————————
2016–17Ottawa SenatorsNHL 101040406.00.733 ————————
2016–17Wichita ThunderECHL 2020120904.51.877 ————————
2017–18Belleville SenatorsAHL 102504903304.04.885 ————————
2017–18Brampton BeastECHL 1797110144302.55.922 ————————
2018–19Springfield ThunderbirdsAHL 321810218357512.45.924 ————————
2018–19Manchester MonarchsECHL 126506763102.75.911 ————————
2019–20Springfield ThunderbirdsAHL 156908913402.29.932 ————————
2019–20Florida PanthersNHL 127216432212.05.938 ————————
NHL totals 168317382612.11.933 ————————

Awards and honours
Honours Year
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2011–12 [12]

References
  1. "Hitmen acquire Driedger from Americans". Western Hockey League. July 16, 2011. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  2. "Hitmen players heed advice from veteran teammate ahead of CHL/NHL Top Prospects game". Calgary Herald. August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  3. Senators pick Chris Driedger gets WHL’s first goalie goal in 10 seasons (VIDEO) | Buzzing The Net – Yahoo Sports Canada
  4. Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger becomes sixth goalie in WHL history to score a goal – OurSports Central – Independent and Minor League Sports News
  5. "Chris Driedger does it all for WHL's Calgary Hitmen | Hitmen | Sports | Calgary Sun". Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  6. Chris Driedger owns franchise record for most career saves at 3,390 – OurSports Central – Independent and Minor League Sports News
  7. Garrett Thompson, Chris Driedger sign with Senators – NHL on CBC Sports – Hockey news, opinion, scores, stats, standings
  8. "T-Birds sign 5 players to AHL contracts". Springfield Thunderbirds. July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  9. "Florida Panthers agree to terms with Chris Driedger". Florida Panthers. February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  10. "Panthers Agree to Terms with Chris Driedger on 2-Year Contract Extension". NHL.com. April 30, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  11. "Dreidger set to make his first NHL start". National Hockey League. November 30, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  12. "Chris Driedger named to CHL Top Prospects Game". The Hitmen Informant. January 2, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
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