Bob Carpenter is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 18 seasons. He was born on July 13, 1963, in Beverly, Massachusetts, and began his hockey career playing for the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 1979.
Carpenter was drafted third overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1981-82 season and quickly established himself as a talented forward. In his rookie season, he scored 32 goals and 67 points, earning him a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Over the course of his career, Carpenter played for several NHL teams, including the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils. He was known for his offensive skills, particularly his ability to score goals. He scored over 20 goals in a season nine times and had a career-high 53 goals and 95 points in the 1984-85 season.
Carpenter was also a skilled playmaker, recording over 40 assists in a season six times. He was a versatile player who could play both center and left wing positions. He was also a reliable defensive player, earning a nomination for the Frank J. Selke Trophy in the 1987-88 season.
Carpenter played in 1,178 NHL games, scoring 320 goals and 408 assists for a total of 728 points. He also played in 68 playoff games, scoring 14 goals and 23 assists. He retired from professional hockey in 1999.
After his playing career, Carpenter became involved in coaching. He served as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils from 2002 to 2004 and the Boston Bruins from 2004 to 2006. He also coached in the minor leagues, including the Lowell Lock Monsters and the Portland Pirates.
Carpenter was inducted into the Peterborough Petes Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008. He is also a member of the Washington Capitals Alumni Association.
In summary, Bob Carpenter was a talented and versatile forward who played in the NHL for over 18 seasons. He was known for his offensive skills, particularly his ability to score goals, and was also a reliable defensive player. After his playing career, he became involved in coaching and was inducted into several hockey halls of fame.
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