Jason Pominville

Jason John Pominville[1] (born November 30, 1982) is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey right winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He has previously played for the Buffalo Sabres and the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Jason Pominville
Pominville with the Buffalo Sabres in 2013
Born	November 30, 1982 Repentigny, Quebec, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Free Agent Buffalo Sabres Adler Mannheim Minnesota Wild
National team	United States
NHL Draft	55th overall, 2001 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	2002–present

Playing career

Amateur

As a youth, Pominville played in the 1995 and 1996 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with minor ice hockey teams from Repentigny, Quebec and Rive-Nord.[2]

Pominville played junior hockey for the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In his fourth and final year with Shawinigan, 2001–02, he amassed 121 points in 66 games – seventh in league scoring – and was awarded the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the league's most gentlemanly player.

Buffalo Sabres

Pominville was drafted 55th overall in the second round by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Sabres' minor league affiliate, the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL), until the 2005–06 season, when he earned a roster spot with Buffalo.

To begin the 2005–06 campaign, Pominville had initially been waived by the Sabres. Clearing waivers, he continued to play in the minors until he was called up a few months into the season.[3] He scored his first NHL goal on November 27, 2005 – a powerplay goal against Olaf Kölzig in a 3–2 win against the Washington Capitals.[4] Pominville quickly became an integral part of the Sabres line-up and finished the rest of the season with the Sabres with 18 goals in 57 games. In the 2006 playoffs, he recorded a hat-trick in Game 2 of the first round against the Philadelphia Flyers.[5] Later in the Sabres' playoff run, he scored the series-clinching goal in the second round against the Ottawa Senators – a shorthanded effort in overtime of Game 5.[6] It marked the first time in NHL history that a playoff series was decided by an overtime shorthanded goal. Buffalo announcer Rick Jeanneret marked this occasion with a call that is now famous in Buffalo hockey lore: "Oh, now do you believe? Now do you believe? These guys are good, scary good!" The Sabres had qualified as the fourth seed in the playoffs after failing to qualify the previous three seasons.

After improving to 68 points the following season, Pominville made a name for himself in 2007–08. He scored at nearly a point-per-game with 80 points in 82 games. In the absence of departed co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Brière from the previous season, the Sabres utilized a rotating captaincy during the 2007–08 season; Pominville was named captain for the months of March and April.[3] At the end of the season, he was nominated for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the league's most sportsmanlike player, along with Pavel Datsyuk and Martin St. Louis;[7] the honour was awarded to Datsyuk.

On September 18, 2008, the Sabres acknowledged Pominville's rise to prominence and signed him to a five-year, $26.5 million contract extension (taking effect in 2009–10). His existing contract saw him make just over $1 million per season.[3]

On October 13, 2010, his consecutive start streak of 335 games was broken because of the concussion he had received from Chicago Blackhawks defensemen Niklas Hjalmarsson (who was suspended two games for the illegal hit) in the previous game on October 11, 2010, when he was checked into the boards head first and then removed from the ice in a stretcher.[8]

On October 6, 2011, in Helsinki, Finland, Pominville was named permanent Sabres captain. He became the 16th full-time captain in Sabres team history.[9] While captain of the Sabres, he filmed a video for the You Can Play campaign, which aims to reduce homophobia in sport.[10]

With the lockout postponing the beginning of the 2012–13 season, Pominville signed his first European contract on a temporary basis with German club Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga on November 30, 2012.[11] Pominville produced 12 points in just seven games for the Eagles before returning to prepare for the Sabres' season opener.

Minnesota Wild

With the Sabres enduring a largely unsuccessful season and with the intentions to revamp the roster, Pominville, along with a 2014 fourth-round pick, were traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Johan Larsson, Matt Hackett, a 2013 first-round pick and 2014 second-round pick on April 3, 2013.[12][13] With the Wild, Pominville recorded nine points in ten regular season games.

During the 2013–14 season, he scored 30 goals and 30 assists for 60 points to lead the Wild in scoring.

Return to Buffalo

On June 30, 2017, Pominville returned to the Sabres in a trade that sent him, Marco Scandella and a 2018 fourth-round pick to Buffalo in exchange for Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and a 2018 third-round pick.[14]

On November 1, 2018, Pominville played in his 1,000 career NHL game. He recorded a goal in a 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators.[15] The next game, following a pregame ceremony by the Sabres to commemorate his milestone, Pominville recorded two goals and an assist in a 9-2 win over the Senators.[16]

The Sabres did not renew Pominville's contract during the 2019 offseason. He spent the year in Buffalo, playing in beer leagues.[17]

Personal life

Pominville is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. His father, Jean-Marie, is a native of Montreal and his mother, Deborah, is a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin.[18]

Pominville and his wife Kim have two children together. The family resides year-round in East Amherst, New York. The family resided in Edina, Minnesota during his stint with the Wild.

International play

Because Pominville has dual citizenship, he was eligible to play for either the United States or Canada in international tournaments, and opted to play for Team USA.[19]

Making his international debut, he chose to represent the United States at the 2008 World Championships and scored five points in seven games.[20]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998–99	Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL		60	4	17	21	12		13	2	3	5	0
2000–01	Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL		71	46	67	113	24		10	6	6	12	0
2001–02	Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL		66	57	64	121	32		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Rochester Americans	AHL		73	13	21	34	16		3	1	1	2	0
2003–04	Rochester Americans	AHL		66	34	30	64	30		16	9	10	19	6
2003–04	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Rochester Americans	AHL		82	30	38	68	43		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Rochester Americans	AHL		18	19	7	26	11		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		57	18	12	30	22		18	5	5	10	8
2006–07	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		82	34	34	68	30		16	4	6	10	0
2007–08	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		82	27	53	80	20		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		82	20	46	66	18		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		82	24	38	62	22		6	2	2	4	2
2010–11	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		73	22	30	52	15		5	1	3	4	2
2011–12	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		82	30	43	73	12		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Adler Mannheim	DEL		7	5	7	12	0		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		37	10	15	25	8		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Minnesota Wild	NHL		10	4	5	9	0		2	0	0	0	0
2013–14	Minnesota Wild	NHL		82	30	30	60	16		13	2	7	9	0
2014–15	Minnesota Wild	NHL		82	18	36	54	8		10	3	3	6	0
2015–16	Minnesota Wild	NHL		75	11	25	36	12		6	4	3	7	6
2016–17	Minnesota Wild	NHL		78	13	34	47	4		5	0	1	1	0
2017–18	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		82	16	18	34	8		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		73	16	15	31	4		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1,060	293	434	727	199		81	21	30	52	18

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008	United States	WC	6th		7	2	3	5	0
Senior totals					7	2	3	5	0

Awards and honours

Award	Year
QMJHL
CHL Top Prospects Game	2001
QMJHL First All-Star Team	2002	[21]
CHL Third All-Star Team	2002
Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy	2002
NHL
All-Star Game	2012	[22]

References

1. "Sabres insider news". Buffalo Sabres. 2009-06-07. Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
2. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
3. "Buffalo Sabres winger Jason Pominville inks 5-year extension". Canadian Press. 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
4. "Pominville's first NHL goal lifts Sabres over Caps". ESPN. 2005-11-27. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
5. Diamos, Jason (2006-04-25). "Sabres use 2 hat tricks to overpower Flyers". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
6. "Sabres bounce top-seeded Senators". USA Today. 2006-05-16. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
7. "Datsyuk, Pominville, St. Louis are Lady Byng finalists". ESPN. 2008-04-24. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
8. Associated Press (2010). "Sabres RW Pominville leaves on stretcher". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
9. "Sabres name Pominville as captain". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on 2013-06-17. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
10. Vogl, John (December 4, 2016). "Inside the Sabres: Nilsson proudly waves pride flag". The Buffalo News. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
11. Vogl, John (2012-11-30). "Sabres' Pominville 'just wants to play,' says timing is right to head to Germany". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
12. "Wild Acquires Pominville From Buffalo". Minnesota Wild. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
13. "Pominville's departure signals overhaul for Sabres". National Hockey League. 2013-04-04. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
14. "Pominville, family thrilled with return to Sabres, see good times ahead". Buffalo News. 2017-06-30. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
15. "Senators hold off Sabres 4-2". WGR 550. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
16. "Skinner, Pominville lead Sabres in dominant win over Senators". Sportsnet. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
17. Goldberg, Ted (March 2, 2020). Jason Pominville Leaves Memories, Wake of Destruction in Local Beer League. Spectrum News. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
18. [MY TOP 5 | JASON POMINVILLE]
19. Campbell, Ken. "Canadian-born Pominville to play for Team USA at World Championship | The Hockey News". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
20. "United States statistics WC 2008" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
21. "Jason Pominville on NHL.com". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
22. "Pominville and Adam selected to All-Star Game". Buffalo Sabres. 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2012-02-10.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database