Andrew Brunette is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 16 seasons. He was born on August 24, 1973, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Brunette started his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Owen Sound Platers in 1991. He played for the Platers for three seasons and was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the seventh round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.
Brunette made his NHL debut with the Capitals in the 1995-96 season. He played for the Capitals for two seasons before being traded to the Nashville Predators in 1998. Brunette played for the Predators for two seasons before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in 2000. He played for the Thrashers for one season before being traded to the Minnesota Wild in 2001.
Brunette played for the Wild for six seasons and was a key player for the team. He scored 83 goals and 168 assists for a total of 251 points in 489 games for the Wild. Brunette helped the Wild reach the playoffs in four of his six seasons with the team. He also scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the 2003 Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Colorado Avalanche, which is considered one of the greatest moments in Wild history.
After his time with the Wild, Brunette played for the Colorado Avalanche for three seasons. He scored 49 goals and 77 assists for a total of 126 points in 243 games for the Avalanche. Brunette helped the Avalanche reach the playoffs in two of his three seasons with the team.
Brunette finished his NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played for the Blackhawks for two seasons and helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 2010. Brunette played in 79 games for the Blackhawks and scored 12 goals and 15 assists for a total of 27 points.
Overall, Brunette played in 1,110 NHL games and scored 268 goals and 465 assists for a total of 733 points. He was known for his consistency and durability, playing in at least 78 games in 10 different seasons. Brunette was also known for his leadership and was a respected veteran in the locker room.
After retiring from playing, Brunette worked as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Wild for two seasons. He then worked as the hockey operations advisor for the Florida Panthers for one season before being hired as the assistant general manager for the Wild in 2018. Brunette is still with the Wild organization and is considered a valuable member of the team's front office.
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