Brian Lawton is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for ten seasons. He was born on June 29, 1965, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and grew up in Rhode Island. Lawton was a highly-touted prospect and was selected first overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft.
Lawton began his NHL career with the North Stars in the 1983-84 season, playing in 55 games and scoring 31 points. He played for the North Stars for three seasons before being traded to the New York Rangers in 1987. Lawton played for the Rangers for two seasons before being traded to the Hartford Whalers in 1989.
Lawton played for the Whalers for one season before being traded to the Quebec Nordiques in 1990. He played for the Nordiques for one season before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1991. Lawton played for the Canucks for two seasons before being traded to the Boston Bruins in 1993.
Lawton's NHL career was not as successful as many had hoped, given his status as a first overall draft pick. He played in 483 NHL games, scoring 112 goals and 154 assists for a total of 266 points. Lawton was known for his speed and skill, but he struggled with consistency and injuries throughout his career.
After retiring from playing, Lawton became a player agent and later a television analyst. He worked for ESPN and NBC Sports, providing analysis and commentary on NHL games. Lawton also worked as a general manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2008 to 2010.
Overall, Brian Lawton had a solid NHL career, but it did not live up to the expectations that came with being a first overall draft pick. He was a skilled player who struggled with consistency and injuries, but he went on to have a successful career in the hockey industry as a player agent, television analyst, and general manager.
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